Do you remember when mobile devices did not double as cameras and “selfies” were not really a thing? It seems like that was ages ago! Of course, we have made great strides since then. We do not shy away from taking photos or videos anymore.
Today, the majority of our social interactions are supplemented by visuals. Killing time scanning through social feeds filled with photos and videos is not uncommon. Businesses understand the need to create compelling visual content that can be communicated across multiple channels.
They have adapted to the users’ increasing preference for visuals on social media, especially on Instagram. As a result, businesses are scrambling to understand how to best use the social media platform to attract, engage and convert customers.
Jump right to the section you want to read
- The print services providers are no exception
- Why opt for Instagram to market your print services
- How to set up a business account on Instagram
- Tips for using Instagram effectively for your W2P business
- The best Instagram marketing apps
- Measure your Instagram performance
- Let your audience know you are on Instagram
- Leverage web2print to attract customers who want personalized print products
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The print services providers are no exception
Printers have seen the worst of what could happen to them by being offline during the pandemic, and now, they are more eager than ever to hop on the digital bandwagon. Setting up a robust online presence and leveraging modern marketing tools have become paramount.
In fact, combining the power of social media (more specifically, Instagram) and print marketing is the need of the hour. While some of you may not precisely understand how the two concepts can work with each other, Instagram marketing for print service providers is definitely worth a try.
In this article, we will learn everything you need to learn to get started on Instagram for selling your custom print services. But first, let us understand the benefits of Instagram marketing:
Why opt for Instagram to market your print services
Like any marketing strategy, you only want to invest your time and effort in areas where your intended audience is most active. Most printers will start with a Facebook and LinkedIn account. However, having a presence on Instagram can also bring many benefits to the table:
1. Enhanced brand awareness
Instagram is a low-cost and highly effective platform that helps create familiarity with your brand’s presence and imprint on the mind of customers, prospects, and vendors through creative visual content.
2. Engaged site traffic
Traffic coming to your site from Instagram will be more engaged than the footfall driven by other social media channels such as Pinterest, Facebook, and Reddit. That is because of the heavy use of videos, photos, GIFs, and live posts on Instagram.
3. Robust advertising
While you can post organically on Instagram and take the help of hashtags to discover and attract new audiences, it does not always have to be like this. Because Instagram has access to Meta’s dynamic advertising tools, you can run highly targeted ad campaigns.
For example, you can display ads to Instagram users based on their location, interests, gender, age, and other demographic features. Besides, you can target people who resemble your existing customers or have had some sort of interaction with your brand before.
If you think you’re ready to reach new customers online, then sign up and get started. You really have nothing to lose.
How to set up a business account on Instagram
If you are convinced about banking on the many benefits of Instagram and actually making a name for your printing business on the channel, you have to set up a business account first. Do not worry – the process is simple and we will run you through it in detail.
- Sign up with an official email address on Instagram.
- Once logged in, go to your profile and tap as you can see on the top right-hand corner.
- Then click icon for settings.
- Go to account.
- Switch your current account option with a business account.
- Select a category for your business account. It could be anything – eCommerce, print, or retail.
- Tap OK to confirm.
- Save and continue as the app says, and voila, you are done.
Once you are sorted, add a username that your potential customers can look up or easily tag. Your Instagram profile has a huge role to play in building a favorable impression.
Therefore, choose your business name as the username, and upload a clear logo of your company as the profile photo. Enhance brand recall. Write an informative yet catchy Instagram bio in 150 characters that tells your audience precisely what they can expect from you.
Tips for using Instagram effectively for your W2P business
This is the exciting part. In this section, you will learn all the best ways to promote your web2print storefront. Let us begin:
1. Showcase your products
What kind of print products do you sell? T-shirts, mugs, uniforms, printeriors, office signage, marketing materials, banners, photo books? Whatever you sell, leverage their visual nature and highlight the different ways those products can be personalized and printed.
You can post photos and GIFs and even make short videos to showcase your product catalog. Similarly, if you plan to launch a new product, create a buzz on Instagram. Tease your audience with a bit of a sneak peek.
Further reading: Increase Your Printing Orders in 2024!! See 5 No-Cost Ways to Increase Your Print Sales by Over 20%
2. Design your Instagram feed
You can always randomly post on your feed. However, publishing visual content on Instagram in sync with your brand will create more value. Therefore, decide upon a color palette for your brand and stick with it on Instagram. Use the right set of tools such as Adobe, Snapseed, or Lightricks to enhance your visuals to perfection.
3. Engage your target audience
If you want to build a loyal community of followers, you must interact with them. Follow relevant profiles on the platform. This can include businesses and individuals who can benefit from your online custom print service.
Conduct live streaming sessions periodically – discuss the latest print trends, design tips, and even information on how your end customers can make the most of your web2print website. Organize Q&A sessions.
In addition, do not forget to respond to all comments, queries, and messages your audience leaves on your posts. Show you care.
4. Set up shoppable posts on Instagram
Instagram Shopping includes features that enable people to easily shop your brand’s photos and videos across all platforms. You can easily add product tags to your Instagram posts – individual ones and carousels – and include up to 20 products in a post.
This allows the audience to click on a product they like in the photo and straight visit their web page. Regardless of the business size and domain, Instagram Shopping has been touted as an excellent way to create a more engaging platform experience.
Further reading: The Ultimate Comparison: Shopify VS BigCommerce VS WooCommerce for Print Business
5. Write crisp and optimized post captions
Once you have started churning out excellent visuals, you must also write crisp, to-the-point, and catchy copy to go along with the visual content. Your captions can make or break your Instagram game. You certainly do not want to write anything that puts off your audience.
A good caption can help you earn a new follower or even a new customer, while a poorly-written copy can shoo away your audience. Also, do not forget to use the right hashtags to expand your post reach.
Use tools such as Ritetag, All Hashtag, or #HashMe to identify relevant hashtags for your posts. Use them sensibly for maximum effect.
6. Take the help of influencers
Trust us – influencer marketing can take your brand game to the next level. Influencers are not only experts in their domain but also have significant social media followings that you can bank on. Therefore, identify the ones that can help you market your print products on Instagram.
Use tools such as Influencer Suite by Unbox Social, Awario, or Upfluence to find the right people to partner with. Leverage their fan following and content creation skills to drive higher engagement. You will not regret it!
7. Listen to your audience
At the end of the day, your Instagram marketing strategy has to be fueled by what your audience says about your web2print business.
Gather key insights and information, including keywords and hashtags your audience uses, with the help of social media monitoring tools such as Falcon, Brand24, and AgoraPulse. Create content that aligns with their likes and preferences and achieves higher website conversions.
Best Instagram Marketing Apps for 2024
Although there is no dearth of tools you can use for creating, executing, and monitoring your Instagram marketing strategy, we find the following tools convenient:
- VSCO for photo editing
- IFTTT for post scheduling
- Plann to make Instagram content calendars
- All Hashtag for finding the right hashtags
- BrandMentions for listening to your audience on Instagram
- Facebook Ads Manager for running paid ads on the social media platform
- Hyperlapse and Boomerang for creating time-lapse visual content and videos that loop back and forth.
Measure your Instagram performance
All your social media marketing efforts will be futile if you do not know how your visual content is faring on the platform. You must keep track of the impressions, likes, comments, and overall reach your Instagram content fetches you.
Know who your followers are and identify when they are most active. Align your social media schedule as per them for greater engagement. You have to review your strategy with a critical eye consistently. If you feel your Instagram Reels are doing better, post more of them.
If your live Q&A sessions were previously a smashing success, conduct more of those. If GIFs do not seem to attract the attention you think they should, remove them from the content mix. It is all about evaluating your strategy and making changes accordingly.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out this guide How to Start an Online Clothing Store on Amazon with Print-on-Demand.
Let your audience know you are on Instagram
Just because you have set up your Instagram account and you are posting amazing content about your web2print business, it does not mean your intended audience will come flocking to you. You have to tell the whole world you are on Instagram. Here is how you can do so:
- Put an Instagram icon on the site footer. Or have an Exit Intent pop-up that directs the visitors bouncing off your site to the Instagram channel.
- Add a line promoting your social media on the email signatures. This line can be clickable and include a catchy copy, nudging the email recipients to check out your Instagram profile.
- Post on your other social media accounts about the launch of your Instagram profile. Add a link to your account to the caption and tap into the loyalty of your existing fans and customers.
Leverage web2print to attract customers who want personalized print products
Also known as print eCommerce or remote publishing, web2print offers online tools that help in creating high-quality and consistent printing jobs for your business.
For instance, if a customer wants to get a personalized t-shirt printed, they can come to your web-to-print store (if it sells t-shirts), customize it in the design studio, and place an order on your website. Think of how Vistaprint does it.
You can sell many print products such as business cards, t-shirts, brochures, mugs, product catalogs, greeting cards, labels, stickers, printeriors, signage, photo books, and so on. You can easily configure a web2print solution and scale it up to fit your business requirements.
Design’N’Buy’s All-In-One W2P solution can integrate with other third-party MIS, ERP, or workflow systems. It gives you complete control over your print jobs and delivery schedules. Our modern and intuitive design studio is much-loved by the end customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do printers monetize Instagram?
Depending on your industry niche, intended audience, and resource limitations, you can leverage Instagram to make money by working with other influential brands on influential posts, adding shoppable products on the platform, running sales, and becoming an affiliate.
2. How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?
There is no specific number. You can make money on Instagram by having just ten followers or so, provided they belong to your target audience and are genuinely interested in your custom print services. The key is engagement. Your Instagram content must engage your audience.
3. How can you run a successful Instagram marketing campaign?
Identify your goal and assemble a team that can help you achieve it. Plan your content calendar and get the posts designed or shot. Publish them thoughtfully at a time your audience is most active. Make sure you have a unifying aesthetic. Track the metrics that matter.
4. What are some popular Instagram features for Instagram marketing?
Feed photos and videos, Instagram Stories and Reels, Instagram Live, Boomerang, Instagram Shopping, and AR filters are some of the features you would love to explore for your print business.
*This post has been updated on Dec 2023.
