Instagram Ads can help you meet or beat your holiday sales targets. While you can reach users with organic posts, it is often quicker and easier to get that initial traffic with ads. They also allow you to hyper-target the right users with the right message, at the right time.
In this post, we will highlight some key elements to note in your holiday Instagram ads strategy plus how to use it to achieve real business results while maximizing your spend, but before that, let’s take a look at
Highlights Of 2019 Holiday Season
Deloitte’s latest annual holiday retail forecast for November and December predicts that U.S. retail sales are expected to rise between 4.5 and 5 percent year-on-year, resulting in holiday sales in excess of $1.1trillion between this November and January.
Rod Sides, Deloitte’s U.S. retail and distribution sector leader, says, “Convenience is the new retail currency; retailers who offer seamless experiences, have products available and can deliver items more quickly than ever are most likely to win this holiday season.”
Speaking of winning, this holiday shopping season, retailers must find creative ways to exceed expectations and win the hearts of customers by making it easier for them to shop wherever, whenever and however they want.
Before this can happen, customers must first discover you or your products. Instagram Ads can help you improve reach, visibility, and conversion. These ads can also be shown to your targets within Facebook’s 2.1 billion daily active users.
Here’s
5 Key Elements to Include in your Holiday Instagram Ads
This year, 52% of shoppers say they will be shopping online. Other reports say holiday shoppers will be spending up to $862 each on average, which can result in a $1.1 trillion holiday sale.
These are great reasons to ramp up your holiday Instagram ads strategy even as the holiday shopping season reaches critical mass. This will give you a first-mover advantage.
Here are things to include in your holiday Instagram ads.
#1. Cite Relevant Instagram Stats
They say numbers don’t lie. Also, considering there’s safety in numbers, shoppers are more likely to mimic actions other people are taking. For instance, reports say 81% of people use Instagram to research products and services.
Another report says 11% of US social media users actually shop on Instagram. That’s a fairly large number. According to PewResearch, 70% or 7 out of 10 Americans use social media. As an ads strategy, you can mention these figures. This can convince some other shoppers to follow suit.
Depending on your goals and objectives, there are thousands of other studies, researches, and statistics that can help to convince prospects to shop with you this holiday season. Source them, and creatively include them in your Instagram ads this holiday season.
#2. Mention Deals and Discounts
Holiday shopping is largely driven by deals and more deals. Reports say sales and promotions are responsible for 65% of people’s holiday purchases. Whether you’re mentioning it in your ads or in your posts, make sure to draw attention to the juicy deals you have in store for shoppers this season.
73% more people tracked deals using Instagram during the 2018 holiday shopping season than in 2017. If this trend is anything to go by, we’ll likely see more people doing the same this year. So make sure to make mention of those deals.
In doing so, study your competitors Instagram ads strategy this holiday season. Visit their profiles and see what they’re doing this holiday. How are they using ads to push their deals and offerings? You can mention the fact that you’re giving free or reduced shipping.
#3. Use Hashtags to Create Buzz
This is one of the most effective Instagram marketing tips that every brand or marketer should utilize this holiday season. The holiday season is one of the busiest for shoppers and retailers alike. It also brings in the most sales each year.
Because of this, brands will be posting a lot on Instagram this season, trying to win customer attention. This can generate a lot of noise and make it more difficult for normal posts to show up in feeds. By using relevant hashtags you can rise above this noise and reach the customers who’re searching for you or your kind of products.
In your ads, you can ask viewers to use your branded hashtags to spread the word for a reward or points they can redeem with you. Also, make sure to use holiday-themed hashtags as customers will be searching for such this season.
#4. Use Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories is huge. Half of Instagram’s 1 billion users use it daily. This includes other businesses like yours. Other reports say 62% of users have taken interest in a brand after seeing their Stories posts. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.
Now, you can also include hashtags in your Instagram Stories posts. This presents an opportunity to showcase your brand. As you would do with ads, you can make mention of some of your special offers to lure shoppers to your page. And, you can use Carousel format to showcase multiple photos in your Stories.
Find creative ways to use this popular Instagram feature this holiday season. Again, you can also take a look at what your competitors are doing with their Instagram Stories this holiday season.
#5. Use Laser Focus Targeting
Precise audience targeting increases the reach, engagement, and conversion of your Instagram ads. These ads can be shown to different demographics. This way you decide who sees your ads. This is a cost-effective way of reaching people on Instagram.
Ads cost money and you don’t want to do spray-and-pray advertising, which is not only costly but equally ineffective. Instagram’s potential advertising reach is approximately 849.3 million, but not all of them will see or need to see your ad. With better targeting you will reach who you should and convert better.
For instance, if your target market is U.S teens, you should know that 72% of them use Instagram. This can help you target your ad content to them in such a way and place that they can see them.
Conclusion
The holiday rush is here. Only brands that have a strategy in place will benefit from the billions of dollars that will exchange hands this season. If you plan to use Instagram ads this holiday, try implementing these tips into your strategy.
Let us know what other strategies you plan to use for your Instagram ads this season.
