Douglas FloresOn Instagram, what exactly does the term “branded content” entail? If you’ve heard of it but are confused about what it is and how you may put it to use for your company, allow me to shed some light on the subject.
What exactly is Instagram promoted content?
Branded content on Instagram refers to the content that certain accounts (like influencers and content creators) upload in exchange for financial compensation from a business.
Assume you’ve set up an online business or created a product you want to sell, and you’ve determined that your potential customers hang around on Instagram. Influencers in your industry may help you promote your business by creating and sharing branded content on Instagram and tagging you (which is a requirement of Instagram and the law in many countries).
Whether or not you compensate the author for the branded material on their channels or offer them with products/services in exchange for the content, you are still required to designate business partners. In Instagram’s words, “an exchange of value” constitutes “branded content,” which must be done in accordance with Instagram’s rules.
I wouldn’t advise leaving out the tag even if the content is blatantly promotional or sponsored, since we all know there are cases of this. We are committed to honest and open advertising practises.
Don’t waste your time trying to find out how to disable Instagram’s promoted content alerts. To start, you’re breaking faith with your audience (or the audience of the content creator) and that’s bad on its own, but it also violates the terms of service for the social media platform and, in many situations, regulatory rules for advertising.
What are the benefits of using Instagram branded content for your company?
Branded content is an alternative way to advertise on social media platforms like Instagram. So, your target audience won’t see it as sponsored content in their feeds in-between posts or in Instagram Stories (unless you actually use it as an ad.)
Rather, it’s a means to expose your product or service to new consumers by tapping into the networks of the content creators you’re teaming up with.
And it may end up being a great way to increase your brand’s sales.
Meta released statistics showing that 54% of consumers polled worldwide made an instant purchase or made a purchase decision influenced by content they saw on Instagram. In addition, 83% claimed they find out about new items on Instagram, and 80% stated the platform influences their decision to buy.
Branded posts, on the other hand, allow you to expand your reach beyond your existing following by leveraging the followers of other users on Instagram. In this scenario, you’re doing more than merely releasing a product (and in front of new people).
You also gain the credibility that a creator has earned through time with their followers. And if you pick the right influencer and the proper format, you can transfer part of that trust to your business.
After all, there’s a good reason why we name those who have power over others’ buying and living habits “influencers.” Some companies even rely entirely on influencers to introduce a new product to a market or to drive all of their advertising efforts.
But there are a few things to think about before you go on the Instagram branded content bandwagon.
Tips for making Instagram branded content that promote your company
Let’s examine some practical tips for producing high-quality branded content on Instagram.
Develop effective collaborations with complementary brands
Finding the best brand influencers requires careful consideration of a number of factors. However, it isn’t necessarily a matter of how many people follow them. Some of the things that are even more crucial include:
Whether their writing, character, and ethics mesh with your company’s. Look for employees who are a good fit with the brand’s established personality and voice.
Determine if your intended market overlaps with theirs. Even if someone has a huge fanbase, it won’t do any good if they’re not reaching the individuals most likely to be interested in buying your goods. (This is to say, it’s a pointless use of funds.)
Put together appropriate material
There are (at least) two paths branded material may take:
It’s possible to cooperate with an influencer to produce content jointly.
If you choose, you may let them take the reins in terms of content production.
The latter option allows the content producer to post the same type of content that their audience has come to expect from them.
Of course, this means that you have less say in the matter (which is why it’s crucial to select the correct influencer; see above). A person’s frequent output of information is not a deciding factor in their suitability. Whether it’s their ability to think outside the box, their sincerity, or their expertise in cutting and splicing videos. Or perhaps they have a standard framework for their material that they can also modify for commercial ventures.
Create adverts using branded content
Instagram suggests using brand content advertisements with your standard ads to keep things interesting. Furthermore, you can use this to try out various methods of advertising and determine which ones yield the greatest results.
Branded content advertisements can also include shoppable elements, such as product tags, to generate immediate revenue (and also very clearly see what type of Instagram content sells.)
Avoid hiding anything
Indeed, I’ve stated that before. That, though, is crucial, so I’ll say it again. As independent parties (the producers) are involved in branded content, honesty and openness are crucial on all fronts.
Whether it’s a feed post, a Reel, or a Story, the sponsored sponsorship label should always be included in Instagram material. (That works for all of these, even Instagram live videos.)