Sometimes we can overcomplicate marketing.

We can become overly focussed on the things that don’t move the needle forward, trying to figure out hacks and tactics, rather than work on simple strategies, because they seem just that: too simple to possibly work.

We can get stuck on what are really the little things like hearing we should use 11 hashtags versus 30… I heard I should post 2 a day… I want more followers then I’ll have more sales… or we say we hate the algorithm.

Let me share an alternative approach: three super simple ways that I leverage Instagram to grow my business that EVERY business owner can use too.

What I focus on that works without any special tactics or hacks.

And it’s why I don’t buy into the algorithm hating. Instagram is a FREE platform for our business – seriously how LUCKY are we?!

So come with me for a behind the scenes into some really easy ways that I myself use Instagram for my own business.

1. Post longer form content with the call to action

The way that I use Instagram is that instead of posting a generic little sentence or phrase that doesn’t really tell people all that much, I approach Instagram like a blogging platform.

So it’s not just about sharing an Emoji in your caption or sharing one sentence. Instead, you really want to think about captions that are all about giving great value to your audience so that they actually stop and read and engage with your content.

I also always include a ‘call to action’. That basically means telling your audience what to do next. So that is a way that I get some great engagement on my posts, and it’s also how I use Instagram to grow my email list, and to move people to sign up to my programs, specials or events.

So what that looks like is at the bottom of your caption, is inviting your audience to be part of the conversation or to take a next step.

For instance, “what did you think?”… “Does this resonate with you?”, or “do you have my Freebie? Head to the link in my Instagram bio to go and get it now”.

Without call to actions, you have dead ends.

2. Be more you.

The second thing that I do, and this has come over time like it will for you, I’m sure as well, but be more me.

So I used to be super awkward, super formal and rehearsed and stiff when I recorded videos and I actually saw one pop up that I recorded about three years ago. I think I said “hello there. My Name’s Emily Osmond” – very formal!

So that’s how I used to do videos over time I’ve lent in to actually just be more me like I am on this podcast. I’m just kinda talking like I talk, sharing what I want to share with you and leaning into that.

And I really encourage you to do that in your business too. People will just really connect with you, the people that are meant to connect with you and we’ll get to know, like, and trust you. They want to actually get to know you more and just see more of you. And it totally is cool too for people to be turned off by you too, and to then move to someone else that they resonate more with.

Bring more of yourself , your natural personality and your quirks and the not so perfect things about yourself, into your marketing and onto your Instagram in terms of the captions that you share, just relax with them and talk like you talk in your Instagram stories.

Don’t stress about what people are going to say.

3. Invest in other people.

Number three, and you’ve probably heard me talk about this before, but I cannot overemphasise this and if you are like “Emily, you always talk about Instagram and I’m just not seeing any results. I’m not seeing any growth on there for my business”…

Then I would say that you are possibly missing this third point as well, which is investing in other people.

So one of the best things for my business has been the connections that I’ve made from Instagram. It’s the truth. It might sound a bit crazy for people who maybe haven’t done this yet on Instagram, but it’s incredible.

The opportunity that we have as business owners to connect with other like-minded people is invaluable. For myself, people who have supported my business, people who I have become really quite close with and sought out advice from and shared fails with and all that type of thing – just from having conversations and investing in them just as much as they invest in me through social media.

This means actually slowing down, reading someone’s post and if it resonates with you, write them a little note on their post. Or if you see a story and you’ve watched their story and you took something from it, give back to that person and let them know and you will start having really genuine conversations with like-minded people.

So those are the three biggest ways that are super simple and not really techie or anything like that. It’s not even nailing your hashtags. It’s those simple practices that are working really, really well for me. And I encourage you to go all in for yourself too.