5 reasons why you should buy gold from Dubai Souk

Dubai is known to be the City of Gold for many reasons. Not only does it have an entire souk dedicated to selling gold, buying gold in Dubai has always been popular especially amongst the expat community and visiting tourists. But have you ever wondered why this emirate is favoured when it comes to purchasing this precious metal? Well, there are many reasons to buy gold in Dubai. Today, MyBayut explores those reasons to give you an insight into why purchasing gold is such a popular choice and what you can expect if you ever consider making a purchase.

5 REASONS TO BUY GOLD IN DUBAI

Whether you are looking for something simple to wear every day or something more extravagant, Dubai has a lot to offer when it comes to gold jewellery. Apart from this, here are 5 reasons why buying gold in Dubai is so popular.

1. DUBAI GOLD IS PURE

lady searching for gold in Dubai
Always ask for the gold purity hallmark before you purchase gold in Dubai

The purity and quality of jewellery is something you won’t have to worry about when buying gold in Dubai. All merchandise sold by jewellers is regulated by the government which ensures the authenticity of any gold item sold in Dubai. It is also mandatory for jewellery stores across the city to carry a gold purity hallmark on items they sell and are obliged to provide it to their customers upon request. The gold purity hallmark is a certificate that specifies details such as the karats and weight of actual gold and stones in the jewellery and the cost of the labour. It ensures that each purchase is authenticated and can be valued anywhere in the world. Due to this buying gold in Dubai is so popular in the expat community as many people take gold back to their home county.

2. GOLD IN DUBAI IS CHEAPER

Dubai has always been favoured for its exemption from taxes. It is one of the main reason why people chose to move to the city, as well as buy gold. Due to the exclusion of taxes in the emirate prices for gold in Dubai have always been cheaper as buyers would only pay for the value of the gold jewellery. Although the introduction of the Value Added Tax(VAT) in 2018 does levy a 5% tax on any items purchased, buying gold is still considerably cheaper in Dubai compared to other countries in the world. Also, tourists can claim VAT refunds in the UAE for all purchases made in the country. 

VAT in Dubai is currently the only form of tax applied on any gold purchase. In other countries, for example, India, apart from VAT there are various other taxes such as goods and services tax(GST) and excise duty applied when purchasing gold jewellery which make it more expensive.

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3. YOU HAVE A LARGER CHOICE

The emirate of Dubai is known as a shoppers paradise – not just for clothes and electronics but also for gold. If you are looking to buy gold in Dubai, you can take your pick from the more popular gold stores in Dubai such as Damas and Joy Alukas that are present across the malls in the city, or head over to the Deira Gold Souk which is one of the oldest traditional souks in Dubai that has a row of jewellery shops lined up. No matter where you go, you are guaranteed to find a spectacular array of jewellery that features designs from around the world.

4. THE PRICE FOR GOLD IN DUBAI FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL MARKET RATES

gold prices in Dubai
The gold prices in Dubai follow international gold rates

Another characteristic that makes buying gold in Dubai a seamless experience is that gold prices. The gold rate in Dubai follows International gold prices which ensures uniformity of prices across all stores in the city. And since International gold prices fluctuate just as the prices stock market do it provides an opportunity for gold buyers in Dubai to take advantage of falling prices and purchase gold at the lowest rate. So always make sure to check the current gold rate in Dubai before going to make a purchase.

5. YOU CAN BARGAIN THE MAKING CHARGES OF GOLD IN DUBAI

shop selling gold in Dubai
You can bargain the making charges in the gold shops in Dubai

Another reason which strengthens the affordability of gold in Dubai is that you can negotiate the price of the making charges, which are charges applied for making the ornament. Making charges vary depending on the type of gold jewellery you are buying and the retailer you are buying from. While bargaining is somewhat challenging in bigger jewellery stores in the mall, you won’t have the same concern in the shops in the Dubai Gold Souk. Depending on the gold price in Dubai and the amount you are purchasing, you can bring the making charges down by a significant amount.

FAQS ABOUT BUYING GOLD IN DUBAI

WHERE TO BUY GOLD IN DUBAI?

If you want to shop for gold jewellery the gold souk in Dubai is a great place to start. It’s got a row of gold shops which sell a variety of designs and styles. You can also head to any of the malls in Dubai. These feature some of the most popular jewellery brands in Dubai like Damas, Joyalukkas and more. Another great option is the Gold and Diamond Park Mall, where you can purchase precious stones, gems, silver, gold, platinum and high-end personal accessories.

With all these reasons to buy gold in Dubai the emirate truly lives up to its title of being the City of Gold. Have you ever purchased gold from Dubai? Let us know in the comments below. We hope you found this article informative and helpful. If you did do share it with your friends and family and stay tuned to MyBayut for more interesting articles on life in Dubai.

Questions every founder in UAE needs to answer

It’s no secret that the vast majority of startups fail. While the reasons for failure may vary, they all share a common cause: lack of research and preparation.

To stand any chance of success, you must have a clear and concise business plan. Thankfully, it’s not as hard as you may think. To help you create the bones of your plan, I’ve compiled a list of 20 fundamental questions I ask every startup founder I meet. Knowing the answers to these questions could help you prepare for what’s to come and keep your business moving in the right direction.

What is the problem you are solving?

People aren’t searching for a new product or service; they’re searching for a solution to their problem. The first step, therefore, is to identify the problem, then focus on building and developing a solution that offers real value and benefits to your target market.

How big is your target audience/market?

To estimate your potential market size, you’ll need to define your target customer. Who would benefit the most from your offering? This could be based on location, age, occupation, habits and even values and beliefs. Market research and data analysis are essential for determining how large your market is. Research can also help determine who your competitors are and what their reach is.

Why will people buy this from you?

To stand out from your competitors, you’ll have to give your customers reasons to buy from you, not your rivals. This could be because:

  • You have a product that offers value to your customers and will improve their lives in some way.
  • Your product is unique and delivers something special that differentiates it from similar products on the market.
  • You have a strong and authentic brand message.
  • You focus on building trust through excellent customer service.
  • You understand your product’s worth and have the right price vs. quality balance.

Why is it that nobody is doing it already?

Your idea has probably been tried already. But offering a different solution to an existing problem could be the key to success. A good example is Airbnb. Three college friends disrupted the over-saturated hotel industry by renting out airbeds in their apartment. What began as a way to earn a few bucks ended up as a multinational company with a net worth of over $62 billion.

Is your startup scalable?

Scalability is your startup’s ability to increase revenue while keeping incremental costs to a minimum. Thanks to technology, today’s startups have several options to increase efficiency and customer acquisition without incurring significant costs. Think digital advertising, remote working, smaller, multi-skilled teams, digital banking services, and automated work processes.

What is your burn rate, and how long can you last without further investment?

Fact: your startup will burn more money than it earns in the early stages. So, it’s vital to understand your burn rate – that is, how quickly you use up your cash reserves over a set amount of time.

It’s also important to understand your cash runway – that is, how long you can keep operating until you make a profit or need to source further funding. Experts believe a good cash runway should be between 12 and 18 months for most startups.

Will the company be able to run if you are not there?

Believing you can do everything yourself is flawed thinking, so learn to delegate. Delegation will help your workers grow and develop both personally and professionally. Trusting your employees in your absence is a great way to boost their morale and loyalty. It also frees up your time to work on new opportunities.

Who else is joining you on this journey?

A startup is only as good as its team. One of the top ten reasons why startups fail is onboarding the wrong people. For your startup to get past first base, it’s vital to have a team with the necessary skills and experience to succeed. This includes having the right personalities with the same goals and aspirations as you.

What have you done in the past that will help you do this successfully?

Investors will want proof of your skills and experience before considering funding your venture. However, don’t just focus on your past successes. If anything, past failures and learning from your mistakes might prove to be more valuable. Some experts even believe failure is essential for future success. As automobile magnate Henry Ford once said, “failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

Who can open doors for you? What is your network?

It’s not just what you know, but also who you know. Building a solid network of advisors and industry peers can help you:

  • Learn about new trends, share insights, and receive valuable feedback and advice
  • Find new business and investment opportunities
  • Enhance your own entrepreneurial skills

How will you go about hiring the best people for your startup?

A competitive salary may no longer be enough to attract the best talent, and it might not be feasible for your startup (think burn rate). Instead, growth bonuses and incentives such as wellness perks, flexible scheduling, and work-from-home opportunities may be enticing enough to get them onboard.

What gives your operations a cost-effective edge?

Employing ways to keep operational costs down can show investors you’re keeping an eye on your cashflow, burn rate and scalability potential. Ways to reduce your day-to-day operational costs can include:

  • Leveraging technology by automating repetitive tasks
  • Outsourcing to freelancers
  • Allowing for remote working
  • Shopping around for cheaper supplier rates
  • Hiring a smaller, multi-skilled, multi-tasking team

How are you utilising technology to disrupt your industry?

The biggest advantages startups have over traditional industries is the ability to pivot rapidly and disrupt. From big data to mobile devices, the use of cutting-edge technology can help your startup keep an eye on the competition, better serve your customers and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

How good is your digital marketing strategy?

Getting your name out there is vital in the early days. Digital marketing is a cost-effective way to build brand awareness and gain recognition through social media and content marketing. Shareable content such as videos, blogs, contests and giveaways are examples of how you can engage with your audience and extend your reach.

What is your customer service plan?

Customer-centricity should be a priority for startups at every step of the customer journey. From product development to marketing and support, the customer needs to be at the centre of everything you do. A positive customer-centric culture can also encourage employee engagement and loyalty.

Who will do your finances?

It’s crucial to have someone onboard who understands the nitty-gritty of startup finances and can effectively manage your cashflow.

If you don’t have enough expertise in the financial side of your business, consider hiring a financial advisor or accountant to keep you on the right path.

Legal & Compliance – have you got this covered?

One of the top five reasons startups fail is a misunderstanding of the legal complexities and regulations involved in starting a business. From licensing to tax issues, compliance is a must from the start-off. Make sure you understand how your market is regulated and what permissions you’ll need both regionally and across borders.

Why are you doing this?

If you have no passion, and monetary gain is your only motivation, you’ll be doomed from the start. In his book ‘The Art of The Start 2.0’, business strategist Guy Kawaski urges entrepreneurs to focus on making meaning, not money. As Steve Jobs famously said, “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Do you have an exit strategy?

Investors will expect you to have a clear exit strategy in your initial business plan. If your business is doing well, an exit strategy will enable you to liquidate your stake in the company and hopefully give your investors a good return on their investment. If you’re struggling, an exit strategy allows you to minimise losses.

What happens if this doesn’t work out for you?

The cold, hard truth is that nine out of ten startups fail, so the odds are already stacked against you. Be willing to sacrifice your idea if it’s not working, but don’t give up. Gain insights and advice from successful entrepreneurs – remember, even the best have experienced failure before succeeding. Your mistakes and those of others may be the most valuable lessons you’ll need for future success.

Starting a business is a huge undertaking. But if you start out by taking on board the answers to the above questions, you’ll be on the right road to potential success and future growth.

Multicultural Marketing: What It Is and How to Do It The Right Way?

Growing up as a first-generation Asian American, I lived between two cultures. One was the East-Asian culture my parents brought from Taiwan, which prioritizes the needs and desires of the family and emphasizes academic excellence. The other was the Western culture that surrounded me outside the house, which prioritizes the needs and desires of the individual and emphasizes extracurricular activities.

Needless to say, these two cultures clashed, and I spent the early part of my childhood confused about my identity. My parents taught me certain values and principles to help guide me through life, just like their parents did, but whenever I hung out with my friends, they would show me a completely different way of living. At the end of the day, I didn’t really know which group to side with. But once puberty hit, I did what every other hormone-filled tween would do — I rebelled against my parents and followed my friends.

From the beginning of middle school to the end of high school, I mostly identified as an American not just because the vast majority of my friends were American, but because I realized I was different. And I didn’t like that.

Desperate to fit in, I tried my hardest to blend in with my peers. I immersed myself in football and baseball, deriving all my value in being a jock — the opposite of your typical Asian American. Sadly, I also looked down on other Asian kids who weren’t as American as me, sparingly ate Chinese food, and didn’t like inviting my friends over because I was scared they’d think my house smelled weird. In a nutshell, I was embarrassed to be Asian.

This mentality bled over to college, where I studied economics and business, played baseball, and joined a fraternity — all of which a typical Asian American wouldn’t do. As a senior, I decided to study abroad in Scotland, and my goal was to befriend as many lads and lasses from across the pond. But by the end of the semester, barely any of my friends were European. And none of them were American. Most of them were actually asian.

One of the biggest reasons why I loved studying abroad, in addition to traveling the world and never going to class, was that I befriended a group of Asian guys who were extremely proud of our ethnicity and culture. And it taught me how important it is to be proud of my own identity. Before I studied abroad, I’d never met an Asian person who claimed they were proud of who they were, and I didn’t really take pride in it either. But after meeting my asian friends in Scotland, who were from Asian countries, like Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Bhutan, and India, I was inspired to flip my mentality.

When I returned home from Scotland, my parents were both shocked and thrilled at how Asian cuisine had become my favorite type of food and how much pride I took in being Asian. In my mom and dad’s eyes, I could see the joy in their hearts. I’d finally done something they’d always wanted me to do — be proud of who I truly am.

Even though the world is a melting pot today, most brands market in a way that only appeals to a country’s majority ethnicity or culture. That means there’s a huge pool of people that brands aren’t resonating with.

However, generating more sales shouldn’t be the only reason you market to minority groups. Acknowledging their ethnicities and cultures should be another huge driving factor.

Because, ultimately, letting minority groups know that it’s not only okay to be different, but it’s also amazing that they bring such different perspectives to the places they immigrate to, will move society forward and help immigrant children like me be proud of who they truly are.

Multicultural Marketing

Multicultural marketing is devising and executing a marketing campaign that targets people of different ethnicities and cultures within a brand’s overarching audience. Not only does it help you relate to and resonate with minority groups, but it also recognizes their ethnicities and cultures and helps majority groups realize that most countries are melting pots and not dominated by one main ethnicity or culture.

How to Do Multicultural Marketing The Right Way

Hire a diverse multicultural marketing team.

If your brand truly wants to practice empathy, then your employees need to actually know what it’s like to be in your customers’ shoes. Otherwise, if you don’t have someone on your team who can contextualize your marketing campaign to a specific ethnicity or culture, your content might seem it was created with an ulterior motive.

So whichever minority group you target during your multicultural marketing campaign, just make sure someone on your team has the practical knowledge and life experience to vet it for accuracy.

Interview people from minority groups that aren’t represented on your multicultural marketing team.

If you’re not able to hire a person who can represent the minority group your multicultural marketing campaign targets, your next best option is to interview people who can. To do so, reach out to people in your network, social circle, or family and ask them some questions about the challenges they face as a minority.

Triple-check your multicultural marketing campaign’s accuracy and authenticity.

There’s nothing worse than a self-serving marketing campaign masquerading as social justice (I’m looking at you Kendall Jenner). Even if you have the right intentions, poor execution can turn your campaign into an SNL Cheetos’ commercial.

So before you green light your multicultural marketing campaign, run the creative and distribution strategy by some colleagues or friends who represent the minority group your campaign is targeting and see if they can poke holes through it.

Acknowledging Diversity Matters More Than Ever Today

As an Asian American, Mulan, Jeremy Lin, and Jon Cho are my heroes because even though Asians are grossly underrepresented and misrepresented in pop culture, these three overcame that adversity and put themselves in a positive light, which greatly benefited the Asian American community.

With this in mind, if your multicultural marketing campaign can shed light on the challenges a minority group faces and highlight their benefit to society, you’ll not only grow the group’s loyalty for your brand, but you’ll also make them feel like they have a genuine, empathetic ally.

Ways to Reach Customers Who Don’t Know They Need You

Event planner, lawyer, daycare owner, tow truck driver. Regardless of our chosen professions, it’s fair to say that we all want to build our businesses’ customer bases. It’s how we thrive. So it’s only natural for us to want to market our products or services to everyone, in hopes of capturing a larger audience and thus making more money.

But every business has a few “unreachables.” Now, some of these people are placed in that category for a reason. If you sell retirement plans, for instance, your unreachables might be children because they’re simply too young to purchase your product. But that doesn’t mean they have to remain that way forever. Even the most unexpected groups of people could be your biggest advocates later on. You just need to know how to speak to them.

Here are some tips for successfully reaching your unreachable.

How to Reach Customers

1. Make a list of your unreachables.

This is an important step you won’t want to skip. Before you start trying to reach all different types of groups, you’ll want to find out who your individual unreachables actually are. They may or may not be whom you think they are. That’s why researching and surveying are important parts of this process.

You might look at your current demographics for visitors to your website or social media platforms and determine which audiences aren’t connecting with you. You might also try comparing your demographics to your competitors’ to see if they’re reaching an audience you might not be. Or, you could conduct interviews and send out questionnaires to gather additional information. Whatever methods of obtaining this data, be sure that in the end, you have answers to questions like:

  • Why are these groups uninterested/uninformed about my business?
  • Are they also uninterested/uninformed about the products/services I sell, too?
  • Do they know they might want/need what I’m offering?

2. Develop a persona for your unreachables.

At this point, you’ve narrowed down exactly who your unreachables are, but the research stage isn’t over just yet. You still want to find out what their likes and dislikes are, where they live, where they work, etc.

Researching the specifics of their day-to-day lives can be helpful when brainstorming the message and channels to reach them. It can help you create a story that appeals to multiple audiences.

You can create campaigns that are effective because they appeal to multiple audiences by finding common ground through storytelling.

3. Customize your approach to appeal to them, not your current customers.

This is a continuation of the previous action. When brainstorming ways to speak to your unreachables, it’s important to remember that the same message that works really well for your current audience probably won’t be received well by another—or at least not as effectively.

A successful example of this is Dollar Shave Club’s marketing efforts. Marketers realized that they could reach a lot of the younger generations with humorous and quick-witted branding. The success of the brand stemmed from the viral nature of the ads that spoke to a much broader group of people than ever before.

4. Offer them something truly unique.

As wisely stated by Entrepreneur contributor Murray Newlands in his article, “The 8 Fundamentals for a Successful Inbound-Marketing Strategy”, “Think of your website as a hub, not a megaphone.” This applies to all areas of your brand’s presence—both online and offline. Treat your unreachables as if they are already your most loyal customers, rewarding them with valuable resources they can really use. Because if you can provide them with something they can’t find elsewhere, it will build trust and credibility—two things that give you an instant leg up on your competition.

Some valuable, yet still free/affordable resources you can offer include:

  • Educational information, like e-books, guides, infographics, blog articles, webinars, tips, downloadable templates, etc.
  • Coupons/exclusive discounts for first-time customers
  • Product/service samples
  • Branded merchandise

As many in the industry may know already, this method of marketing (inbound marketing) has proven to be one of the most successful ways to promote your brand or business.

5. Generate awareness of the want/need for what you have to offer.

Your unreachables are most likely in the awareness stage of the buyer’s journey—unsure whether or not they even want or need the product/service you’re offering, let alone if they want it from your specific company. That’s why you have to create reasons why someone might need you.

Let’s say you’re a hotel that’s running a special vacation package. An example of the awareness-stage buyers would be a mother and father who just found out they’re able to take a vacation with their family soon but aren’t yet sure if they want to stay local, travel abroad, or go on a cruise. By marketing your vacation package as the most all-inclusive, affordable, and family-friendly offer available, you’re successfully generating awareness and a desire for your offer.

6. Demonstrate how your product/service could be the only solution they need.

Maybe your business offers a variety of products or services (i.e. multi-platform digital solutions). Or, maybe it offers something a little more niche (i.e. all-organic coffee). But no matter what you offer, there’s always a way to position yourself as their all-purpose solution.

Your unreachables might not even know your business can handle multiple problems they’re experiencing. They might not know that just how well you’ve mastered your very specific product/service. Or, they might not know they need you. Either way, you’ll want to demonstrate how you’re the only solution.

7. Position your business in the most positive light possible.

Though it may hard to conceive, most people want to find out how you can help them, even if they’re not actively seeking you out. If you’ve piqued their interest in some way, they’ll want to find the good in your business, so they can have a product or service that provides a solution or added convenience to their lives.

A few suggestions for keeping your efforts upbeat and positive:

  • Use up-to-date content, design, and resources in your marketing efforts
  • Use language that is confident and inviting, not cocky or abrasive
  • Avoid negative messaging that puts down specific competitors (it’s tacky)
  • Highlight what specifically makes you better than the rest, but say it in a way that makes you look like the hero

8. Find ways to get your advocates to promote to them.

What’s better than having happy customers who love your products/services? Having happy customers who willingly promote your products/services to others. If they’re happy enough, they’ll do it for free, too. It’s like free advertising.

This is your opportunity to reward your #1 fans with things like:

  • Refer-a-friend offers/discounts/coupons
  • Exclusive content
  • Donations to fan-favorite charities
  • Answered questions/concerns, personalized shout-outs, and Q&A sessions on social media platforms
  • Fan-appreciation events
  • Featured fan videos/photos/etc.
  • Project involvement

Whether your business is able to spend a lot or a little toward rewarding your advocates, remember that there’s a huge benefit in having people promote your business for you.

9. Show many forms of credibility.

In addition to having testimonials on top-rated review sites (or on your own website), there are a lot of ways to demonstrate that you are credible and trustworthy.

Find unique (yet still truthful) ways to display this in your marketing efforts, such as:

  • Noteworthy awards or certifications (place a badge on your website, post a link to your social media platforms with information about the award/certification, etc.)
  • Support a local charity (display information about it on a dedicated landing page on your site, post about it on social media, etc.)
  • Mention any environmentally sustainable efforts you make at your business (recycling, volunteering for eco-friendly organizations, etc.
  • Case studies and testimonials

Though this is certainly helpful for your current customers to confirm they’ve made the right choice with you, those who might not know they need you yet might find your business more desirable than another, simply for your credibility. Research the industry-specific materials you can provide your potential customers to let them know you are not just a viable option, but the best option.

10. Do all of this in stages—not all at once.

Last, but certainly not least, make sure you do these things in different phases. Because it’s not realistic to believe anyone’s effort will magically attract everyone to your business, you should set goals, follow a strategic plan, and measure your results. Rinse and repeat as necessary for each audience.

There are plenty of ways to speak to those who seem unreachable. You just have to find ways to make it about them and why they (specifically) would want or need you. If you’re not sure how to get started, try these tips for expanding your reach.

5 Ways to Improve Your Instagram Marketing

Instagram now has over 600 million active users who are scrolling their feeds, liking comments and responding to posts on a regular basis. Since more consumers are also engaging with their favorite brands on social media, having a strong presence on Instagram is a smart move to bolster your strategy, connect with your audience, and grow brand awareness.

As you’re developing your social media strategy, improving your Instagram marketing will likely yield favorable results for your overall business goals.

Regardless of your practice or small business, these five tactics will help you effectively leverage Instagram to boost follower ship, increase exposure, heighten engagement and improve your productivity.

1. Host Instagram Contests

One way to improve your Instagram marketing and get followers interacting with your content is by hosting contests. Not only does this generate buzz around your name but it also shows a fun side to your brand.

Instagram contests can be simple to execute and can be held weekly to grow your followers, boost exposure, and create the expectancy to keep your audience coming back to you.

Here are a few ideas to get you rolling:

  • “Like My Post to Win” – Perhaps the easiest to facilitate, participants can simply double tap your post to enter – and of course, they must be following you. Encourage your audience to “repost” your content on their news feeds to foster more responses
  • ″Selfie″ Photo Contest – Have clients take a selfie after having a great appointment with you. Get them to briefly share their experience with your brand, using your company and contest hashtag in their posts
  • Photo Contest with Voting – Take your selfie contest up a notch by adding a voting element to the competition. The image that receives the most votes is the winner.

For your contest giveaway, be sure that it’s something your audience would enjoy winning – make it enticing and exciting enough to compel followers to join.

2. Hashtags are a Must

Using hashtags on Instagram is vital because they enable others to find you, even if they’ve never heard of your brand before.

You’re able to reach a larger audience, increase content exposure, and open doors for new connections to be made. Including hashtags in your posts is a must if you want more eyeballs on your visuals.

Two cool tools to consider for discovering which hashtags are trending in your niche are Top-Hashtags.com and Hashtagify.me Through these apps, you can learn the highest rated hashtags, how many posts are currently using them and see examples of how they’re being applied.

Also, check out the hashtags your influencers’ and competitors are including in their posts. Find out what’s working by viewing the level of engagement they’re generating.

3. Engage Your Followers with Instagram Stories

A recent study showed that people will watch live videos longer than one that has been prerecorded. With that knowledge, leveraging social video can be a huge asset to your business, and certainly provides another outlet to connect more deeply with your followers.

Instagram Stories is one of the platform’s newer features, and brands are also now able to “go live” to get their message out using video on the platform.

A great way to utilize this is by hosting live Q&A sessions where you answer your followers’ and clients’ questions in real-time. This is a great way to gain feedback into what your audience thinks of your products, and can provide fresh content ideas to share in your next blog post. These responses can also be used to tweak and adjust your current program or products.

Another way to engage your followers is by taking them behind-the-scenes to get a glimpse of how you operate. Invite them to the next company event, staff meeting, or simply show them a typical day at the office. These personalized expressions can create memorable experiences that will help separate your brand from competitors.

Finally, be the first to report breaking or trending news by broadcasting it live on Stories.

4. Leverage Instagram Tools

There’s a plethora of apps on the market to help improve your productivity and efficiency in Instagram marketing, ranging from better photo filter options, analytics and scheduling your posts, to finding your key influencers.

You can maximize your time and marketing efforts by adding a few of these tools to your kit:

  • Crowdfire – A popular app for Instagram, Crowd-fire provides a list of new followers, those who have unfollowed you, gives suggestions of other users that may be interested in your service, and recommends the best times to schedule your content
  • SnapWidget – Embed your Instagram feed onto your website or blog for more visibility
  • Repost – Build relationships with followers, highlight influencers in your niche, and initiate new conversations simply by reposting their content
  • Social Insight – Your all-inclusive analytics tool to monitor engagement, follower growth, interactions, and overall progress to gauge your Instagram marketing success

5. Know When to Post Your Content

Posting your images at the right time will help boost engagement with your followers.

According to Hootsuite, the best time to post on Instagram is between 12pm-1pm, Monday-Friday. However, the real success lies in discovering when your unique audience is most responsive to your content.

There are several social media management tools like Buffer and CoSchedule that have built-in analytic features giving you the optimal times to post on Instagram for better engagement, while Instagram also has it’s own business analytics tools which provide insight into when your followers are most active online.

Individual results will vary, so while it’s great to get an understanding of generic posting recommendations, nothing beats learning about your own audience habits.

Conclusion

Instagram is an excellent platform to help boost your social media marketing strategy and bring more awareness to your brand. Consider implementing some of the tactics outlined above, test your results, and ramp up from there. The key is to implement and discover what resonates most with your audience.