Instagram is a giant platform for social media marketing, and ignoring this would cost any marketer dearly. Statistics show that more than 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business brand. Also, 50% of Instagram users become more interested in a product after seeing it through adverts. This is why you need crisp ideas for your Instagram Marketing Strategy.

As of 2025, Instagram has grown to more than 2.4 billion active users. The platform now influences 37.3% of consumer purchase decisions in the United States. This places Instagram just behind Facebook and TikTok in social commerce impact. This is a huge opportunity to showcase your brand. But it is also equally tough to thrive in this competition.

Wondering how you can stand out in this huge pool? We are here to help you create an effective Instagram Marketing Strategy.

Tips to Develop an Instagram Marketing Strategy

Here are some tips to guide you to develop your strategy for the same –

infographics on Instagram marketing strategy

1. Set Your Goals

Be specific about your goals. Without having clearly defined goals and a strategy to get there, you are unlikely to reach them. If you know what you can achieve through Instagram, it will give you a clear picture of how to proceed. Hence, you need to make sure your Instagram marketing strategy is fully aligned with your organisational objectives.

Ask yourself how Instagram’s visual appeal can help you increase your brand awareness. You can also conduct a social media audit and record all your social media data and the current performance levels. Track your brand awareness, identify leads, increase conversions and pace yourself with short-term goals. Learn more about social media content engagement tips for 2026.

To set practical goals for 2026, it helps to follow current industry benchmarks. An average engagement rate of 3.5% is now considered the standard across most industries.

Reels usually perform better in terms of reach, with typical rates between 14% and 23%. Static posts perform lower, with reach commonly staying around 9% – 10%. 

2. Content is the King

Authentic original content still holds the key to reaching and engaging more people on social media. While creating content, prioritise the following –

  • Focus on your quality rather than quantity.
  • Choose an appropriate theme. It can be product-centric based on culture, or even a mixture of both.
  • Use the proper caption to justify your post.
  • Aim for value addition.

Also, develop a content schedule. This will help you to cycle your themes. Data from 2025 clearly shows the strength of short-form video. Reels deliver two times more impressions and 22% more interactions than regular video posts.

That said, carousels are still very effective. They are the highest performing static format, with an average engagement rate of 2.4%. Single-image posts lag, with engagement closer to 0.7%.

Find out which time attracts the most traffic and try to post more at that time. Be able to submit real-time content in case of live events. This kind of spontaneity will attract a lot of users.

3. Hashtags are Inevitable!

The impact of hashtags on Instagram is unquestionable. Studies show that posts with relevant hashtags have 70% more reach than posts which do not have. Using proper hashtags can help you easily reach a large audience. Thus, more traffic and leads will be generated.

The strategy has changed in a big way. In 2026, Instagram now favours SEO focused keywords more than a large number of hashtags.

Recent tests show that posts with keyword-optimised captions get 30% more reach than posts that rely only on hashtags. 

The current best practice is to use just 3 to 5 highly relevant hashtags instead of filling posts with more than 20 tags.

Another trick is used with hashtags in comments. This is very helpful when you have a lot of hashtags to put.

Validate the hashtags before posting and do some research on the topic. Combine the most popular hashtags with those related to your products for maximum benefits. It will also be helpful for your future projects. Here are some helpful tips to optimise your content for ranking from Das Writing Services.

4. UGC Campaigning

User-generated content (UGC) can be used as a great resource, as a lot of this content can be found for free. You will need their permission first, but using USG can work wonders for your business. The photos and videos of your followers showcase an authentic promotion for your brand that’s hard to replicate with paid advertisements. 

The return on authenticity is clear. Campaigns built around user-generated content deliver 28% higher engagement than polished brand content. They also achieve 5x higher conversion rates.

Consumer trust plays a major role in this shift. About 70% of people say they are more likely to buy a product after seeing a real photo or video shared by another user.

You can encourage more happy customers to spread the word about your brand through photo contests and custom hashtag challenges. It will build trust and let you reach a wider audience organically without involving any spending. 

5. Involve other Social Media platforms

If your Instagram account is brand new, make sure to import your contacts from other platforms, be it email or other social media sites.

Statistics also show that the brands which post their Instagram links on Facebook and Twitter get more engagement and interactions. Hence, sharing across different social media platforms can be an essential strategy.

Apart from Facebook and Twitter, Instagram also allows you to connect with Flickr, Tumblr, etc. You can use the power of these social media platforms to make a proper unified strategy. With different platforms, your business can reach out to different demographics. For example, Facebook is most popular among audiences aged between 25 and 29 years despite popular conceptions that young adults don’t favour it. 

Sharing content across platforms is now essential. Posting your Instagram Reels on TikTok and YouTube Shorts can significantly expand your reach.

In fact, 68% of marketers say repurposing video content across these three platforms is their most effective way to save time while increasing visibility.

Research what kind of audience prefers your product/services and build ads and content to leverage various niches. Know helpful social media post ideas to boost your business from Das Writing Services.

6. Use Ads to Your Advantage

Every day, more and more brands are bringing themselves to Instagram. To stand out among them and connect with your potential customers is indeed a tough task. Here, Insta ads come into play.

You can create an ad for Instagram through Facebook ad creation or Power Editor. Check how the ads work out for you and then strategise on it.

For 2025 and 2026, Instagram ads show strong performance. The average click-through rate ranges from 0.58% – 1.20%. Reels ads perform the best, with an average click-through rate of 1.25%.

Costs remain relatively low. The average cost per click usually falls between USD 0.01 and USD 0.25.  

This makes Instagram a cost-efficient channel for driving direct conversions when compared to traditional search ads.

Ensure that your Instagram account is also optimised with relevant information like Bio and contact links. Be a follower of those who influence your industry and engage with other content too. Establish an efficient team with proper guidelines, like editing the posts and deleting those that don’t fit with your brand’s profile. This would maintain a decent brand aesthetic.

Instagram can definitely help you build your more attractive business profile with effective strategising. It’s a relatively small investment that could gain huge returns. The above-mentioned tips should definitely help you create an impressive Instagram Marketing Strategy and allow you to become an influential brand. With a large number of followers and the right plan, you will get long-term benefits of steady conversions and new leads for your business.

Das Writing Services creates SEO driven content that boosts engagement and conversions across websites. Get high-performing website copy for growing your brand. Book a free strategy consultation with our expert writers today.