Instagram can be a tricky world to navigate, especially given all of the new features that are rolled out what seems to be daily. And for a small business owner that can be daunting.

So can all of the “you should be doing this” beliefs. It is easy to believe all of the Instagram jargon that one will hear all over the internet so I want to set the record straight about 4 commonly believed Instagram myths.

I wish I had read an article like this in my early days – it would have saved me a lot of time and tears!

4 Common Instagram Myths

Instagram Myth #1

You need to have a massive following to make money.
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Nope.
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⏩ Some of the wealthiest people on the platform don’t have audience sizes to write home about.
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But they have communities that adore them. It Doesn’t matter how many followers you have you just need to be able to find and connect with your ideal customer!
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⏩ While in the past everyone thought they needed a large following – now we are learning we like to be a part of smaller authentic groups.
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Even brands are turning more towards micro influencers due to the more organic reach with smaller numbers.
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⏩ We don’t know where social media will be in the future {it’s definitely not going anywhere} or how marketing will change – so you want to make sure you are building and engaging with your ideal clients and creating a networking community of sorts.
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⏩ Right now you can use IG to find your idea clients, give them value, and get them on YOUR email list, or send them to YOUR site. And IG is a perfect free app to do this!

Instagram Myth #2

You have to sell, sell, sell, EVERY DAY.
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✅ The truth is people can’t buy from you every day. So you want them to get to know you and trust you so that when they are ready to buy from you they hit purchase.
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✅ You can up that trust factor by showing up consistently, showing social proof + sharing testimonials {you KNOW I love my testimonials}.
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✅ IG is a storytelling platform, even if you are showing your products on a regular basis – tell a story to let your audience in on behind the scenes action, how you give back to the community, or WHY you do what you do!

Instagram Myth #3

Instagram is over saturated…
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📌 While Instagram is HUGE, it is still the 3rd largest social platform….which means there is room to grow…
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📌 Just because you might be doing the same thing as others doesn’t mean you can’t put yourself out there – I am not going to eat at only ONE Italian restaurant, or read ONE business book, or buy clothes from ONE store…NO! As a consumer I want variety!
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📌 Over 80% of people on IG have said they found a brand they’ve purchased from on the platform, or shopped directly through the platform.
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📌 More and more people are going straight to Instagram over google to look at your company/brand

Instagram Myth #4

You have to be post to Instagram Every.single.day…
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Definitely not.
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➡️ But you do have to be consistent in when you show up and HOW you show up.
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➡️ Don’t drop a photo and rely on that photo alone to bring in the engagement.
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➡️ You need to bring the value, in form of a story, a funny joke or witty saying to provide entertainment.
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➡️ Add a transformation story to inspire.
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➡️ Teach something to make it educational.
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➡️ While you don’t need to post every day, what you post has to be high quality.

Instagram is full of misconceptions and the best way to build a trusting community is to show up and focus on your customers.

Be sure to check out all the other articles in the Small Business Resource Section!

What Instagram myths have you heard and debunked? Let me know in a comment below!