The “Instant-Telegram” application created back in 2010 and well-known today as Instagram has helped thousands of businesses grow their online presence and increase membership revenue through their primary focus: to keep the audience engaged by delivering relevant and interesting content that will convert into loyal clients investing in your product or service. Now, let’s get real! Sales don’t occur overnight, and the following aspects of Instagram will allow you to build a meaningful marketing strategy that will impact your membership business’ growth:
1. Be clear on your target audience
Based on the Statista website, almost 31% of global Instagram users are between 18 and 24, and 30.3% are between 25 and 34 years old. Now, this doesn’t mean that if your target audience is not within this range, you’re not encouraged to promote your membership business through this app. It’s actually quite the opposite! Remember that Instagram boasts 2.35 billion monthly active users. So even with a target audience of 65 years old and over (which represents about 3% of the distribution of Instagram users worldwide), you will have 70 million users reading, watching, and engaging with your content. By creating engaging content for your target audience, you will be able to grow your online membership business. Get to know your target audience, find out what they like, what they enjoy, and what is trending in their age range, and with the right niche maybe even go viral. Just make sure that you leverage Instagram’s resources, such as hashtags, which are a combination of letters, numbers, and/or emojis preceded by the # symbol (e.g. #ElioStudios), to categorize content and make it more discoverable.
2. Consistency
Like when you are learning a new language, getting better at writing, reading, or practicing a new sport, consistency plays a big role in the success of your Instagram Account. Posting at least five times a week on your account will allow you to gain exposure for your membership business across all levels. Make sure to pick 4 to 5 content ideas to keep your brand grounded and just predictable enough, so viewers start to recognize you, expect specific content, and ultimately engage with your brand and become loyal members. Allow some space for creativity and leverage what is most common these days: videos! or what Instagram calls REELS. Instagram Reels are a huge trend right now, and it shouldn’t be any surprise that they’re becoming more popular as brands try to make their content stand out.
Please don’t forget to engage with the community. While this platform is initially conceived as a brand awareness option, client support and constant interaction with the audience you build will accelerate the number of new memberships you are able to gain through Instagram. Discover what the audience likes most about your posts, what type of content is working, and how to re-design your marketing strategy to attract more folks within your age range.
3. Pay attention to the analytics!
Yeah, analytics! Just like when you start speaking in another language and realize that the teacher didn’t teach you enough slang, or maybe that half marathon program you are following as a beginner doesn’t seem to be giving you any guidance on how to make it to the finish line, you, as an entrepreneur and membership business owner, will need to check out what is working, and what is not. That’s when analytics come in!
Start by tracking likes and interactions, and analyze what translates to the audience. For example, that reel you created is getting 2K likes compared to that post you spent two hours brainstorming (which only gave you 20 likes). Spend your time, energy, and money where it matters most. By watching your content performance through the lens of analytics, you can ensure that you are putting your resources where they count. You can also invest in features such as Link in bio, Later, and more for quick and actionable insights. Track things like impressions, new followers, and link clicks… The count goes on!
4. Showcase your membership benefits to your audience
Behind every membership business owner, there is a story to tell. First, ask yourself what made you create your own business. – What was the motivation? At what level has this business idea shaped who you are, and why do you want to share it with the world? – That’s the key. When you truly understand your why, people will empathize, get encouraged, follow your steps, and become your ambassadors. Because hey! Even though we think life happens only to us, that’s not true! There is a battle for everyone at any point in life. Share your story, and create a reel with your testimony so others feel compliant to do the same for you! – Being genuine in a fast-paced world is rare these days. Showing who you are will score you points in the long run with your future members.
Instagram is a fantastic resource for getting to the bottom of your marketing funnel and increasing your monthly membership revenue. Remember to be clear on your target audience, get to know them, interact with them, create meaningful content that will translate into sales, and apply consistency to everything you do for your membership business. Also, use analytics to reflect on your work and get encouraged by it; and lastly, be yourself. By not only sharing what makes your membership so appealing but also sharing what it has done for you and how you plan to project it in the world to improve the lives of others.
Statistics taken from Statista:
Number of Instagram users worldwide from 2020 to 2025
Distribution of Instagram users worldwide as of January 2023, by age group