Fly fishing is fascinating to watch. It involves a series of movements that lure a fish into biting. It’s more about the rhythm than the bait. “Landing” a loyal customer is much the same. 

You can easily get someone to buy from you with a discounted price or crazy offer. But that’s not sustainable. In the long run, you want that customer to keep returning to buy from you, or at the very least, refer you to others.

That takes a certain finesse.

And like fly fishing, it requires an ability to put it all together in a fluid motion. While looking for customers on Instagram is just one component of a marketing strategy, it can be an important one if you’re trying to increase visibility.

3 Easy Ways to Hook a Customer on Instagram
One of the hottest social media platforms for the under 40 group is Instagram. Even if your business doesn’t photograph well, you can still use it to hook customers. You just need to put together a fluid effort of engagement.

Keep in mind, “hooking” a customer is not just about that single purchase. It’s keeping them engaged and on the line as a loyal purchaser (or reviewer/referrer). You can do that by:

Anticipating Needs
Your customers need you, don’t they? There should be a reason why your business helps them better than anyone else. But before you simply tell them how you help, make sure you are aligned to anticipate their needs and are in a place where they can begin to learn more about your offerings. For instance, I post a lot on Instagram about my dogs, specifically my unruly puppy. Guess who followed me? A dog obedience trainer in my area. Even if I’m unsure whether my puppy requires a little professional help or not, this business is now in my feed and they’ve planted the seed that they can help, even if I’m not ready to admit I/we need it yet.

Being Helpful
Watch those keywords and not just the ones that directly mention your business or what you do. Watch hashtags that mention your town or other points of interest as well. For example, let’s say someone posts about a local hiking trail in your area. Comment on their picture and add your own suggestion such as “I love Piney Trail. Waterfall Trail is awesome too and not far from where you are.”

That person is going to appreciate your advice. At the very minimum, they will look at your profile to see who you are. Hopefully, they’ll engage you in conversation. But they may just stop into your business instead.

Making Them Feel Special
Keep an eye out for amazing pictures of your area. Then ask the poster if you can use them in a newsletter, on your website, or as a featured picture on social media (giving them credit, of course). When someone is selected for an “honor” like that, they feel really good that you loved their image enough to use it. 

Even if they don’t give you permission to use it, you still made them feel special. At the very least, they will look at your business profile and learn more about you.

One of the things that makes it so easy to connect on Instagram is that most people want to be told their “baby” is pretty. In this case, a compliment on a post can go a long way to establishing a connection between what they post, what they need, and what your business provides. Think about potential connections and you’ll be on your way to establishing a lasting customer base.

Christina R. Metcalf (formerly Green) is a marketer who enjoys using the power of story and refuses to believe meaningful copy can be written by bots. She helps chamber and small business professionals find the right words when they don’t have the time or interest to do so. Christina hates exclamation points and loves road trips. Say hi on Twitter or reach out on Facebook.