Reaching new audiences is important for businesses and influencers, and that means having an active and growing Instagram presence.
But it’s hard to grow an Instagram following organically. That’s where you can finally use the power of email subscribers to grow Instagram.
Email marketing and Instagram may seem like very different platforms, but they can work together quite powerfully. Integrating email campaigns with Instagram can significantly boost user engagement and growth on the visual social network.
Benefits of Combining Email and Instagram
There are several advantages to connecting your Instagram marketing and email campaigns:
1. Tap Into Existing Audiences
Most businesses or influencers already have an email subscriber list. Instagram, however, likely has a different audience, including your insta followers. By marketing across both channels, you can expose your brand to new people while leveraging the loyalty of current email subscribers.
2. Improve ROI
Email marketing consistently provides one of the highest ROI compared to other digital marketing channels. While Instagram has great engagement, conversions can be difficult. Using email captures, promotions and your list can improve Instagram’s ROI.
3. Owned Media Channel
One risk of Instagram is that accounts can be shut down or banned unexpectedly. However, you’ll always own your email subscriber list. Integrating email helps mitigate risks associated with Instagram’s platform uncertainty.
4. More Touchpoints
The more touchpoints you have with audiences across channels, the better in terms of brand awareness and conversions. Email and Instagram marketing, when used together, provide more opportunities to engage users.
Instagram Growth Tactics Using Email
There are several clever ways to leverage your email lists and campaigns to fuel Instagram growth:
1. Drive Traffic to Instagram from Emails
One easy way to use email is by including Instagram links directly within email content or your email signature. Calls-to-action to follow your Instagram profile or check out recent posts can expose subscribers to your Instagram, ideally leading to more followers.
2. Promote Instagram Content and Features in Emails
You can also promote Instagram posts, Stories, Live videos, Reels and other content directly through your email messages. If the content provides value and aligns with subscriber interests, this can entice email recipients to follow you on Instagram for more.
3. Run Instagram Contests and Sweepstakes via Email
Contests, giveaways and sweepstakes are fantastic incentives for getting more Instagram followers and engagement. Promoting these contests through email is an excellent way to maximize reach. Consider giving extra entries for following you on Instagram.
4. Embed Instagram Feeds in Emails
While linking to Instagram is good, some email subscribers may not make it over to your profile. Instead, embed dynamic Instagram feeds of your best user-generated content or posts directly in email campaigns. This gives subscribers a taste of your Instagram, potentially leading to new followers.
5. Promote Instagram Ads to Email Lists
Running paid Instagram ads can also be complemented using email. Send emails informing subscribers about your Instagram ads and why their relevant audiences might find them valuable. This can also improve the cost-efficiency of ads.
These are just a few ideas for kickstarting cross-channel Instagram and email marketing. The key is enticing email subscribers to check out your Instagram profile and content while positioning follow-worthy value.
Email Capture Tips for Instagram
Thus far, we’ve covered driving Instagram growth using email subscribers you already have. However, to best integrate Instagram and email marketing, you also need to capture emails from Instagram audiences continually.
Here are proven methods for capturing emails from Instagram users:
1. Link in Bio to Landing Pages
Your Instagram bio only allows one clickable link, so using this link to drive traffic to targeted landing pages for email sign-ups is a no-brainer. In exchange for emails, offer an irresistible lead magnet, such as exclusive content, discounts or contest entries.
2. Instagram Stories for Email Opt-Ins
Periodically post Instagram stories with swipe-up links that take your users to your landing pages. The short lifespan of stories heightens the sense of urgency for time-bound promotions that grab emails. In addition to giveaways, you can also get creative with them.
3. Leverage Instagram Ads
You can create Instagram ad campaigns that will collect email sign-ups. This means that you can retarget website visitors across devices and channels and improve your conversions over time. It also lets you remarket your emails later on.
4. Geofencing Locations
Geofencing allows capturing emails from people near physical store locations. When users enter specific geofenced areas, they can get targeted Instagram ads to landing pages for email captures and offers.
5. Hashtag Campaigns
Launch hashtag campaigns related to your email capture and promotions. Adding hashtags to Instagram posts links them to broader conversations for improved visibility. The right hashtags can lead to more link clicks.
Keep experimenting with creative ways to collect Instagram follower emails for marketing purposes. Segment these lists for tailored email campaigns that send users back to Instagram.
Tools to Integrate Instagram and Email
These tools range from free to paid subscriptions, with various feature sets. Based on your budget and needs, explore platforms that unify Instagram and email capabilities in helpful ways.
- Linktree. This popular platform creates a link-in-bio landing page with buttons for email capture forms and lead magnets.
- Shortstack. Provides templates to embed Instagram feeds in emails while capturing emails with forms.
- Iconosquare. Helps schedule Instagram posts and Stories while managing audiences across Instagram and email lists.
- Mailchimp. A top email provider that integrates with Instagram APIs for content sharing and performance data.
- Later. A social media management platform allowing you to plan Instagram and email posts together on a calendar visually.
- Privy. It captures emails with pop-up forms on websites that users can access through Instagram links and ads.
- Oberlo. E-commerce tools for marketers to import products to online stores, which they can promote across email and Instagram.
- Zapier. Connects hundreds of apps, including Instagram and email marketing platforms, to automate multi-channel campaigns.
Measuring Results Across Channels
It’s important to analyze data across both marketing channels to understand engagement levels and optimize efforts.
For email, track open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, revenue per email sent and subscriber engagement over time.
For Instagram, you should monitor followers’ growth, impressions, reach, engagement rate, and link clicks.
Compare email and Instagram metrics week over week and month over month. Determine which types of cross-channel campaigns perform best. Double down on strategies that work while testing new ideas.
By regularly evaluating performance indicators across integrated email and Instagram initiatives, you’ll be best positioned for long-term sustainable growth.
Conclusion
A winning strategy combines Instagram’s visual engagement with email marketing’s targeting and measurability. Use your email lists to promote your Instagram profile and content. Capture Instagram follower emails via link-in-bio landing pages and lead magnets. Use tools to unify these channels for marketers.
Creating creative, high-converting cross-channel campaigns takes work, but it pays dividends. With smart integration, email marketing and Instagram can help each other advance to the next level.
