6 Ways to Research Your Target Audience on Instagram

When it comes to marketing your business on Instagram, the first step is always to identify your target audience. Once you know who you're trying to reach, you can start creating content that will resonate with them. But how do you go about finding your target audience on Instagram? Here are six methods to get you started.

1. Look at who's following your competitors.

If you want to reach a similar audience to the one your competitors are targeting, a good place to start is by looking at their followers. To do this, simply visit their profile and take a look at the people who are already following them. If you see that there are a lot of potential customers in that group, it's worth considering targeting a similar audience.

2. Check out relevant hashtags.

Another great way to research potential target audiences on Instagram is to take a look at relevant hashtags. For example, if you're selling fitness equipment, you might search for hashtags like #fitfam or #gymlife. This will give you an idea of the types of people who are interested in that topic and who might be interested in your product or service as well.

3. Use Instagram's search function.

Instagram's search function is another powerful tool you can use to research potential target audiences. Simply type in a keyword or phrase related to your business, and Instagram will show you a list of relevant results, including accounts, hashtags, and places. This is a great way to get an overview of who's talking about topics related to your business and what kinds of people are interested in those topics.

4. Look at who's interacting with your account.

If you're already active on Instagram, chances are you've built up a bit of an audience already. Take some time to look at the people who are already interacting with your account—liking your posts, commenting on your photos, etc.—and see if there are any commonalities among them. This will give you an idea of the types of people who are most likely to be interested in what you have to offer.

5. Use social listening tools.

There are a number of social listening tools available that can help you gather data about potential target audiences on Instagram (and other social media platforms). These tools allow you to track mentions of specific keywords or phrases, which can be helpful in identifying groups of people who might be interested in what you have to say. 

6. Conduct surveys and polls.

Finally, don't forget that sometimes the best way to get information about potential target audiences is simply to ask them directly! You can conduct surveys or polls using Instagram Stories or even just post a question in your regular feed and encourage people to respond in the comments section. Either way, this is a great way to get first-hand feedback from actual users about what they're looking for and how they use Instagram—information that can be invaluable as you work to identify your ideal target audience on the platform.

Takeaway:

Asking yourself "Who is my target audience?" is one of the most important questions you can answer when it comes time to market your business on Instagram (or really any social media platform). Once you have a good understanding of who you're trying to reach, you can start creating content that will resonate with them—content that will ultimately lead to more sales and conversions for your business.