Marketing Your Business on Instagram with Antonia Semanskee

In this episode, I welcome a special guest, Antonia Semanskee, to share her expert insights on marketing your business on Instagram as a powerful tool for business growth. We dive deep into the importance of data-driven decisions and how they can shape a successful Instagram strategy for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. We also highlight the key differences between posting as a business owner versus posting as an influencer. 

Guest Introduction

Antonia Semanskee is a business professor, entrepreneur, and Instagram analytics expert. She specializes in helping coaches and consultants enhance their online visibility using strategic, data-driven methods. 

With over 25 years of experience in startup business development, sales, marketing, & teaching, Antonia brings the best of data analysis, strategy, and practical knowledge to the art of social media marketing & PR for business results.

Marketing Your Business on Instagram - Key Takeaways

• Content Repurposing: Identify your high-performing posts using analytics and recreate them in different formats (e.g., carousel, reel) to maximize reach and engagement for your coaching business.
• Feed vs. Stories: When marketing your business on Instagram, keep your feed professional and business-focused, while Stories can be used to connect on a more personal level, helping you build authenticity with your coaching audience.
• Analytics First: Tracking key metrics through a spreadsheet is essential for understanding what resonates with your audience. Focus on metrics like saves, shares, comments, and profile visits to fine-tune your Instagram marketing strategy.
• The "Attorney Filter": Before posting personal content, run it through the "attorney filter" by asking, "Would I be comfortable if my attorney posted this?" It’s a simple way to maintain professionalism and credibility as a transformational coach.
• Engagement in Stories: Use interactive content like “this or that” polls in Stories to engage with your audience and gain insights, a vital part of marketing your business on Instagram to potential coaching clients.
• Building Community: Engage daily with a core group of industry peers to build relationships and drive organic engagement on your posts. A supportive community is invaluable for marketing and scaling your coaching business on Instagram.
• Testing and Iteration: Experiment with different content, learn from failures, and refine your strategy. The key is to fail forward and use the data to improve your Instagram marketing efforts.

Content Analysis and Repurposing

• What to Do Next: After tracking your posts' performance, identify the winners and repurpose them in new formats. For example, transform a successful infographic into a carousel post or a reel, keeping your content fresh and relevant to your Instagram marketing strategy.
• Tweaking: Try changing color schemes or slightly modifying headlines to appeal to different segments of your audience, allowing you to explore what works best for marketing your business on Instagram.

Handling Viral Content

• Viral content is great for engaging your current community but doesn’t always bring in new clients or convert into coaching leads.
• Use viral content sparingly, and manage your expectations regarding its business impact on marketing your business on Instagram.

Daily Instagram Engagement

• Build a core group of peers in your industry and engage with their content regularly to foster a community that supports your Instagram marketing strategy.
• Spend time commenting and starting conversations on their pages to cultivate authentic connections.
• Rotate through your network to maintain interactions and combat social media isolation.

Balancing Professionalism and Personality

• Use Stories to showcase your personality, but keep it relevant to your coaching business. Sharing mistakes and learning experiences can help build authenticity and trust while marketing your business on Instagram.
• Avoid overly casual or personal content that might detract from your professional image as a transformational coach.

Key Quotes

• "Run your content through the 'attorney filter.' Would you be okay if your attorney did this?"
• "I don't strive for viral content. Viral content is fun, but it’s not super effective for business."
• "If you aren't measuring things, then you are wasting resources."
• "Building a community on Instagram isn’t just about content—it’s about genuine engagement."

Resources Mentioned

• Antonia’s Free Guide: 3 Keys to Attracting New Clients Using Instagram (Without Chasing Prospects) https://crushyoursocial.myflodesk.com/3keys    
• My free bundle: The Social Media Sales Machine https://sellmorewithsocial.com