Instagram - A complete waste of time?

[soupking]

Hi everybody,

I don't use social media and have spent half the day going through hashtags, writing out copy lines, researching online including two AI chat prompts to get the skinny on Instagram how it works, the posts, tags etc...was led through Meta Business Manager and back again to find out that Instagram doesn't allow links.

...So...why on earth am I even considering making this site part of my promotional wheelhouse? Does it make any sense at all? Is there a reasonable strategy to include Instagram?  If anybody can point out to me just any general why and how using this social platform makes any sense (without paying for ads) I'd love to know. 

Like, does linking to your bio make any difference? What's the angle/method (if any) to using Instagram as a promotional platform for Zazzle? I'd hate to spend a huge amount of time in the wrong direction.

Thanks so much for reading. 

[LMGildersleeve]

Back in the day when I was super active on my social media I used a link app called "Later.com". I was able to use their "link in bio" for setting links to any post within my Insta account. This way if a potential customer saw my post and actually read it would see my message to view the product via a link in my bio.

There are a number of sites that does similar features within IG. Another is called Linktree.

Honestly, I've done the pretty pictures and talking engagement on IG with absolutely no idea if I earned a referral from my efforts. I think everyone's posting styles and the designed products they offer are different. IG makes sense for me, however, you could find your success at TikTok too.

Pinterest is the only place I can honestly say I earn referral dollars from.

The Z forums are suppose to be closed at this time. Z forgot to do this which is allowing us to write messages at this time. Once their curfew is over after January 6th, you may find others giving you more information. At least you have a place to start now.

[soupking]

Hi LMGildersleeve,

Thanks so much for the feedback, especially since forums are closed. I put so much effort into these platforms the past few days. You could say I'm for the most part an introvert, that is to say, I don't do social media at all. So this has been a real education. I'll check out later.com and others. I can understand it varies quite a bit depending on what people are creating. Pinterest and Bluesky are the other ones I've researched as well and hope to use. 

Thanks again! 

[TAngelone]

I am reiterating what I have learned from a Pinterest marketing agency called Simple Pin Media. Pinterest is the library and Instagram is the bar or pub.   I too am still learning Pinterest and Instagram and I too am very introverted so I can relate. I am leaving a link to a Youtube video which will give you a very succinct rundown of how to leverage Pinterest and Instagram. Hope this is helpful to you. 

https://youtu.be/LOQ6_D3uZs0?si=KfHUIzzCao2hIyDI 

[TAngelone]

Here are a couple of additional links to give you more insight about Pinterest and Instagram. 

Here are two more links to videos that will give you a barebones overview of both Pinterest and Instagram. 

https://youtu.be/747uI4K0R04?si=_C-bmjJ-wFEvjUPN

https://youtu.be/rpyxFq0KalM?si=ab5maQAPddFLdl73

[soupking]

Hi TAngelone, 

Thanks so much, I'll review these videos this morning. It all helps!

[soupking]

Okay, I think I'm going to look into using Bluesky as my main artistic "social posting" ground. It allows linking out while behaving like a Twitter/Instagram where it's a post, not a pin. It doesn't natively integrate with other SM platforms but it is decentralized which may at some time offer some freedom. 

I understand that Instagram is like "the bar", Bluesky might be a little more like "the lounge" or "the cafe". It gets way less traffic, but might be a good alternative to post along with pinning content if there's stuff I'd like to post that might liaison traffic to Zazzle without being a direct representation of what's in the storefront. I guess you could make the same argument for Pinterest, but then why talk Instagram anyway. Okay, starting to ramble, eject!