How to Promote Your New Business on Instagram: Turn Followers into Customers

This post covers How to Promote Your New Business on Instagram and turn real followers into paying customers.

So, you’ve got your business registered, your products ready, and maybe even your first few customers through word-of-mouth. That’s beautiful. But if you’re not using Instagram to sell your business in Nigeria, you’re basically trying to fill a bucket with a teaspoon when you could be using a fire hose.

You see your competitors posting fine-fine photos, getting thousands of likes, and somehow converting all that attention into real money. Meanwhile, your Instagram page is looking like a ghost town — crickets chirping, tumbleweeds rolling.

Listen, Instagram isn’t just for posting your breakfast and motivational quotes anymore. It’s a money-making machine. And if you’re not tapping into Nigeria’s 33 million Instagram users, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

Let’s change that story today. No long thing. Just the blueprint that works.

Why Your New Business NEEDS Instagram Right Now

Instagram is not just another social media platform. It’s your digital storefront, your marketing team, your customer service desk, and your sales force — all rolled into one free app on your phone.

Here’s the reality: A study from Lagos Business School found that 73% of Nigerian millennials discover new products on Instagram. Your customers are already there, scrolling, double-tapping, and most importantly — buying.

The question is: are they buying from you or your competition?

Think about it. When last did you buy something without checking the seller’s Instagram first? Exactly. Your customers are doing the same thing.

Who This Guide Is For

This blueprint is designed for Nigerian entrepreneurs who:

✅ Just launched a business (or thinking about it)
✅ Have products or services to sell
✅ Want to make real money from Instagram (not just likes)
✅ Are tired of watching competitors win online while they struggle
✅ Ready to put in the work but need the right strategy

Whether you’re selling hair extensions from your living room, running a food business, offering digital services, or selling anything in between — this guide will show you how to turn Instagram into your biggest sales channel.

Step 1: Set Up Your Instagram Business Account Like a Pro

Before you start posting random pictures and hoping for miracle sales, let’s get your foundation right. A proper Instagram business setup is like dressing your business in a sharp suit, people take you seriously before you even open your mouth.

Convert to a Business Account (If You Haven’t Already)

Personal accounts are for personal gist. Business accounts are for business owners who want to make money. What makes the difference is that the business accounts comes with:

• Analytics: You can see who’s viewing your posts, when they’re online, and what content performs best
• Contact buttons: You can make it super easy for customers to call, email, or WhatsApp you
• Instagram Shopping: You can tag products directly in posts (we’ll get to this gold mine later) – not officially available for Nigerians yet.
• Ads: You can run targeted ads to reach more potential customers

How to switch:

1. Go to Settings → Account → scroll down to find, Switch to Professional Account
2. Choose “Business”
3. Connect your Facebook page (create one if you don’t have it)
4. Done. You’re now in business mode.

That simple!

Optimize Your Bio Like Your Business Depends On It (Because It Does)

Your Instagram bio is prime real estate. You have 150 characters to convince strangers to become customers. Here’s the formula that works:

Line 1: What you do (be specific)
Line 2: Who it’s for + benefit
Line 3: Call to action + contact info
Line 4: Link to your WhatsApp or website

Bad Bio Example: “Entrepreneur 💪 Living my dreams ✨ DM for business”

Good Bio Example: “Premium Human Hair Wigs & Extensions 💇🏾‍♀️
For Lagos ladies who want to slay daily 🔥
📱 WhatsApp: 08012345678
👇🏾 Order now via link below”

See the difference? The second one tells you exactly what they sell, who they sell to, and how to buy. No confusion, no guessing games.

Choose a Profile Picture That Builds Trust

Your profile picture should be your logo or a clean product shot. Not your personal selfie (unless you’re the brand — think Temi Otedola or Linda Ikeji).

Customers need to see your business, not your face. Save the personal photos for your personal account.

Read Also: 4 Proven Method to get your TIN

Step 2: Create Content That Sells (Without Being Salesy)

Here’s where most Nigerian businesses crash and burn. They post nothing but “Buy this! Buy that! DM for price!” and wonder why nobody’s buying.

Instagram users don’t wake up wanting to be sold to. They want to be entertained, educated, or inspired. Your job is to give them value first, then naturally introduce your products.

The 40/40/20 Content Rule

Forget the outdated 80/20 thing. We’re upgrading your strategy to the 40/40/20 principle and that’s because it’s smarter, sharper, and way more effective.

• 40% Value-Based Content: Tips, how-tos, quick wins, behind-the-scenes, in fact, anything that makes your followers say, “Wow, this brand actually knows what it’s doing.”
• 40% Engagement-Focused Content: Polls, questions, opinion posts, “caption this” games. That is, content that invites your audience to talk with you, not just scroll past you.
• 20% Sales Content: Yes, you can still promote (as in, sound salesy) but make it strategic. Product highlights, client testimonials, limited-time offers. Keep it irresistible, not intrusive.

This means if you post 10 times, only 2 should be “BUY NOW” posts. The other 8 should be adding value to your followers’ lives.

This approach keeps your page feeling like a party, not a pushy marketplace. You’re building trust, sparking conversations, and when the time is right – boom – you slide in your offer.

Content Types That Convert for Nigerian Businesses

1. Behind-the-Scenes Content Show how your products are made, packed, or delivered. Nigerians love seeing the process — it builds trust.

Example: If you sell food, show yourself cooking. If you sell clothes, show the quality checks you do.

2. Customer Testimonials & Reviews Nothing sells like social proof. Share customer reviews, unboxing videos, and transformation photos.

Pro tip: Always ask customers to tag you in their posts. Repost the best ones.

3. Educational Content Teach your audience something related to your business.

Examples:

• Hair business: “5 Ways to Make Your Wig Last 6 Months”
• Food business: “How to Store Jollof Rice for Maximum Freshness”
• Fashion business: “How to Style One Dress 3 Different Ways”

4. Problem-Solution Posts Identify a problem your target audience faces, then present your product as the solution.

Example: “Tired of wigs that look fake? Here’s how our premium hair gives you natural-looking results…”

5. Lifestyle Content Show how your product fits into your customers’ desired lifestyle.

Example: Instead of just posting a picture of a dress, show a confident woman wearing it to a business meeting.

Read Also: When to Start Running Ads on Your New Business

Step 3: Master Instagram Stories (Your Secret Sales Weapon)

If you’re ignoring Instagram Stories, you’re ignoring free money. Stories appear at the top of the feed, get more engagement than regular posts, and disappear after 24 hours — creating urgency.

Stories That Drive Sales

1. Flash Sales & Limited Offers “Next 5 customers get 20% off! DM now!”

2. Behind-the-Scenes Content Show your workspace, packing process, or daily business routine.

3. Polls & Questions “Which color should we restock first?” or “What’s your biggest challenge with [your niche]?”

4. Customer Testimonials Screenshot positive reviews and share them as stories.

5. Product Demonstrations Show your product in action. If you sell skincare, show the before/after. If you sell food, show the cooking process.

Story Features That Boost Sales

Highlights: Save your best stories as highlights. Create categories like “Customer Reviews,” “How to Order,” “New Arrivals.”

Links: Add swipe-up links (if you have 10k+ followers) or “Link in Bio” stickers to drive traffic.

Shopping Tags: Tag products directly in stories for instant purchasing.

Step 4: Build an Engaged Community (Not Just Followers)

Here’s a hard truth: 10,000 engaged followers who buy from you is worth more than 100,000 followers who just scroll past your content.

How to Build Real Engagement

1. Respond to Every Comment and DM Yes, every single one. In the early days, customer service is everything. People buy from businesses that make them feel valued.

2. Ask Questions in Your Captions End your posts with questions to encourage comments.

Examples:

• “Which style do you prefer? A or B?”
• “What’s your biggest challenge with [your niche]?”
• “Tag someone who needs this!”

3. Use Relevant Nigerian Hashtags Research hashtags your target audience actually uses. Mix popular ones (#LagosEntrepreneur #NaijaBusiness) with niche-specific ones (#NaijaHair #LagosFood).

Hashtag Strategy:

• 5 broad hashtags (high competition)
• 15 medium hashtags (moderate competition)
• 10 niche hashtags (low competition)

4. Collaborate with Other Nigerian Businesses Partner with complementary businesses for shoutouts, giveaways, or joint content.

Example: Hair business + makeup artist + fashion designer = styling collaboration

Step 5: Turn Followers into Paying Customers

This is where the magic happens. All the content, engagement, and followers mean nothing if you can’t convert them into sales.

The Instagram Sales Funnel

Stage 1: Awareness → They discover your content
Stage 2: Interest → They follow you and engage
Stage 3: Consideration → They view your products and ask questions
Stage 4: Purchase → They buy from you
Stage 5: Loyalty → They become repeat customers and refer others

Conversion Tactics That Work

1. Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs) Every post should tell people what to do next.

Examples:

• “DM us to order”
• “WhatsApp 08012345678 for instant delivery”
• “Click the link in our bio to shop now”
• “Comment ‘MINE’ to claim yours”

2. Create Urgency Limited quantities, time-bound offers, exclusive deals.

Examples:

• “Only 5 pieces left!”
• “24-hour flash sale!”
• “First 10 customers get free delivery”

3. Showcase Social Proof Share customer reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content regularly.

4. Make Buying Easy The easier it is to buy from you, the more sales you’ll make.

• Clear pricing (don’t make customers guess)
• Multiple payment options (bank transfer, POS, online payment)
• Fast response times to inquiries
• Smooth ordering process

The Instagram Shopping Feature (Pure Gold)

If you’re selling physical products, Instagram Shopping is your best friend. It lets customers buy directly from your posts without leaving the app.

How to Set It Up:

1. Create a Facebook Catalog with your products
2. Connect it to your Instagram business account
3. Tag products in your posts and stories
4. Watch sales roll in

Step 6: Use Instagram Ads to Reach More Customers

Organic reach is great, but Instagram ads can accelerate your growth 10x faster. Even with ₦5,000 ad budget, you can reach thousands of potential customers.

Types of Ads That Work for Nigerian Businesses

1. Photo Ads Single image showcasing your best product with compelling copy.

2. Video Ads Short videos demonstrating your product or service.

3. Carousel Ads Multiple images/videos in one ad — great for showing different angles or products.

4. Stories Ads Full-screen ads that appear between users’ stories.

Ad Targeting for Nigerian Businesses

Target people based on:

• Location: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, etc.
• Age: Depending on your target market
• Interests: Fashion, food, beauty, business, etc.
• Behaviors: Online shoppers, people who engage with business content

Pro Tip: Start with a small budget (₦1,000-₦3,000 per day) and scale up what works.

Step 7: Track Your Results and Double Down on What Works

Instagram gives you free analytics to track your performance. Use them!

Key Metrics to Monitor

1. Reach & Impressions How many people are seeing your content?

2. Engagement Rate Are people actually interacting with your posts?

3. Profile Visits How many people are checking out your profile after seeing your content?

4. Website Clicks If you have a link in bio, how many people are clicking it?

5. Sales & Conversions Most importantly — how much money are you making?

What to Do with the Data

• Double down on content types that get high engagement
• Post more at times when your audience is most active
• Adjust your strategy based on what your analytics reveal
• Stop doing what’s not working

Common Instagram Mistakes Nigerian Businesses Make (And How to Avoid Them)

❌ Mistake 1: Posting only when you remember ✅ Solution: Create a content calendar and post consistently

❌ Mistake 2: Using only wide-angle photos that look unprofessional ✅ Solution: Invest in good lighting and learn basic photography

❌ Mistake 3: Not responding to comments and DMs quickly ✅ Solution: Set up notifications and respond within 2 hours

❌ Mistake 4: Copying competitors’ content exactly ✅ Solution: Get inspired but create original content that reflects your brand

❌ Mistake 5: Focusing only on followers count instead of engagement ✅ Solution: Build a community of people who actually care about your business.

Your 30-Day Instagram Action Plan

Week 1: Foundation

• Set up business account properly
• Optimize bio and profile
• Create content calendar
• Post daily (mix of content types)

Week 2: Engagement

• Respond to all comments/DMs
• Use relevant hashtags
• Post stories daily
• Start building highlights

Week 3: Growth

• Collaborate with other businesses
• Run your first giveaway
• Engage with your target audience’s content
• Test different posting times

Week 4: Conversion

• Add clear CTAs to all posts
• Set up Instagram Shopping (if applicable)
• Run your first ad campaign
• Analyze your results and adjust strategy

The Bottom Line: Instagram Can Make or Break Your Business

Here’s the truth nobody wants to tell you: Your competitors are already winning on Instagram while you’re still “thinking about it” or posting sporadically and wondering why it’s not working.

Instagram isn’t just another social media platform — it’s the digital marketplace where your customers are hanging out, discovering new brands, and making buying decisions. Every day you’re not properly using Instagram is another day your competitors are stealing your potential customers.

But here’s the good news: It’s not too late. The strategies in this guide work. We’ve seen Nigerian businesses go from zero followers to 6-figure revenues using these exact methods.

Your next move? Stop overthinking and start implementing. Pick one section from this guide and execute it today. Then tomorrow, pick another section. Before you know it, your Instagram will be working as hard as you are to grow your business.

Remember: Instagram rewards consistency, not perfection. Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.

Need Help Implementing This Strategy?

If you want us to set up and manage your Instagram marketing while you focus on running your business, we’ve got you covered.

We help Nigerian businesses:

• Set up professional Instagram business accounts
• Create content calendars and post consistently
• Run targeted ad campaigns that actually convert
• Turn followers into paying customers

Call or WhatsApp: 08036509056
Email: info@qflex.com.ng

Because while your competitors are still posting randomly and hoping for the best, you could be building a systematic Instagram marketing machine that generates sales 24/7.

The choice is yours. But remember — in business, timing is everything. And your time is now.