The IG90 Method to Selling on Instagram
Connect + Convert: The 5-Step Process to Use Instagram to Grow Your Business
INSTAGRAM: FOR THE PRODUCT SHOP OWNER.
Oh hey - ya YOU. The creative woman who runs her own shop!
Whether you're a product maker or shop curator,
you + Instagram have ONE main goal.
(and hint: it has nothing to do with getting more followers or likes)
IT'S PROFIT.
Instagram is a tool to grow your business, increase your sales, and reach a wider audience.
Which means not growing followers for followers sake, but growing a community of fans that become raving, money-droppin' customers.
So if you're tired of hustling for more followers, frustrated with the (dun, dun dunnn) algorithm, or unsure what to say to turn followers into paying customers (who are crazy excited to buy from your BTW), then let's keep talking...
Because I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the Instagram game.
You're following the latest 'hack' promised to boost your follower count, but it doesn't budge.
You're sick of the desperate 'follow/unfollow' game and trying to keep up with confusing algorithm changes.
You're wasting time figuring out what to post every day... and shoot, what if you miss a day?! (spoiler: it's okay. srsly)
YOU'VE TRIED EVERYTHING.
- You sign up for free courses and challenges that promise to "grow your followers".
- You diligently show up each and every day.
- You've read seemingly every blog post and hundreds of freebies that promise to give you the secrets behind growing your account.
- You maybe even already invested in other Instagram courses (and weren't totally satisfied with the results).
- You still feel like you're struggling to understand how to work around the algorithm
But what if I said you don't have to "beat the algorithm" or find the next new hack to work around it...
That there's a simpler way to use Instagram for business.
(and it has nothing to do with "hacking" the algorithm.)
What if...
instead of worrying about what to say on your next post... You're effortlessly sharing your work and your passions. No copy + paste formulas. Just real confidence in how to communicate your brand.
What if...
you could make sales without feeling 'salesy'? Instead you're confidently talking about your product and your customers? THEY LOVE IT.
What if...
YOU became the go-to shop for your customers. They can't wait for your next launch, become repeat buyers, and are active in your community to spread the word about your brand.
No questions. She's in it WITH YOU.
You've created an Instagram presence where she remembers you, comments on your latest posts, and is excited to support you.
So, what's this big "secret" to getting the algorithm working for you?
For one - run away from anyone saying they have a secret.
Two - it's not a secret!
It's ENGAGEMENT.
And not just any kind, but hyper-personalized relationships.
As Instagram continues to improve the user experience, we need to follow suit and focus more on our individual audience relationships.
What do they need from us? What gets them talking? How can we encourage them?
Instagram is no longer just a popularity contest (YAY). They're valuing real over spammy or bot behavior (can I get a double YAY YAY!), and individual relationships matter, putting you back into control.
And here's why ENGAGEMENT matters for PROFIT:
- Engaged customers are five times more likely to buy only from the same brand in the future.
- Highly-engaged customers buy 90 percent more often and spend 60 percent more per transaction.
- A strong emotional connection with a brand is a stronger driver of loyalty than factors like ‘ease’ and ‘effectiveness
- 82% of emotionally connected consumers will not only promote a brand among their friends and family, but they will also spend more
So how do we crack this level of engagement?
By understanding what our audience actually uses Instagram for + how we can show up for them.
They use Instagram as a platform for:
- Inspiration
- Discovery
- Community
And the one thing they don't?
As a sales platform.
(Which is not to say you can’t or won’t make sales from it. Otherwise that'd be a giant waste of our time!)
But understanding that tiny distinction will make a huge difference in how you approach your Instagram content and the results you get.
WITH THE IG90 METHOD, YOU DON'T NEED 10,000+ FOLLOWERS TO GET RESULTS:
After implementing just one of your recommended strategies I became so busy that I haven’t had a chance to finish... such a good problem to have!!
- Lindsey, @WeatheredWoodHome
Which is why I’m so excited to introduce
The IG90 Method to Selling on Instagram
for Shop Owners, Makers, and Etsy Sellers
IG90 is about connecting with your customers through storytelling, getting a conversation going, and learning how to lead them down the path from follower to buyer in a natural way using the Instagram platform.
Let's say goodbye to random posting, "time-sucking engagement hacks", and sweaty palms staring at that blinking cursor.
Let's focus on connection first, then conversion.
WITH THE IG90 METHOD, YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND HOURS ON INSTAGRAM:
I posted one of my products on Instagram and sold it in less than thirty minutes!
"After implementing just a fraction of the tips learned in the first portion of the course, I posted one of my products on Instagram and sold it in less than thirty minutes!
I still have people contacting me about that post, nearly two months later
My main struggle was knowing what to say in my posts, and this is why I felt the need to do the course. The advice I learned from IG90 not only helped me craft Instagram post descriptions that sell, but learning what to say also helped me formulate hashtags that would reach clients and not other Etsy sellers or stationery designers"
- Valerie, @bettylupaperie
Find her shop at BettyLuPaperie
WITH THE IG90 METHOD, YOU CAN SAY 'GOODBYE' TO OVERWHELM + SHOW UP CONSISTENTLY:
I've been trying to be consistent on Instagram for like 5 years, but planning the content beforehand has never been my strongest. I used to leave months in between posts, or rushed to publish whatever was on my mind.
But your system and prompts make it SO easy (and I love easy!).
Using the same theme for the four content pillars is such a relief because I don't feel overwhelmed thinking about more things to write about.
I'm loving IG90 and I completely recommend it because you've thought about everything and take us step-by-step through the process - thank you Kate!
- Karen Avila, Artist + Digital Planner Creator
"It's helping my entire brand take shape..."
I've been working through the get to know your customers part and the first worksheet was filled with "aha moments" about seeing ways to connect to my customers.
It's giving me ideas for much more than just Instagram; I feel like it's helping my entire brand take shape in a way that nothing else has helped me to do before.
-Shanna, @bristol_and_breve
Find her art at Bristol + Breve
Because of your IG90 program (so insightful, OMG!) I completely overhauled our IG/FB pages and so grateful I did because we got a celebrity assistant's attention and interest... couldn't have done it without your help. So thanks again!! ❤
-Rene, @pureandcoco
Find her natural skincare shop Pure + Coco here
"by far the best in terms of understanding ecommerce."
I’m LOVING your course! I actually recommended it to a couple of friends and I know one of them has already purchased. I’ve taken many courses since starting my business including one super expensive one and yours is by far the best in terms of understanding ecommerce.
- Elisheva, Loop Living
"You just saved me tons of time."
I am working the course! LOVE IT!
I just discovered the promotional event excel spreadsheet - I love this kind of organization!! And you just saved me tons of time creating it for my little business!
- Miriam Deckert
Get started now!
I'm not going to say you need to post great content, pretty images, or show up every day.
That's so 2015. It's time for a better approach.
This course won't show you how to work around Instagram loopholes and beat the algorithm with one-off hacks.
And it isn't a "do this" tactic-based approach.
This is an intentional, creative road map to help you set the foundation with customer-first marketing + understand how to position your products so you can turn followers into customers.
This course will help you CONNECT with + CONVERT your followers to paying customers.
Doesn't that sound better than a vague "double your followers"?
Because I see you out there trying to connect on Instagram.
.... you're sick of the pointless follow/unfollows,
.... the empty "love!" comments,
.... and the crickets you keep hearing even though your followers are growing.
You're looking for real engagement, real followers, and genuine comments that make you smile and get you excited to chat with your people every day. You want to sell on Instagram in a way that feels good, not just for you, but your customers too.
Not to mention - you want to actually show up in your followers' feeds and feel confident about how your account is working with the algorithm.
So I wanted to take away the confusing 'engagement hacks' and get back to serving our customer.
With The IG90 Method, I created specific strategies for shop owners to plan out your content so that it serves your business goals AND your customers in a way that's going to hit them over the head (in the softest way possible) and get them excited about your brand.
Seriously.
This isn't another online course with just a lot of theory and information. It's a road map so you can put this information to work and get RESULTS.
What would that mean for you?
I’ll take a few guesses…
- Never staring at that blinking cursor, cursing that you don’t know what to say #puncity
- Being able to focus on your business, instead of wasting time trying to figure out what to say today
- Never running out of ideas again! (Because I’m sharing over 100 of mine)
- No more forgetting (or avoiding) to post
- AND THE BIG ONE… having an intentional content strategy that will actually turn followers into customers and support your business goals.
The IG90 Method will re-shape your approach to Instagram and finally give you a social media strategy that supports your business.
And I'm thrilled to say those going through the course have seen the payoff.
What people are saying:
You're the best. Seriously you have single handedly, changed how I do business and use Instagram.
- Karyn, @siggiclothier
Find her shop at SiggiClothier
"The IG90 is a game changer!"
I was working though the IG90 at lunch and I'm excited to implement what I've learned! I really am blown away with all the info. It will literally change my business!
- Rachel, @nixxenrayneboutique
Find her shop (and the cutest mobile boutique!) at Nixxen Rayne
AND THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE NUGGET FROM AUTUMN:
- Autumn, @dupreandmoore
Find her shop at Du Pré and Moore
What to Expect?
We're going to set up your Instagram account to be a micro-blogging platform that drives all your other content creation needs.
Instagram is a platform of inspiration, discovery and community; and online shops are primed to succeed at delivering on all three.
The IG90 Method is broken down into 4 large sections that are designed to build upon each other.
The first two are pre-work sections:
1 | Positioning Your Product
2 | Who is Your Customer?
You'll come away with a clear idea of who you're speaking to and what you need to communicate about your brand.
- We'll dive deep into understanding your product + seeing it from a consumer's perspective
- Why your customer wants it (what you're actually selling)
- And the easy way to authentically share your story, in a way your customer will care about
The next two sections are where you'll build out your content strategy.
3 | The 90 Day Strategy Session
You'll create an easy guide of what you need to cover and when.
We'll look into five areas to ensure your business is covered and you're never left with the dreaded feeling of 'how did I miss that?'
4 | Create Your Content Strategy
We'll start with three lessons that talk about the types of content we're creating and how to position your brand messaging.
Those lessons include Writing Captions That Matter, How to Convert Shop Lurkers into Customers, and the 4 Content Pillars Every Instagram Account Needs.
- I share 4 methods for creating captions that matter
- We'll discuss the 5 call-to-action (CTA) categories you should be using (and what to do if you're hearing crickets), plus give you over 20 examples of CTAs to use
- The theory of getting your customers to 'know, like, and trust' you, but more importantly, how to actually put them into practice
- The four types of content you need to be sharing to naturally turn your audience from casual onlooker to excited fan to loyal customer.
It wraps up with an easy walk-through on how to use the prompt worksheet and gives ideas on how to structure each month.
And that's when the real work begins!
This course was created to be actionable. It's not designed to create extra work, but instead make the work you're already doing more intentional.
Starting with a caption, you’ll learn how to easily create images that stand out and speak to your brand's messaging.
I’ve created over 100 caption prompts specifically for product sellers.
You'll receive a copy with some actual examples so you can see how to inject more of your personality and start brainstorming your own. As well as a blank version with prompts for you to complete and fill in based on your own brand and research (spreadsheets are Excel based, also work with Google Sheets).
Have an image you can’t wait to share first, but not actually sure what to say? No problem, you can do that too! You can easily sort to find caption ideas or categories to create a compelling caption that matters.
You'll also receive a monthly content calendar that pulls from these categories so you know exactly what to post each day. (Plus it's customizable, so if you don’t like a caption? Toss that idea and grab the next.)
Two Bonus Lessons:
- Promotion/Event Strategy - plug and play promotion sequences so you're prepared with an Instagram strategy for your next sale or launch
- Engagement Checklist - a monthly, weekly, and daily list so you can keep track of what to do when and how to put your new strategies to use
Plus, you'll finally understand how it's not only possible, but POSSIBLE FOR YOU, to have a caption + image strategy that works together.
The strategy behind this whole course is designed to save you time and help you create intentional images that support your brand message.
Are you ready for a clear, approachable method to planning your Instagram?
Then you’re in the right place my friend.
- gain a deeper understanding of who your customer truly is and why she’s buying your product
- create meaningful captions with over 100 prompts just for online shops, so you can create content and messages that will matter to her and get your audience talking
- plan your content ahead of time so you never miss a holiday, key selling season, or special announcement
- naturally sell without feeling like you’re pitching your products constantly
Get started now!
If you've been around The Shop Files for awhile (or heyyy girl if you're new!), you know I don't like fluff.
This is not another Instagram 101 "How to create a killer bio" type of course.In fact, I didn't even want to call it a course, because it's an actionable, repeatable plan. It's legit. You can use and re-use these strategies and prompts for an entire year. And then start all over again.
IG90 helps you show up for your customer every day.
Here's what students are saying...
"I know what photos I need to take in advance... I don't need to scramble!"
I'm loving your resources. You really digest things down to something I can absolutely grab onto and run. Your inverted method to creating content is SO much more accessible to me.
Thank you so much for putting all of this together for us. I've finished writing out the whole month of April for plans, I know what I'm going to say each day, I know what I'm targeting each day - including two promotions during the month and how I can manage to both hard sell and soft sell for them.
And even better… I know what photos I need to take in advance so I don't need to scramble to come up with something!
A whole month! Planned! What a weight off my shoulders.
- Stephanie, @phylogenyartstephanie
Find her work at Phylogeny Art and her Etsy shop, Phylogeny
Your IG course is SO amazing! I honestly don't know why you aren't charging twice as much... and that's coming from someone with 50+k who got stalled out and needed help, not a beginner at all.
I'm so grateful I took it, and can't wait to launch into my new feed. This is DEFINITELY a course for the bigger accounts, where I see a lot of overwhelm once people grow and a lot is expected of them from fans. And while it's geared toward shop owners, it's honestly perfect for ANY account that wants to get to know its audience better and grow more quickly.
You taught me so much about understanding my customer and follower lifestyles, tracking important events, knowing my brand message, scheduling my posts and more. You're a wizard, and I highly recommend your course to absolutely anyone who cares about Insta. Go Kate!
- Sarah, @newleafwriter
Find her at New Leaf Writing
Hey girl, just wanted to share with you that yesterday I had so many people stop by our booth and meet us at our market and I truly believe it's because I have changed my approach on my Insta captions! I'm so appreciative of all your help.
- Ericka, @trulyhandmadeeverything
Find her shop at Truly Handmade Everything
Get started now!
Your Instructor
HELLO, I’M KATE!
A retail buyer who helps creatives and shop owners understand the business side; so you can take care of the fun side! Because my guess is creating products and shop experiences your customers will love is what keeps you going each day.
While I went to school for marketing, I quickly fell into the retail industry and never gave marketing a second thought. Until one day. I was frustrated with the slow sales in my department and sick of competing on price (because going back to haggle markdowns with vendors was not a favorite part of my job).
SO I STOPPED.
Instead I focused on understanding who our customer is, what she was looking for (the problem we could solve), and learned how to speak directly to her in a way that:
- grew our sales by over 70% (with the same old products we'd carried for years)
- increased our profits (because I no longer needed to compete on price)
- allowed us to stand out as an industry leader (we quickly saw our competition take notice + imitate)
And I want the same for you.
I love tacos, big dreams and d. coke (okay, so all the Mexican foods. and french fries. fine, all the food – maybe bring ice cream) and with over 9 years of corporate merchandising experience in both buying + planning roles, I’m here to spill the secrets of a buyer (let’s just call it SOB, right?) to help make your goals easier to achieve.
So if you’re looking for business advice tailored to the retail industry, this is the place to be!