Are you ready to transform your small business with actionable Instagram strategies? This week on the podcast, Jen Vazquez, Pinterest expert for hyper-busy female entrepreneurs, welcomes Peg Fitzpatrick, a social media strategist and author of The Art of Small Business Social Media. Peg shares her wealth of experience helping entrepreneurs grow their online presence authentically and effectively.

Why Instagram Matters for Small Businesses

Instagram is no longer optional for small businesses—it’s a critical tool for growing brand awareness and engagement. Peg highlights common mistakes small businesses make and how to avoid them. From overposting to copying others’ styles, finding your authentic voice and audience is key.

Common Instagram Missteps

1. Overwhelming Strategies: Trying to post six reels daily? Peg debunks this myth and explains why quality over quantity matters.
2. Copycat Content: Instead of mimicking others, infuse your content with your unique brand personality.
3. Overlooking Analytics: Data helps identify what resonates with your audience. Peg suggests tracking engagement rates, shares, and follower growth.

Tips for Success on Instagram

1. Reels & Carousels

• Reels are Instagram’s golden ticket to engagement. Peg advises creating a library of B-roll content for easy reel creation.
• Carousels offer a chance to share multiple ideas or photos at once, keeping your audience engaged.

2. Consistency & Simplicity

• Posting 2-3 reels and one carousel weekly is effective.
• Use Instagram stories for daily, behind-the-scenes updates to stay top of mind.

3. Leverage Analytics

• Dive into Instagram’s native analytics to see what content performs best.
• Tools like Agorapulse or manual tracking can help small business owners stay organized.

4. Use Trending Audio

Pairing reels with trending audio boosts discoverability. Peg also stresses the importance of hyper-targeted hashtags and location tags to reach the right audience.

Tools to Simplify Social Media Marketing

Peg shares her favorite tools, including Canva for content creation, Meta Business Suite for scheduling, and CapCut for video editing. For analytics, Peg emphasizes using manual tracking with spreadsheets and leveraging ChatGPT for data insights.

Free Resource: 31 Days of Social Content Prompts

Peg’s freebie, “31 Days of Social Media Prompts,” helps small business owners plan engaging content effortlessly. Reuse and adapt these prompts to maintain a steady social media presence without the stress.  

Where to Find Peg:

https://pegfitzpatrick.com/

https://www.instagram.com/pegfitzpatrick/

Final Thoughts

Building a successful Instagram presence doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. Peg’s strategies focus on authenticity, consistency, and simplicity—helping small businesses connect with their audience and grow sustainably.