Boost Your Reach With Other Small Businesses - Instagram Engagement Groups

What are Instagram engagement groups?

 

They are private group conversations with a limited number of users (usually from 15-20, but can range to thousands) who are all aiming for Instagram growth and engagement.  Niche-specific engagement groups are the most popular ones and can range from fashion to photography and cars to health. 
All group members help one another by following engagement behavior defined by their groups (often referred to as “pods”). The three main kinds are:

• Like only: members only like each other’s posts
• Comment only: members only comment on each other’s posts
• Like and comment: members like and comment on each other’s posts

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to join an Instagram engagement pod – some require payment and have group rules you must follow. And not all pod group rules are the same, as some require you click a certain number of members’ links while others need you to engage with a certain number of posts in a day.

How to find Instagram engagement groups

Your Explore Page is the best place to start since it populates content from accounts similar to that of yours. A general rule of thumb is to look for related accounts with content that has high engagement. This can be a good indicator that these accounts may be related to engagement groups.
Off of Instagram is where most of the pods are though (we’ll explain why later). Explore the following communities to try your luck:

• Telegram has also been a growing online cloud community for finding niche-specific engagement pods
• Reddit has a thread dedicated to Instagram pods
• Facebook also has large groups you can search for
• WhatsApp is also a source for finding groups
• Search Twitter for related hashtags
• Just Google

How to join Instagram engagement groups

The thing with engagement groups is…they’re not easy to join since most are private or in secret. The the easiest way to try is to DM (direct message) a high-engaging account on Instagram that relates to your niche or product and sees if it is part of an engagement group that you can join. 
If you happen to be accepted, you’ll be part of what is known as an Instagram DM Group. These are the most common pods to join. On Facebook and other noted platforms, you have to either send an invite request or message to a group to see if you will be accepted.

List of Instagram engagement groups

Aside from the standard like-only, comment-only, or like and comment pods, some pods have specific requirements as touched on earlier.

• Dx groups: Usually designated with a number such as “Dx20” or “Dx10” mean you must comment and like the last (insert number) links posted in the group to join. So a “Dx20” group, for instance, would require you to like the last 20 links posted in the group.
• Time-limit groups: These pods are labeled with time constraints, most commonly “24HR” to designate the time length in which users can drop their links or profile handles. All members must engage with the pod’s members’ posts within that time frame.
• Post notification groups: A simpler and more traditional take on upping engagement, these type of groups are generally a DM chat group and require members to turn on notifications for all members. So, once a member posts something, everyone in the chat will be notified so they can go like or comment.

Free engagement groups on Instagram

Want to cut the search and find the right groups for your Instagram marketing? Start with the pods below:

From Facebook:

• Instagram Marketing Mastermind PODS
• Fitness Instagram POD!
• Instagram Growers – For Mommy Bloggers Only
• Comment Pods of Instagram: Dogs Edition
• Instagram Pod: Health, Outdoor Life, Fitness, Natural Living & Nutrition
• Instagram Follow/Like/Comment Pod

From Telegram

• 24H LIKES ONLY
• BOOSTUP Powerlikes
• Engagement Groups
• BLOGGERS | Dx5 | L&C
• Creative Instagram Hub

It’s a good idea to join multiple pods to see what may work best for you (ex. One niche pod and one more general like/follow one).

Paid Instagram engagement groups

Whether a group is paid or not completely varies. You could stumble across a group on Facebook or DM an an account on Instagram to find out you have to hand over money to join that pod. However, you can have greater peace of mind and a higher return on investment if you pay for a well-known engagement service. Two well-known ones are:

1. Wolf
2. AiGrow

Something to keep in mind: with paid services, you are essentially guaranteed engagement since pod members are required to follow and like your content (some of this is even automated with certain services). Members will be penalized if they don’t engage. With some free pods, you have to rely on other group members to manually do their part of the deal. There is no guarantee that members will like your stuff (some just earn engagement from other members and leave the groups — this is known as “leeching”).

Are Instagram engagement groups worth it?

So one thing is clear — finding the right pods is not easy. There’s a laundry list of things to consider:

1. You have to network and search platforms and apps
2. The groups have to be quality and reliable
3. Many have requirements to acceptance, or you have to pay to ensure quality service
4. Even if you are accepted, you have to abide by the group rules and spend time liking, commenting and engaging with other member accounts.
5. Some groups have time limits (ex. 24 hours only to comment on all users’ posts; you only have 30 minutes to join)
6. Depending on the pod you are in (if it isn’t niche related), you could be interacting with accounts, not at all related to your brand. This in turn can make your engagement look questionable to users who stumble across your comments.

With all these barriers, you might start asking: are these pods and groups even worth the trouble?
The answer is mixed. A few years ago, outlets such as Buzzfeed reported Facebook (the parent company of Instagram) cracking down on engagement groups. The reason was that the activity in engagement pods was viewed by Facebook to be manipulative of Instagram’s algorithm make your account seem high-engaging (when in fact, it really wasn’t). Due to this, people started fearing that if detected by Facebook for engaging in engagement groups, their accounts could be shadowbanned or deleted. That is why many users steer clear of Instagram DM groups and Facebook groups and gravitate towards external resources such as Telegram and WhatsApp to avoid Facebook’s monitoring eye.
However, that doesn’t mean that joining Instagram pods is a waste. There’s always a chance that you can hit it off with the right niche and building good relationships with other pod members. It’s a strategy that can help boost your engagement such as likes and comments if done with the right people.

 

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10 Tips To Boost Your Instagram

 

What’s the reason to boost your Instagram engagement?

To date, the most visited websites worldwide are social networks. Tons of people use them every day for chatting, sharing photos, and so on. Moreover, they are extremely popular not only among teenagers but among the users of all ages. What does it mean for you as an eCommerce business owner? In fact, it gives you an opportunity to use social networks to promote your business.

How you boost your Instagram and use it for the benefit of your business?

#1 Create a brand

A strong brand is extremely important for any type of business. And, especially, if you deal with eCommerce. 
Building a memorable brand image, you enjoy a whole range of long-term benefits. For example, you get the opportunity to establish an emotional connection with your followers. After gaining a loyal audience, you will find it much easier to introduce and promote new product offerings and raise awareness about your business through word of mouth.

#2 Optimize your Instagram bio

An Instagram bio that is written in a proper way is a vital element of your Instagram monetizing strategy. For you, as the account owner, it means the chance to tell your potential clients all about your business while keeping it short and to the point. You have only 150 words to do this. That’s why we are eager to give you several tips on how to optimize your Instagram bio!
First of all, specify the niche where you conduct your eCommerce activities. It will help the Instagram users find your account faster and easier. 

#3 Think of how to boost your Instagram followers

The number of followers of your Instagram business account is also extremely important. Take one step at a time and start small: first of all, try to get 1,000 subscribers.
Achieving this milestone, you’ll be able to proudly write that you’re a micro influencer in your Instagram bio 
There are multiple ways of how to boost your Instagram likes and the number of followers. For example, you can launch a giveaway, pay more attention to your posts’ content, and even use awesome semi-automated software to enhance your Instagram activity.

#4 Use social proof and user-generated content

Social proof plays a huge role in your brand image creation and support. The posts containing authentic reviews from your clients can also contribute greatly to your Instagram monetizing strategy. In fact, they can improve your conversions significantly and influence the number of both immediate and long-term purchases. 
 Social proof helps them make their purchasing decisions quicker and influences their loyalty to your brand.

#5 Use hashtags to boost your Instagram likes

The right hashtags let Instagram users find your posts more quickly. The reason is simple: hashtags contain a clickable link that makes it extremely easy for people to navigate through billions of posts. 
When running an account on Instagram, you should know that it’s allowed to use up to 30 hashtags in one post.
By the way, if you want to interest as many potential clients as possible, you should use more broad hashtags.

#6 Make entertaining posts

One of the main purposes of your business Instagram account is to inform its visitors and followers about your products and services. Still, it’s a great idea to mix these product-oriented posts with educational, entertaining, and fun entries to keep your audience interested, engaged, and curious to follow you.
 Instagram’s primary idea is to share photos. It means that when people check their Instagram feed, they just want to have fun and see something interesting and catchy. So, give them what they want, and they will be more likely to subscribe!

#7 Post videos

If you’re wondering how to boost your Instagram with ease, think about shooting different types of videos! Demonstrating your products in use, educating your followers and sharing something valuable with your audience, you interest your potential clients and give them the unique content they’re here for. Using this marketing strategy, you have an opportunity to increase the level of loyalty to your company.

#8 Use Instagram shoutouts

One of the most common, convenient, and profitable ways of promoting your business on Instagram is making Instagram shoutouts. 
Why do choose shoutouts, but not official ads?  People are tired of intrusive advertising. Instagram shoutouts, in their turn, don’t really look annoying, and in some cases they are not perceived as ads at all 
What is an Instagram shoutout?

An Instagram shoutout is a way of advertising your products or services by means of posts in a popular blogger’s account.

In fact, there is nothing difficult about it. You need to find a blogger who’s popular enough in the same niche you deal with. This blogger will promote your business in his or her account. Please pay attention to the fact that there is no need to chase the bloggers with several million subscribers! They often ask to pay quite a lot for the promotion, and your ad campaign risks to become unprofitable. 

#9 Run contests

If you want to drive more potential customers to your Instagram account, you can try running contests and giveaways. Remember that they lead to a short-term boost in sales and traffic, and the effect doesn’t always last for a long time.
However, it’s a great tool if you want to attract the audience’s attention in the run-up to some special event, holiday, etc.

#10 Offer discounts and bonuses

Giving discounts and bonuses is still a great way to draw attention to your business. However, we don’t recommend you give them for doing nothing
For example, you can make them available only for those who follow your account. 

 

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4 reasons to think about changing your business niche

When starting a business, your very first concern is finding a niche that will attract enough clients to make your store profitable.

A specific niche is a key to success, and it usually has a number of advantages over general stores. When you know exactly what kind of product or service you’re going to offer, it’s much easier to define your target audience, promote the business and select products to sell.

However, it doesn’t mean that just any random niche will guarantee success. Entrepreneurs all over the globe come up with thousands of business ideas, but not all of them get worldwide attention. To find a good niche, one needs a proper market analysis, and a bit of luck won’t hurt either.

Furthermore, even after thorough research, you may find that things aren’t going smoothly.

Nevertheless, there are ways to change your business niche even after you’ve launched an online store. But first, let’s find out when you really need to change it.

#1 Sales drop

If you start losing money, it’s an obvious sign that something’s wrong. However, one must be careful here because sales drop can be the result of different factors. The problem may lie in other fields such as promotion mistakes, wrong marketing strategy or seasonal demand fluctuations. That’s why if your sales drop, you’d better not jump to conclusions.

#2 Same efforts bring worse results

If what used to work a year ago is now working poorer, it clearly indicates that the market has changed. To keep doing the same thing and expect different results is madness. Nevertheless, many companies hold on to the methods that became traditional. ‘We always did it like this, and we’ll keep doing it like this!’

That’ll lead you to nowhere.

#3 You see opportunities

If you see something with a potential for growth, which you didn’t see when you started the business, it could be your chance for improvement. However, before doing something, conduct a proper analysis to make sure it wasn’t your imagination. 

#4 You don’t feel satisfied

Also, don’t ignore your personal feelings. In an online business like dropshipping, a lot depends on passion. If you don’t feel inspired anymore, maybe it’s time to make changes?

Again, it doesn’t necessarily mean you definitely need to change your niche. Maybe, you’re just tired and need a vacation. Or you’re going through a hard period of your life. But giving it a thought won’t hurt.

 

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Worst things to dropship through your dropshipping store

Worst things to dropship through your dropshipping store

  Time to talk about serious things: limitations and restrictions. The possible issues connected to a wrong product choice might be:

• A super angry customer who wants to return the product, make a refund, and ruin your reputation on social media
• Legal consequences

Commonly, these 2 issues are connected to each other; they arise because of the same reasons, and it’s wise to never let any of them happen.
In order not to get into trouble, please avoid the products that are:

– Copyrighted

Take a look at this item.


Do you remember that we’ve mentioned something about AliExpress's own ban on branded items…? Technically, the platform forbids selling such items, but here it is, shining bright.
We don’t recommend adding something of this kind to your store. If it’s a replica of unsatisfactory quality, the buyers will most likely get disappointed because of unmet expectations and their negative feedback won’t do you any good.
Plus, most likely, you will have difficulties while promoting these items on social media (Facebook ads, Instagram shoutouts, etc.). If they get wide coverage, they will certainly get the attention of the original brand owners, authorities, or just concerned individuals. Your social media account might get blocked, and your whole business will get compromised. That’s not what you want, right? And you cannot avoid using this kind of promotion, as other sources – email marketing or something else – cannot provide such great coverage of your target audience.

– Potentially dangerous

The item below is a good illustration of a product with a provocative nature. A customs officer would be likely to ban it from entering the country.







Every country has its own understanding of the legal items for import. These regulations even apply to online orders of private individuals. There might be some restrictions on importing defense articles, hunting tools, military-related items, smoking devices, etc. If you are not sure that it is safe and legal to ship this or that product to your buyers’ country of residence, please check it twice, and if you’re still doubting, just leave it out.

– Fragile

The item on the picture below is super cute but somewhat tricky.



Product delivery takes a lot of time; during the shipment process, the package will certainly see some external impact.
No one likes receiving deformed or broken items! This is why the products of glass, ceramics, or other similar materials are sometimes a questionable choice.
If you still want to have them in your store, talk to the relevant AliExpress seller first. Ask about the used type of the packaging materials, and read the previous buyers’ reviews. This is how you will find out whether the seller can actually provide the items with a secure and damage-proof package.

– Heavy

According to the seller’s description, the weight of the package containing this animal-head piece of home decor is 4 kg.



Even for domestic shipping, such items are usually a bit tricky.
International delivery, most likely, will demand some extra shipping fees, which is not good news for your buyers. Plus, the heavier items are inconvenient to manage. Any unpleasant incident that happens during the loading activities may result in product damage.

– Technically complex

The picture below shows an example of a drone offered on AliExpress.



Even though the gadget industry shows a rapid favorable growth, it might be a better strategy to focus on the relevant accessories and spare parts instead.
The reason for this precaution is simple: neither you nor your buyer can physically examine this complicated piece of technology. So, none of you can be 100% sure in its perfect working order.
If something goes wrong, you will have to deal with the standard return and refund routine. Generally, it is a simple and quick procedure, but if you’re dealing with costly items (and gadgets are quite expensive, as you can guess), the whole process might get a bit longer and trickier.

– Tight-fitting clothes and shoes

Typically, we don’t even recommend working with shoes (except for home slippers) and ‘demanding’ clothes. Here’s what we’re talking about:



This dress is exquisite and looks fancy, but, as you guess, it requires a specific body type, plus it needs to be tried on before purchase.
You have certainly seen some funny ‘AliExpress: Expectations vs Reality’ posts on social media, and this is exactly what might happen to your buyer. When a store visitor has no way to try on a piece of clothing before purchase, there are two possible scenarios for this customer. The client will either leave the store without completing the order, or buy an unsuitable and disappointing piece of clothing, and return it later. None of the options is really great, right?

The same is true for shoes; here’s an illustrative picture from a seller’s page.



Even the modeling person clearly has some inconveniences with wearing these high heels; can you expect that a random customer’s feet will definitely fit into this pair of shoes?

This is why we recommend picking oversize clothes and items with a loose cut. Since they don’t have to fit you tightly, buyers with any body type can pick and wear them with no stress and discomfort.
That’s all for our dropshipping items recommendations!

 

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Hot dropshipping niche ideas to try in 2019/2020

In this section, we will go over trends, technologies and innovations that are going to see a sharp rise in demand in the nearest future. If you’re looking for the products that can bring you quick profits, consider one of the following ideas! 

Tech niche ideas

Technology never stops improving. All over the world, there are enthusiasts who work day and night to make our future brighter, cleaner, and better. If you love hi-tech stuff and keep an eye on the latest releases and announcements, here’s what you can benefit from!

Wi-Fi 6 products

Wi-Fi-6 is the technology that secures faster processing and higher wireless connection speed. Analysts explain that it allows a 3 times faster download speed than Wi-Fi 5 that we are using now. Of course, it’s great news for Web surfers all across the world!

As of the summer of 2019, there were not so many Wi-Fi 6 products on the market: mostly, these were high-class routers. However, lots of other devices, like laptops and smartphones, were announced, and tech-savvy users are eager to get them ASAP. What would you say to this market opportunity?

Wireless tech

Look at these crazy numbers of orders from AliExpress! It’s safe to say that various pieces of wireless technology are certainly a good pick for your store.
WhaTech reports that the wireless router industry is estimated to reach $3200.92 million by 2022. Business Insider, in turn, expects that the market of hearables, also known as smart headphones, will grow by 45% annually during the next 5 years. Wireless Audio Market Global Forecast predicts that the wireless audio market will reach the mark of $31.80 billion by 2023. 
Sounds really impressive, right?

The demand for these items looks very promising, too!

Wearables and accessories

Fitness and health trackers become much more accessible to the general public. The technology is improving, and even the people in lower income countries can easily afford these health & sports devices. It allows the sellers reach the customer segments that they couldn’t achieve earlier! 

The niche potential is truly incredible. As per the Wearable Devices Market Forecast, the market of wearable devices will grow by 25,76% every year in the next 5 years, and reach the mark of $24.640 billion by 2022. 
Surely, trackers, as well as other kinds of wearables, are a lovely choice for your dropshipping store!

360-degree cameras & accessories

360-degree cameras are increasingly demanded for lots of different purposes. Video surveillance, mapping, VR videography and gaming, panoramic photography, robotics… All these and many other spheres require the use of 360-degree cameras and their accessories, which is why the market is thriving.

The value of the global 360-degree camera market will reach $2430,9 million by 2025, making it a great industry for you to consider. 

Lifestyle niche ideas

Do you want to bring value to your customers? Think about the niches and products that are helpful in our daily life, and build your store around them!

Smart home devices

(Oh no, not tech stuff again! :D)
One of the most prominent kitchen trends of 2020 is an extensive use of smart devices for various cooking, cleaning, and organising processes. 
But of course, not only kitchens can benefit from the exciting innovations brought to us from researchers all over the globe. Your customers can improve countless aspects of their daily household routines thanks to household devices – and they are really interested in it!

Even though the demand for these items seems to depend on the season, you can clearly see this niche has a highly promising potential.

Tourism gear 

In 2020, adventure tourism will be more than just a popular type of leisure activity. Analysts say it will be one of the major trends shaping the whole travel industry. Certainly, you can’t overlook this curious market movement!

As more tourists are exploring unusual and physically demanding types of travelling, they are increasingly looking for the necessary equipment. Remember that your buyers’ health and safety depends on the quality of the items you’re selling, so be very picky in your products choice!

One-piece swimwear

Swimwear can be fashionable or outdated, too! Just like any type of clothing, it gets re-imagined every new season. It gives you exceptional opportunities in terms of a profitable dropshipping niche choice. 
Just think about it: you can fill your dropshipping store with fancy swimsuits of all cuts and colors! Whether you’re targeting vacation-goers or swimming training fans, you can offer plenty of options that suit all of them.

As you can see, there is a strong seasonal pattern here. What’s also curious, the peak rates are consistently high every year, which means this niche has an interesting long-term potential.

Fashion niche ideas

If you’re looking for a niche that easily triggers impulse purchases, fashion items are probably your best bet! They cause an emotional reaction and motivate the viewers to hit the ‘Buy Now’ button without a second thought. 
Let’s see which exact fashion items and accessories will see the highest demand in the upcoming season!

Hair clips and barrettes

Half-up hairstyles were massively featured on runways, too! And if your buyers want to repeat this ‘romantic hair’ look, they will need to secure their hair with a catchy clip, a cute pin, or a lovely barrette. Thankfully, you have enough well-demanded AliExpress offers to meet their needs!

What’s especially great about this product type is that it’s certainly going to stay demanded regardless of cutting-edge fashion trends! Hype comes and goes, but the number of AliExpress orders clearly shows that these hair styling products has always been sought after.

Metallic clothing

Paris Fashion Week’s obsession with metallic textiles just can’t go unnoticed. What would you say to the opportunity to spice up your product offer with these items? 

Given the current interest in shiny and sparkly materials, your business prospects look quite bright, too!

Women shorts

You might think that there is nothing really special about shorts. After all, it’s nothing but a regular type of clothing that is worn on numerous occasions. However, 2020 is promised to be ‘all about shorts’, especially micro shorts. 

So, if you’re looking for ways to drive new audiences to your apparel store, consider adding this product type to your offer!

Lace clothing

Evergreen dropshipping niche ideas

Researching the hottest 2019/2020 technology, lifestyle, and fashion trends, we were still keeping in mind these niches’ lifespan. Trends come and go, but your store will be operating for a long time!
That’s why even when we’re talking about hot and hype products and niches, we still try collecting some stats on these niches’ expected performance over the course of years.
But what about the dropshipping niches that will stay popular forever? Are there any items or topics that will be popular no matter what?
The answer is yes!
Here is just a tiny selection of ‘evergreen’ types of products you can benefit from.

Kids’ clothes, toys, and accessories

Just take a look at the number of orders these AliExpress items have! Whatever happens, these products see a steady demand, and nothing can change it. 
All over the world, people keep creating families and providing the best possible care to their little ones. We have already covered this niche in one of our previous research articles, so you’re welcome to check it out!

Pets’ accessories

Pets’ well-being and entertainment is the issue of paramount importance to their owners. For these people, online shopping is a more affordable alternative to buying these items in brick-and-mortar stores. However, the trick here is to promote and position your dropshipping store in a proper way. If you want to learn more about it, just go to this article.

Women apparel

For thousands of women all over the globe, it’s challenging to find time and money for a relaxing and satisfying offline shopping. Therefore, if you’re working in this niche, you have a huge customer segment to target. Plus, you can enjoy an unbeatable opportunity to keep your buyers interested thanks to hype and trendy product updates! For more info, please read this guide on dropshipping apparel.

Sportswear

Low-cost fitness is a massive industry you can greatly benefit from. Think about offering cheap yet highly rated sportswear that everyone can easily afford. This way, you’ll be targeting two segments at once. It’s both the regular gym-goers who don’t want to spend extra on their fitness clothes, and the people who work out in the comfort of their own homes. 

Eco-friendly lifestyle items

As we already mentioned it before, the use of eco-friendly, sustainable products is a full-scale fashion statement these days! But beyond that, it’s a great habit that is gradually becoming widespread on the global scale. Noticing that recycling, waste reducing and items recycling actually makes a difference for the environment, people get much more interested in adopting this lifestyle.

 

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