Sharing the benefits of a plant-based diet and keeping it fun – these are the foundations of the KOS mission.
And since 2017, they’ve been doing just that.
What began as a small team with a goal to promote plant-based living through nutritious blends and protein powders, has grown to a team of 31.
In 2020, KOS started using Later, grew their online sales, and embarked on a brand new partnership with Feeding America®.
And Instagram has played a starring role in their online success. It’s the place where new customers can discover the brand, learn about their mission, and buy their products.
![Smoothie bowl with berries and bananas next to image of two containers of KOS plant protein in chocolate and vanilla](/static/22d7172ebb850a27b1c923c64cf2a84e/01302/plant-protein.jpg)
The KOS approach to social media
When it comes to social media, KOS considers anyone who sees their content as a potential customer. And that influences both their goals and challenges on Instagram.
Their key aims are to create a good first impression, develop an everlasting relationship, and provide engaging content that educates their audience on their products and mission.
Making sales on Instagram (without being salesy)
Instagram might be a huge channel for driving sales at KOS, but that doesn’t mean their content takes a hard-sell approach.
Instead, they use the platform to build an engaged community and a hub of plant-based education and inspiration.
Rather than pushing sales, they create content that offers value to potential and current customers – such as healthy recipes that feature their products.
A stunning snap of a finished smoothie bowl helps them stand out on their followers' feeds, and also encourages them to save it so they can refer back to the recipe later.
We create a lot of recipes to show people how they can use our products.
![Container of KOS' peanut butter powder next to a peanut butter based smoothie](/static/438e965f456bb4602e7cbcdeb61ab70a/01302/peanut-butter.jpg)
Making user-generated content (UGC) a big player in their content strategy helps build trust in their products – especially for new customers discovering the brand via Instagram.
To make sure they have a stack of quality UGC to choose from, they rely on content created by brand ambassadors and happy customers. Not only does it add variety to KOS’ feed, but it strengthens their relationship with existing fans, and offers social proof to new ones.
Later makes gathering and managing that UGC content easy. KOS uses features like Search by Hashtag, Tags, and Mentions to find content shared by their biggest fans, and then saves it in the Media Library for reposting.
Collecting from tags and hashtags in Later makes it super streamlined.
Using Linkin.bio to make sales on Instagram
To help drive and track sales, KOS uses Later’s Linkin.bio tool– creating a clickable replica of their Instagram feed.
With Linkin.bio, they can send customers directly from Instagram to their website. This makes it easy for potential customers to find and buy what they’re looking for. And fewer clicks means a better user experience!
![Screenshot of KOS' linkin.bio page with a button to visit their website and a grid of their mostly shoppable posts](/static/82150822bf4f0d3d95e1c923fcf9518c/e7824/linkinbio.png)
They click directly from Instagram to the product page — it’s instant.
Using Linkin.bio also helps potential customers discover KOS and their products faster — rather than relying on search engines or word of mouth alone. If a customer first discovers KOS on Instagram, they can learn about the business, go to KOS’ Linkin.bio page, and click directly on the post with the product they’re interested in buying.
Linkin.bio makes it so much easier.
And when it comes to analytics, Later makes reporting streamlined and simple. KOS tracks Linkin.bio clicks alongside the rest of their Instagram Analytics in Later – so they can get a clear overview of what’s working (and what isn’t) all from one user-friendly dashboard.
Using Linkin.bio to support other goals
But KOS’ use of Linkin.bio doesn’t end there.
When they announce new stores that stock their products, they use Linkin.bio to direct followers to the company’s store locator. Not only is it helpful for those who want to shop offline, but it also helps solidify their Instagram as the first port of call for news and customer support.
They also use Linkin.bio when they’ve got more to say but want to keep their captions simple. If they're sharing detailed recipes or nutritional information, they’ll link to a landing page on the KOS website with more information.
![Young woman holding small container of KOS' Latte Gold powder next to two lattes using KOS' matcha powder](/static/e99f11e9823187d388417314a7349373/01302/latte.jpg)
We don’t want to bombard them with too much information in the caption.
They recognize that too much detail in the caption can be difficult to read – or worse, totally off-putting. So, sticking to a simple recipe and saving the details elsewhere makes for more engaging content.
Finding an opportunity to give back
Along with their mission to promote a healthy, plant-based lifestyle, KOS have taken on a new goal. In 2020, they announced ‘Project 10 Million’ – their partnership with Feeding America®, a food bank charity providing meals to those in need across the US.
After three years of building the company, we’re looking forward to giving Back.
For every product purchased, KOS will donate one meal for a family in need. And, because Feeding America® partners with local food banks, the meal will be delivered to the customer’s nearest food bank – supporting local families.
Because of massive online sales, KOS has been able to grow their company, create ‘Project 10 Million’, and give back to their community – after just three years in business.
By using Linkin.bio, KOS has created a streamlined buying experience for their customers. And together with a social strategy that emphasizes education versus simply selling, they’re ready to continue their digital success in the future.