Why use Instagram for business? With over 300 million users now on Instagram sharing more than 70 million photos and videos everyday, this social media outlet can share your brand’s visual content across an enormous audience.
GETTING STARTED
Getting started on Instagram is quick and easy. Sign up and select a handle that’s easily recognizable to other users as representative of your business. Next, add a profile photo – your logo is a great choice – and post a link to your website in your bio. You should link your account to your business Facebook and Twitter pages so that followers know to find you there as well.
POSTING
Choose photos that engage users and tell a story through that one image. It’s important to pay attention to the reaction you receive from users based on different photos. Strike a balance between fun photos and those that pertain to your brand. Paying attention to user “likes” can tell you a great deal about your followers’ interests.
INTERACTING WITH FOLLOWERS
Increasing your number of followers will increase your brand’s exposure. Share as much content to your other social media accounts – you may attract new followers who didn’t know you were there. It’s vital to engage with other Instagram users by following them back and interacting with them on their photos by liking their posts or commenting on them. Use hashtags – they provide traceable link to all other photos posted with that hashtag and they are the key to increased followers.
Holding a photo contest requesting users to post photos with a hashtag relevant to your brand also can raise brand awareness and recognition. Be careful, though to not over-saturate users with your images. It’s not necessary to post everyday. Create the desire to want to see more posts from your company.
CREATE A CAMPAIGN TO CREATE A BUZZ
Why not use Instagram to create an ad campaign for a new product? Instagram provides a targeted audience to which you can tell a strong story. Get the user involved in the new product and break out a new hashtag to ask them how they would use it. Allow users to interact by posting their own photos under the same hashtag in response to the questions. The ability for more interaction provides for increased brand exposure.
