Are you using Instagram to connect with potential customers?
If not, now is the time.
With over three hundred million active monthly users, Instagram can no longer be overlooked.
Sure, Facebook is still the most popular social network. But, let’s face it – fatigue has set in for many businesses.
Between the perceived decline of organic reach and frustration over a “pay to play” model, many are looking for an alternative.
So, why not put the power of Instagram – a mighty visual network – to work for your business?
Let me show you how!
Below you will find six ways to get your business started on Instagram!
Use Instagram to Expand Business Reach
1. Get Active
While you might have thought it’s just the tween or even teen demographics using Instagram, you’d be mistaken.
Businesses are dipping their toes in the water every day only to find massive success.
In fact, in a recent Forrester study, it was found that,
“Instagram delivered 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook, and 120 times more engagement per follower than Twitter.”
With stats like that, there’s no denying the opportunity to be found on Instagram.
But before anyone connects, they want to learn more about you. This will take a commitment to actively showing up on Instagram.
Create a schedule that easily integrates into your current social media strategy. Set a time each day to post your content and then additional times to come back and engage with your community.
Just as with any social network, it doesn’t do you any good to post and run.
Take a look at Jenn Herman to see someone that uses Instagram as a platform to educate, engage and inspire a thriving community.
2. Share the Instagram Love
There’s no sense in getting active on a social network if no one knows about it.
Add your website to your Instagram profile and share the fact that you’re now on Instagram.
Your friends, fans and followers on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Google Plus need to know about your Instagram profile.
Don’t live in a social media silo. Cross-pollination between social media networks is a smart way to grow your following and improve brand loyalty.
What do I mean by this? Use your other social networks to share what’s happening on Instagram.
Here’s how you can do this:
- Add social icons to your website and blog and create a call to action to follow and connect with you on Instagram.
- Post your Instagram photo to Facebook. This creates a link back to your Instagram account, so anyone can click through.
- Post your latest image to Google Plus and let your followers know where they can connect with you on Instagram.
- Create images for Twitter and schedule multiple tweets sharing the news that you’re now on Instagram.
Are you on Instagram? Let’s connect! http://t.co/K7vl9OfDbj pic.twitter.com/RpNKA1DZ4R
— Rebekah Radice (@RebekahRadice) March 1, 2015
3. Give a Sneak Peek into Your Company
Whether it’s a look at your office, the city you work in or a behind-the-scenes pic of your team, use Instagram to give a sneak peek in to your business.
Everyone loves to be a fly on the wall, especially when it comes to social media.
Give your followers an inside look at what and who makes your business tick.
It’s a perfect way to create a more intimate relationship between you, your followers and your business.
What to Share:
- Local events
- Neighborhood or community meetings
- Charity work
- Historical timeline of your business
- Pictures of your staff
- Your love of the city you work in
- Products
- Services
- Speaking engagements
- Book launch
And the list goes on and on.
Someone who gets how to market a local business on Instagram is Nair and Bjorn.
I found this local jeweler on Twitter several years ago and instantly connected because of our love of rescue pets.
4. Give a Unique Perspective
Instagram is a great place to highlight what makes your business special.
It’s also an excellent way to humanize your company.
Whether you’re taking a picture of your latest creation or sharing an upcoming event, choose eye-catching images.
Stay away from typical shots or standard stock photos. Instead, capture a unique aspect or feature.
Consumers want a sneak peek into your world. Give them insight into the factors that set your business apart.
Debra Trappen with D11 Consulting shares her unique perspective in every Instagram post.
Whether it’s an inspirational quote or an upcoming episode of BreveTV, getting to know Debra is as easy as perusing her over 2300 photos. (yep – that’s an impressive amount of posts!)
5. Get Found
As you share images, add them to the Instagram Photo Map.
This feature allows you to geotag your image location and share the specific site where the photo was taken.
Maps will take your followers beyond your latest pictures and show them the exact location of the photos you share.
This is an excellent way to create relevance within a community and build credibility as the go-to business within that area.
California Donuts (a local donut shop I wish I didn’t follow on certain days) offers tasty pics and an easy way to find them with geotagged photos.
6. Create Vibrant Videos
Instagram video is a distinctive way to showcase your business. Your video can be anywhere from 3 to 15 seconds long and include anything from your latest listing to a local event.
Calgary Real Estate is using video to take followers on a journey inside their listings, allowing followers to see homes before they actually schedule a visit.
When done right, video can be extremely effective in helping move potential buyers through the marketing funnel and connecting consumers to your business.
Final Thoughts
When marketing your business with Instagram, you’re only limited by your imagination.
What’s one way you can start using Instagram in your business today?
Written by Rebekah Radice. To read the full article, click here. For more information on creating your own online brand, custom WordPress website and social media strategy, please visit us at www.mydigibrand.com and follow us everywhere @mydigitalbrand.