Why Instagram?

Instagram may invoke an image of a 20 something posting pictures of their dinner with smart phones.  At first glance, that may not seem like the best marketing strategy. Plus, this is a photo only social media platform. However, keep in mind that a photograph on Facebook has 39% more engagement than any other type of post. Read more about that statistic here. We decided to explore a few ways for your business to get the most out of Instagram.

Click. Click. Post. 

          The main focus will be to use your visual content to engage with potential customers. There are a few styles of Instagram photos that do that best. Here are a few things to highlight:

1. Customers

   This refers to anything that can get the customer posting their own photographs about your product or service. Highlighting customer photos encourages people to check back to see what else is being talked about. It also acts as word of mouth advertising via other social media sites. For example, if I post my favorite dish and hashtag the restaurant I am at, not only do I engage with the company, but all of my friends see it too. Get your audience involved, it will be fun for them and great for you.

2. Contests

   This is a sure hit with almost everyone. Even a small prize can be enough incentive to get the crowds talking. Ask users to submit photographs to a contest that works best with your business. An environmental organization may ask for photos that show natural beauty in your home state and offer a prize for the most popular. Contests are a great way to engage with your following and open yourself up to more connections.

3. Employees  If we did not have our employees, we would not have our business. Never ever forget that. With that in mind, happy employees are effective advertisers. Encourage posts of office lunches or events. Highlight and give credit to exceptional workers on your Instagram. This opens the business up to your employee's social media connections, too. It also promotes a better work environment. People like getting credit for the position they spend 8 hours a day, if not more, at. Post your Cook doing some prep work, your Graphic Designer bringing your ads to life, or your Barista making latte art.

4. Products and Services

   Of course you should also present some of your business's own products. If you manufacture local soap, you could arrange them in a visually appealing, creative display. However, if your company offers a service, show it in action. If you help rebuild homes for those in need, before and after pictures of construction may get the best results. Let the audience know what it is that you do.

   Read more about photos that drive engagement here. 

Reaching Your Audience

           Knowing what photos to post is half the battle. Reaching your target audience is a whole different story. 55 million photos are being uploaded every day by over 150 million users. See more stats here.  Now is the time to figure out who you want to reach.

Hash Tags: This is a great way to customize your post. It is also shared by Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. This will link the photograph to a page where other users used the same hashtag. It can reach a larger audience that share the same interests. Be specific, but do not spam the post with hashtags.

Badges and Apps: Badges link other social media platforms to your Instagram. Apps can be used sparsely, but there are some that may be beneficial. Instamap lets you view photos live and maps the location where they are posted. This would be great for a live coverage of an event. Most are used for the aesthetics of the picture, but you can see more apps here.

Instagram Stats: This is a great way to analyze the success of your Instagram campaign. It provides some of the basics such as growth charts, most liked photographs, and following/follower ratios. It also gets more in depth with the best time to post to get most engagement. There's a section that shows how filters can impact your likes and comments. Read more here.

Remember the Basics

• Update your profile: Contact information, hours of operation, location, and any other crucial information
• Use keywords in your description to make your profile searchable. Be sure that everything is set to public. 
• Always focus on engagement with the audience. Keep them involved and be sincere!