It’s undeniable that Instagram is one of the most widely used social media channels in the world. In fact, it was just ranked as the 21st most popular website in the US, and 40th globally. With millions of users worldwide you definitely don’t need us to tell you that its potential as a marketing tool is through the roof; however, many marketers aren’t using it as a part of their strategy. So, we’re here to help you learn a bit more about using Instagram for marketing, and hopefully with these five quick tips you’ll be able to start leveraging to photo sharing app in no time!
Cultivate a Fan Base
The first step to successful marketing with Instagram is to build your fan base. Obviously if nobody is following you, no matter how pretty your pictures are, they won’t make a difference. Connect your Instagram with your other social accounts such as Facebook and Twitter and tell you followers to find you on Instagram. Also, make sure to take advantage of trending hashtags whenever possible, and interact with your Instagram followers. For example, if somebody comments on a photo of yours, be sure to respond; this will help your fans relate to you and help your following grow.
Use Videos
Not too long ago Instagram introduced their video feature which allows users to upload up to 15 seconds worth of video. With Facebook now automatically playing video in users’ News Feeds, posting your videos to Instagram is a great way to keep your fans engaged. Plus, people are more likely to like, comment, and share video content, so try to post videos whenever possible.
Host Photo Contests
By using unique hashtags, you can host your own photo contests to get fans involved with your brand. You can leverage Facebook to drum up more traffic for your Instagram channel as well by promoting the details of the contest on your brand’s Facebook page and Twitter account.
Balance Business with Fun
Yes, you’re using Instagram to drum up business, but if you post too many sales pitch-y photos and videos, chances are you’ll get a lot of unfollows. Make sure to balance your business-related content with some photos that are just plain fun. Share photos of employees, or pets, or pictures from your latest vacation. It’s all about finding a balance and keeping your followers interested.
Stick To a Posting Schedule
When it comes to posting on Instagram, sharing something every day can become tiresome and annoying for you and your followers alike. Come up with a posting schedule that works for your brand and stick to it. You should also try to find the best day of the week and best time of the day to post for your niche audience and make sure that you are sharing at the optimum time. This way your followers can know what to expect from your brand without being overwhelmed or bored.
If you have any tips for using Instagram for marketing, be sure to share them in the comments below!
This article was originally published by The Mail
Published: January 29, 2014
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