How Instagram can help your business
Instagram has gone from strength to strength since it launched in 2010; growing into a global community of more than 150 million users.More than half of Instagram users use the application on a daily basis, with 35 per cent doing so multiple times a day.>
As a photo and video sharing application, Instagram enables users to create, style and share photos or videos with their Instagram follower base, as well as through other social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. With its high user engagement rate, the platform has been increasingly leveraged by marketers to connect businesses to users. Instagram provides a great opportunity for businesses to connect visually with a large and captive audience.
The use of Instagram by businesses has been steadily increasing, with the platform providing the perfect opportunity for brands to share photos and videos of new products and services, the team, events and more with their target audience.
So, how can Instagram help your business?
Provide engaging content
It is important to post good quality photos and videos consistently and regularly. Share images or videos that will interest current and potential customers, showcase your brand and develop a relationship with a community of fans and customers.
It is important that you find a balance between posting business related content and social photos and videos.
Using an editorial content calendar can ensure that you always have posts ready to upload. This will also help you keep track of what is working once you start posting.
Running contests and promotions is an excellent way of engaging with current and potential customers, as well as attracting new Instagram followers. Businesses can host photo contests on Instagram using a competition hashtag to organise submissions. These images can then be curated and displayed on your website or other social media platforms.
As with any social media campaign you should reach out and engage with your audience via likes and comments, especially if they mention your product or brand.
Create your own hashtag
Creating, using, promoting and monitoring your own hashtags provides some great benefits for your business. People can easily find photos related to you and your brand and it is easier for businesses to determine who their fans are beyond the users that follow them.
Hashtags also allow you to group related content, such as a video series or photo collection.
Take advantage of video
Video is a great way to give your content strategy and overall social media program a boost. Using video presents unique storytelling opportunities for businesses.
The advantages of integrating video into your Instagram strategy include:
- Showing your personality: Companies can show their personality through this engaging and interactive medium. ‘Wow’ your audience by demonstrating how your product or services can make a difference.
- Offering useful information: Give your users some helpful information and tips about your products and services. Think about sharing a 15 second ‘how-to’ video with you audience.
- Using testimonials: Customers are your brands greatest advocates and are a great way to tell your company’s story. A 15 second testimonial video can go a long way for your business.
Instagram provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to reach and engage their users. Why not consider adding Instagram to your business’ social media strategy?
Sydney Social Media Agency, CP Communications provides specialist social media strategies as well as traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more information see www.cpcommunications.com.au.