Using Instagram for Business

Have you noticed people around you taking a heightened interest in Instagram? If you haven’t, you are one of the few. In Q2 of 2014, Instagram users were up 15% from Q2 in 2013. This number continues to grow as more and more businesses add this platform to their weekly routine. So, how do you use Instagram to help your business build a strong brand identity while connecting with your audience? Whether you are in Atlanta or Orange County, these tips can help:

• Follow/Partner with other local businesses and share important messages

• Promote new products and/or services • Feature customers using your product • Share behind the scenes photos • Hold themed contests

Following and partnering with local businesses is the quickest way to learn what people are talking about in your neck of the woods. After all, you should know the interests of your local audience. This information can only help to grow and strengthen your business. By building partnerships, you can create lasting relationships that can be mutually beneficial to all parties. We should all help to grow our communities through thoughtful and considerate interactions. Do you have a product or service you want to share with your audience? Instagram is a great platform to do just that. People want to see images. In fact, on all social platforms, posts that include images or gifs receive higher engagement than those that do not. What’s better than sharing an image of your product? How about, sharing an image of your customer using it. By showing your audience that people do in fact enjoy your product, it can inspire them to go out and get their own. This is

especially true if the user makes the product looks cool. Celebrities do this all the time for brand names. Kim Kardashian comes top of mind. If she likes it, it will sell. Share behind the scenes images. People love this. It’s like watching Beyoncé get ready backstage, but probably slightly less entertaining. People in general are curious how ideas and actions come about. They like to see the steps involved. They want to understand the feelings, meanings and inspirations. Hold themed contests. Everyone loves a good contest, even if the reward is not truly significant. Just to be selected a winner can brighten up a person’s day. With Instagram, you have several options for types of contests: like to win, hashtag, image share (which usually includes a hashtag), email-gated, etc. People can get real creative. Contests engage your audience and encourage them to be a “regular” on your page. They usually result in an increase in followers as well. Social media is an important tool, that should be used carefully. It is best to keep a consistent message and tone throughout. If you are not particularly active on your social sites, but can set aside time to manage at least one, you would probably be best to focus on that one versus the many. When social sites are inactive, your audience can become confused with the status of your business. No business needs that.

If you have questions about integrating Instagram into your marketing strategy, call The HARDCANDY Agency at (949) 607-8422 or visit our website here.