We’ve all thought it…isn’t Instagram just full of hipster’s coffees and self-congratulatory gym selfies? Well yes, it is! But it’s also brimming with businesses taking full advantage of the fastest growing social network in the world. Instagram made it to an incredible 500 million users in June 2016 and integration with Facebook has only increased its reach. Simply put, if your business isn’t on Instagram, it needs to be, and these tips are for you. If you’re already on there, then high five! But read along, you may just learn how to squeeze out a few more crucial likes and followers.
First things first…
- Take decent photos and videos
This may sound painfully obvious, but it’s true. Nothing screams ‘amateur’ like a blurry, lop sided photo on your feed or an out of focus, shaky video. You don’t need to break out the digital SLR to get good results either, nearly all of us have a great camera right in our pockets.
Some things to consider? Compose your photo/video before snapping away. You can now upload your content in different ratios, but the traditional ‘square’ is still the most common, so bear that in mind. Where you can, use lots of natural light to achieve better focus and colours. And go easy on the filters. Sticking a trusty X-Pro II over that sunset is tempting I know, but if you have a great photo to begin with, you won’t need it.
- Use #Hashtags
So, through the (decent!) photos you’re uploading, you’re showcasing the products and services you provide to customers. But who’s going to find them? It’s through your accompanying comments that you can tap into the real power of Instagram: hashtags.
Using the right hashtags allows businesses to reach new customers and raise awareness of their brand. A good starting point is to simply add a ‘#’ before your company name for your own personal tag. For others, keep them relevant to your business and expertise. Having said that, it won’t hurt to throw in the odd #TBT or #NoFilter and the like. You may be sick of reading them, but that’s because they can reach millions of users.
But don’t go crazy now you #HashtagLovers! Try and incorporate them into your comments where you can, and stick to between 5 and 10, too many and people will just keep scrolling on by.
- Be interactive
The beauty of all the social media platforms we have at our disposal today is the close proximity to our customers, and Instagram is no different. It’s a perfect opportunity for you to engage with your audience directly, and in turn it will encourage them to participate with you.
This can be as simple as responding to user comments, liking their photos and even sharing their experiences of your company on your feed. It’s also a great idea to set up competitions where users can share a photo and hashtag of your choice to be in with a chance of winning. Your account will then be shared to their followers, and so on, increasing your reach exponentially.
Don’t be afraid to have a sense of humour, it makes you seem far more relatable. The more users enjoy interacting with you, the more they’ll keep coming back.
- Quality, not quantity
And lastly, that old adage about quality. Over saturating your Instagram feed, or any of your social media channels for that matter, is a sure way to make your customers hit that ‘unfollow’ button. As much as you may need those seven coffees a day, the whole world doesn’t really want to see a picture of them all.
Your feed should be updated regularly and consistently, but one or two posts a day should be enough for most. If it’s applicable, try to think about what time your customers will be browsing the app to best time your posts. For example, if you run a health and fitness business, you could post first thing in the morning to catch those early risers out for a run. But for the sake of us all, don’t encourage more gym selfies!
Trial and error can be the key here, you’ll soon learn where and when your posts get the most interaction.
How do you find running your business on Instagram? We love to chat so drop us a line if you have any thoughts or questions for our team.
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