Instagram is a community mainly focused on sharing pictures on different subjects, posted by individuals all around the world. It is usually described as a mix between Flickr and Twitter. With an increasing popularity, both users and marketers have a strong interest in it. With over 100 million users, this social media application is a powerful tool to implement a marketing strategy.
But how is it possible? How do these hundreds of images representing food, drinks or everyday activities help you improve your business?
Visual Strategy
Before even creating an account on Instagram, you need to think about your content strategy. What types of images you will share, and how will it encourage interactions with your targeted audience. Having a look at your competitor’s followers is a good way to identify your potential community.
Remember that Instagram is a great channel to distribute visually appealing content. If you are aiming at promoting a new product line or an event, a single photo can be more effective than words in many ways.
Once you’ve created your account, you should set up an editorial calendar and define how many pictures you want to publish per week.
Using The Right Hashtags
If you are willing to categorize your content, hashtags are the best way to do it but it is also a chance to build a unique brand on this social media platform. Choose a few hashtags and stick to them, this way it will become a recognizable signature of your business and your followers will immediately identify it.The name of your brand is an obvious choice, but you should create some specific hashtags related to your different campaigns. For example, if the company wants to collect some photos related to flowers, #companyphotos wouldn’t be a wise choice but #sun&flowers would be a greater option.
Think of Instagram as a Game
Like many other social media platforms, interaction is the key word. Uploading images and waiting for people to follow your brand isn’t the only option. Running contests to encourage your followers to post content under your company’s hashtag is a great idea, especially if you’re looking for more customers to be aware of your activity. Geolocation is also a wonderful tool to tie your photos to specific places.
Include your customers
Your clients are able to create a buzz and talk about your company. Apart from the reviews available online about your company, what is more effective than posting pictures of your current customers? It’s the perfect way to show your followers what type of experience your brand is offering them. Instagram is a powerful tool for marketers and should definitely be on your list of platforms to use. Whether you’re looking to promote events, products, or attract customers and interact with them, it is a great way for users to have a personal experience with an accessible brand.
