Instagram for Business? Now, That’s a Novel Idea!

When we hear anything about the social media app Instagram, we often think of it as a leisurely outlet to post photos of our vacations, special events, and our families. If you aren’t familiar with Instagram, it’s an easy-to-use social-media app for the iPhone or Android for manipulating and sharing photos and videos.

Not too long ago, Facebook was exclusively thought of in the same light – and still is by some. However, depending on your line of work and goals, Instagram, even more so than Facebook, can be great for building your business.

Picture Perfect

It’s said that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This adage is telling of why Instagram is so appealing. In the online world, people scroll through a lot of information, with endless options, often making knee-jerk decisions with their mouse. Unless you have the reputation of a celebrity like Mark Cuban or Katy Perry, it’s likely you won’t be found online.

With Instagram, the photos draw readers in, leaving your website content more likely to be viewed, as you explain to readers what the pictures represent. This is your opportunity to visually captivate your onlookers and tell the story of your business through your images.

Service Illustration

Showing off your services is one of the many great uses of Instagram. Go a step further and let your clients in on your future plans by giving them a “sneak peek” of services you plan to offer. This will help engage your clients and potential clients and make them feel like they’re getting a special glimpse into what’s coming their way. This tactic not only gets them excited about what you have to offer, but it keeps them coming back to your Instagram page.

Behind the Scenes

Go even further with a behind-the-scenes experience. People who already care about your brand already be familiar with your services, but may want to know more about your firm or business. Let them get to know you and your staff. Engage your audience by showing them something they haven’t seen before. This approach will enable you to connect with your customers on a deeper level.

Be Fresh and Frequent

Like anything else, original and engaging content is as important as anything else when it comes to sustainability. Posting often is important, but so is responding to any questions or comments. This will show that you care about people’s feedback or inquiries, and you are always looking to interact and improve.

Make sure your posts are interesting by finding out what your fans and followers care about. Then, produce new and unique photos to capture those experiences.

Host Contests Using Hashtags

One way to increase brand awareness is through hosting contests. An example of this would be to ask your followers to send in their photos, using a specific hashtag and a link to that hashtag. After a set period of time, judge the photos, determine the winner, and deliver the winner’s prize, such as a local coffee shop gift card. What a great way to engage your audience and let them think outside of the box!

Hashtags are keywords that are indicative of photos that have been uploaded, and they’re great for search engine optimization (SEO). This allows people to more easily search and find your photos and content and can help you gain more customers, too.

With today’s technology at your fingertips, take advantage of all Instagram has to offer so your firm or business can flourish in new and exciting ways.