Are you using Instagram to connect with potential customers? If not, now is the time.
With over 1 billion active monthly users, Instagram can no longer be overlooked.
Sure, Facebook is still the most popular social network, but let’s face it… fatigue has set in for many businesses.
Between the perceived decline of organic reach and frustration over a “pay to play” model, many are looking for an alternative.
So, why not put the power of Instagram – a mighty visual network – to work for your business?
Let me show you how!
Below you’ll find six ways to get your business started on Instagram!
Use Instagram to Expand Business Reach
1. Get Active
While you might have thought it’s just the tween or even teen demographics using Instagram, you’d be mistaken.
Businesses are dipping their toes in the water every day only to find massive success.
But before you get started, understand that Instagram is a commitment just like any other. When you don’t show up, your audience takes notice. If you want to build awareness and a solid following, commit to being there consistently.
Create a schedule that easily integrates into your current social media strategy. Set a time each day to post your content and then additional times to come back and engage with your community.
Just as with any social network, it doesn’t do you any good to post and run.
Take a look at Jenn Herman to see someone that uses Instagram as a platform to educate, engage and inspire a thriving community.
2. Share the Instagram Love
There’s no sense in getting active on a social network if no one knows about it.
Add your website to your Instagram profile and share the fact that you’re now on Instagram.
Your friends, fans and followers on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Google Plus need to know about your Instagram profile.
Don’t live in a social media silo. Cross-pollination between social media networks is a smart way to grow your following and improve brand loyalty.
What do I mean by this? Use your other social networks to share what’s happening on Instagram.
Here’s how you can do this:
- Add social icons to your website and blog and create a call to action to follow and connect with you on Instagram.
- Post your Instagram photo to Facebook. This creates a link back to your Instagram account, so anyone can click through.
- Post your latest image to Twitter and let your followers know where they can connect with you on Instagram.
You can also use apps like IFTTT or Zapier to create recipes or zaps that automatically tweet your latest Instagram post. Easy way to stay top of mind and in the feed of your followers.
3. Give a Sneak Peek into Your Company
Whether it’s a look at your office, the city you work in or a behind-the-scenes pic of your team, use Instagram to give a sneak peek in to your business.
Everyone loves to be a fly on the wall, especially when it comes to social media.
Give your followers an inside look at what and who makes your business tick.
It’s a perfect way to create a more intimate relationship between you, your followers and your business.
What to Share:
- Local events
- Neighborhood or community meetings
- Charity work
- Historical timeline of your business
- Pictures of your staff
- Your love of the city you work in
- Products
- Services
- Speaking engagements
- Book launch
And the list goes on and on.
Someone who gets how to market a local business on Instagram is Nair and Bjorn.
I found this local jeweler on Twitter several years ago and instantly connected because of our love of rescue pets.
4. Give a Unique Perspective
Instagram is a great place to highlight what makes your business special.
It’s also an excellent way to humanize your company.
Whether you’re taking a picture of your latest creation or sharing an upcoming event, choose eye-catching images.
Stay away from typical shots or standard stock photos. Instead, capture a unique aspect or feature.
Consumers want a sneak peek into your world. Give them insight into the factors that set your business apart.
Debra Trappen with D11 Consulting shares her unique perspective in every Instagram post.
Whether it’s an inspirational quote or an upcoming episode of BreveTV, getting to know Debra is as easy as perusing her over 2300 photos. (yep – that’s an impressive amount of posts!)
5. Get Found
As you share images, make sure to geotag them.
This feature allows you to tag your image location and share the specific site where the photo was taken.
This takes your followers beyond your latest pictures and show them the exact location of the photos you share.
This is an excellent way to create relevance within a community and build credibility as the go-to business within that area.
California Donuts (a local donut shop I wish I didn’t follow on certain days) offers tasty pics and an easy way to find them with geotagged photos.
6. Create Vibrant Videos
Instagram video is a distinctive way to showcase your business. Your video can be anywhere from 3 to 60 seconds long and include anything from your latest listing to a local event.
Calgary Real Estate is using video to take followers on a journey inside their listings, allowing followers to see homes before they actually schedule a visit.
When done right, video can be extremely effective in helping move potential buyers through the marketing funnel and connecting consumers to your business.
Final Thoughts
When marketing your business with Instagram, you’re only limited by your imagination.
What’s one way you can start using Instagram in your business today?
Originally written by Rebekah Radice and posted on Maximize Social Business How to Get Your Business Started on Instagram.
I guess it is now very difficult. Like in real life businesses you need to invest into your business and then you start earning money, right? Here you need more followers who will pay attention to your account. For that I know very easy way – zen-promo.com – I personally use it and it helps a lot! Totally worth it
Just found this wonderful post – thank you for some awesome tips! I’m ready to get started – but I already have a personal Instagram account … is there a way to “add” a business account and then toggle back between accounts? (similar to Twitter) I’m not finding much help online with this question.
Thank you
Rebekah,
Excellent jumpstarter for businesses looking to grow through social media. Although spam and dubious followers are beginning to rear their ugly heads on Instagram, that’s to be expected as its popularity grows.
Your #3 is an excellent strategy. It delivers inclusiveness and exclusivity (they’re not mutually exclusive), and people love to feel included in something special. It’s also for the reason you list I number 4, showing your organization’s human side. Businesses are not faceless monoliths, and showing the real people behind them, and their emotions, helps build bonds with your audience; customers and not.
Thanks,
Steve
Love how you educate, Rebekah!
I have a problem with posting on Instagram and sharing it on Facebook (through Instagram, as mentioned in this article by you). My Facebook business page has two identities, mine and the business’. When I hit the “Facebook” button share on Instagram before posting on Instagram (so that it shows up on my Facebook page too), my business page shows ME posting it instead of the business page posting it.
Please help!
Thanks
wow i wasn’t aware that Instagram is growing so faster now days..
thank u for updating us about Instagram
Harish bali
It’s pretty amazing growth, isn’t it Harish? Exciting to see!
Thank you for sharing it might be very usefull
Glad to hear it was useful Lahla!
It’s definitely one of the harder platforms to learn. Appreciate the tips Rebekah. Will be putting them into good use as I’ll be working on that right after I finish my focus on pinterest (with the help of your tips, btw) – Adding you on Instagram now.
It is a platform that makes you scratch your head. It seems so simple initially, but there really is an awful lot to it. Glad to connect with you on Instagram and Pinterest!
Really useful article Rebekah, I was not using Instagram until now but after going through this article I know how can it help to small businesses. Thank you very much for sharing this excellent article.
It’s a powerhouse Ashish and can tell a beautiful story for your business. You’ll be happy you hopped onboard!
Great article Rebekah!! I would definitely argue that interacting with and answering your customers is one of the best ways a company can get noticed. It shows that you care about your customers and what they have to say. This also includes not only reacting to their comments, but going out and commenting on other peoples photos as well.
Absolutely Kerstin – that’s a must for any business. And being proactive – that’s key. Great points!
As always a great read, Rebekah! I’ve only been on Instagram since the beginning of this year but I’ve stayed consistent, with a editorial calendar, and have seen a slow increase in engagement and followers. I’m still not sure how to really bring strategy {beyond consistency} to my efforts on the platform but I’ve got 9 more months until my social evaluation to see if Instagram is the right platform for me.
What you’re doing is obviously working Andrea. I love the consistency in your brand. I see the same thing on Instagram that I do everywhere else. You keep it streamlined – making it easy to connect with you all over the web.
Hey Rebekah!
Awesome post! I think you nailed this one, big time 🙂
Instagram (for me) is really clustered. Want to be different? You got to be really unique.
You may not earn the traction during the early days but slowly you will grow your followers real fast.
Good stuffs and keep it up 🙂
It is a commitment for sure Reginald. Engagement won’t happen overnight, but keep at it – and the results will come.
Rebekah,
I’ll admit…Instagram was one of the hardest social media platforms for me to wrap my mind around. Until I figured video out, I was lost. But watching you and Jenn Herman there has helped solidify my strategy.
I’ve also found that I’m able to connect and network with people who I’d otherwise be “lost in the noise” on some of the larger social networks.
Your use of video is so impressive Jeff. I love to see how you’ve integrated that into every platform you’re on. It’s awesome!
Nice piece of sharing that is why ,Rebekah, I love your wisdom. It would be so nice of you if you tell how to have an Instagram account and how to manage it.
Thank you Dharam!
What an amazing article about my 2nd fave Social Media Platform!
I’ve been on Instagram for over year an a half now, and at the beginning had no clue what I was doing there, but over time I found few people who I learned few strategies on what to share, how to share and most importantly to engage back with your followers.
Instagram is by far Visually reach platform!
Thanks for creating this post Rebekah along with the amazing work you do on so many Social Media Fronts!
You do an amazing job managing your presence on Instagram Anna. I love your inspirational and educational posts. You’ve definitely found your groove!
Rebekah,
As usual great stuff. I am in the middle of figuring out how to incorporate Instagram into my strategy and my clients’ strategies. I am a HUGE Gary Vaynerchuk fan and I hear him repeatedly tell me “get on Instagram”, now I’m listening….lol. This article was very timely and clearly gave me a roadmap that will help me. Thanks for sharing your awesomeness!
Gary Vee is a wise man Laura! 🙂 It’s a great place to be, especially when you get what your audience is looking for (like he does) and can repeatedly provide that content – day in and day out.
I LOVE Instagram and your tips on how businesses can get started are right on, Rebekah, as usual. I’m slowly, slowly, getting my biz clients to adopt Instagram so I’ll be sharing your article.
Denise- I am with you. As I said in my comment I am trying to get myself together on Instagram. I feel I am way behind the times…lol. It really is a great platform.
Laura, I started by posting personal things that I don’t mind sharing on social… my cats (people love cats and dogs!), my travels, places where I run. I also watch what others post and get a lot of great ideas. Glad to know you’re giving it a go now.
You are awesome on Instagram Denise! It’s so easy for you to translate all that you’re doing everywhere else over to IG. Your social media wisdom knows no social channel boundary! 🙂
Good article and good timing on how to use Instagram. Until recently, I thought Instagram was more for the younger crowd vs. small businesses. After reading this piece, I can see how and why Instagram isn’t just for for the millennials anymore. Nice one Rebekah!
There are those misconceptions with Instagram and Pinterest Neil. But as you can see, they’re both a great place for small businesses. I’ll see you over there! 🙂
I just found you Rebekah. I need to figure out how to add those neat emoji’s you and your followers add to your updates? Seems that having multiple #hashtags are the norm over here too? Coolio