How to use Instagram to Grow Your Online Marketing

4 Ways Instagram Can Tell Your Story

Instagram is a visual social media platform. Currently, Instagram has more than 300 million users. It’s free to use and gives you an additional audience to share your brand. In April, Webgirl Technology is going to challenge you to create an Instagram account and sprinkle April shower photographs with your followers. Here are 4 ways Instagram can grow your business online:

1.      Personal phone pictures can tell your story. The pictures you post on Instagram don’t need to be professional images. Take some candid photos of your business. Maybe a nice picture at a staff meeting. Instagram offers filters to help give your image a more polished appearance. You can add a variety of filters to any image you post to Instagram. By showing the staff meeting, you’re giving your customers a behind-the-scenes look at your business operations. The magazine, In Style, recently wrote a super fun article on Instagram filters.  You can read that article here: www.instyle.com/news/instagram-filters-beauty-complaints

 2.      Brand recognition (logo, tagline). The best way to have customers recognize your logo and tagline is to post it on everything, even Instagram. When you create your Instagram account, you may want to use your logo for your profile image. The visual impact of Instagram allows you to use your logo on pictures you share (see image 1 below). Is your company all about trees? Show us pictures of seasonal trees and follow others that show trees. Your stream can go beyond your logo. 

3.      Use Video. Videos can be posted on Instagram. As of March 29, 2016, Instagram is allowing 60 second videos. In the last six months, the time people spent watching video increased by more than 40 percent and Instagram is responding to the need to engage with longer video lengths. 

4.      Hashtags. Every time you post on Instagram, you can caption your photo or video. You can also use hashtags. Hashtags are searchable words/phrases within the Instagram platform that help attract new followers. Simply type the pound sign # and follow it with a word or phrase. You can use numbers, but no special characters. For example, I took this picture when I was visiting Washington DC #CherryBlossoms.

Instagram has lots of great features and advantages for businesses. But, the key to success is consistency. It’s important that you post on a regular basis and provide an educational component to your posts instead of selling products and services. If you are interested in learning more about Instagram, attend our free meetup on Wednesday, April 13. Register here: www.meetup.com/Business-Online-Networking.

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