Instagram for Business

So in our past blogs we’ve covered the importance of having an online presence, and the role social media plays in today’s business world (you can read them here and here). Facebook has been the social media platform of choice for many but today we’re looking at a slightly different (and rapidly growing popular) platform – Instagram!Instagram is a visual platform that allows users to share photos and videos, and is a much more casual platform that allows companies to engage with consumers in a more approachable way. Note that if your business has quite a serious corporate branding, then you may want to stick with Facebook and LinkedIn.

So who’s actually using Instagram?

With all social media platforms the key is to knowing which platforms your audience is using and which ones they aren’t. Instagram has 400 million monthly active users, with 55% of users falling into the 18-29 age group. The gender split of users is almost even with 51% male and 49% female.

Okay great my target audience is using Instagram… but what should I be posting?

One of the best things about Instagram is the variety of visuals you can post. It’s a good idea to mix your posts up and include product images, behind the scenes look, memes, and event images. The friendly culture of Instagram also makes it the perfect platform to introduce your employees and your office/work culture, helping to put faces behind your brand. Celebrating an employee’s birthday? Instagram it! Just got a delivery of new stock? Instagram it!

The video features are also fantastic for short tutorials or demos of products.

Don’t forget to #hashtag!

Instagram is the home of the hashtag, with people easily able to search and follow hashtags. Try encouraging your customers to post photos of their purchase while they’re visiting your store, asking them to include your own hashtag. That way you can profile your customers and ‘regram’ their photos to your followers.

Any other tips?

Don’t forget to follow back and engage with your followers, and try and use quality images. This doesn’t mean hiring a photographer for every post, but make sure your photo has good lighting and the subject is clear.

Need an example?

Frank Body is a great example of a business using Instagram right – you can see their page here. They use their own hashtag #thefrankeffect which thousands of their customers now use as well. Their posts are a mix of customers’ photos, memes, and product shots.

Lorna Jane is also a great example, mixing product shots with lifestyle tips and quotes that their brand.

Need any help with your social media? Contact us here for a chat.