In this episode of 5 Business Rules, Monika Jansen and I offer up five tips to get you going on Instagram. Spend 4 minutes watching the video or read on for the tips.
Only share high-quality images
Instagram is a visual platform, so the first rule is to use high-quality images.
What makes a high quality image you may say? Something that strikes you and makes you say “Wow, that’s cool.”
Because Instagram started out as a photo app for iPhone, the pictures you take on your phone are perfectly fine. We’re not saying you need professional images, but we are saying you need a good quality image that’s focused, clear and has a high enough resolution to show up well on different screens.
Just remember, if it’s not something you get excited about, it’s unlikely to excite anyone else.
Use the caption to tell a story and create a connection
Use the captions to tell a story. The majority of Instagram posts may be nothing but hashtags, but you have the opportunity to stand out by sharing interesting information that helps you connect with your audience.
Monika mentions one of her favorite Instagram accounts is National Geographic, largely because of all the little facts she learns about penguins or whales alongside super cool pictures.
Aim your captions at your target market and share information they are likely to be interested in.
Experiment with short videos
It’s clear that the internet loves videos, so use that to your advantage on Instagram. If you have something to say, whip out your phone and make a quick video rather than typing out a long message.
It may be hard to get in the habit of using your phone to make a recording, but if you can, you have a wonderful opportunity to connect with your audience.
Add lots of hashtags
Instagram is driven by hashtags, and people really do search for different images through hashtags. While you may have learned to use hashtags sparingly on other networks, when it comes to Instagram, the more the merrier.
The more hashtags you use, the more opportunities to be found you have.
Also remember that in this case you don’t have to use industry terms. Some of the top hashtags on Instagram are:
#cute
#PhotoOftheDay
#Love
You do want to be relevant, but keep track of the top terms and use them.
Advertise
According to Fortune Magazine, Instagram users are two and a half times more likely to click on ads as compared to other social networks.
This definitely makes it worth experimenting with ads, but it’s also worth mentioning that Instagram is owned by Facebook. We all know how driven by advertising Facebook has become, and so it’s likely that ads will only get more prevalent on Instagram. As it is, you can place Instagram ads through Facebook’s ad manager and hit both platforms at once.
If you have more questions on Instagram or social media marketing as a whole, reach out to us and let us help. Better yet, find us on Instagram and practice!