Many people think of Instagram marketing as a silo – its own platform, unrelated to everything else you do. But there are many features and tools that you can take advantage of to improve your whole marketing strategy. If you’re only using Instagram to share photos there, you’re missing out on many more opportunities to market your brand.
Instagram Photos
Sure, it’s easy to post a new photo to Instagram. It takes mere seconds. But have you ever taken those photos and used them anywhere else?
You spend hours on Photoshop or make big payments to graphic designers to create Instagram graphics or edit Instagram images for your brand when you have what you need at your fingertips. Now, I understand the real value of a great designer and a social network won’t replace them. However, you can save money and time by occasionally creating your own branded content.
Instagram has a variety of filters and photo edit tools which can help you produce high quality images quickly and easily. You can add text overlays or create image collages with ease. And once these images are created, you can repurpose them to other locations.
Share your images to Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Use your images on your website or blog to enhance the visual component of your content. Use your images in place of stock images on marketing content to really give customers a true perspective of your company.
We all love photos and Instagram allows you to easily incorporate amazing images into all of your marketing needs.
Instagram Videos
These aren’t as common or as popular as photos but they offer so many great benefits, it’s hard to avoid capitalizing on them. Videos also offer filters and editability tools to really enhance the quality of the videos. And, much like Instagram photos, the videos can easily be repurposed to other social media sites and your website.
Some of the best ways to utilize videos include:
- How-to videos
- Greetings or personal messages
- Behind-the-scenes
- Product information
- New product announcements
Include a variety of videos on your account and use these videos to promote your brand. You can also promote your Instagram account by embedding the Instagram video onto your website and encouraging visitors to visit and follow your Instagram account for more exclusive content.
Direct Messaging
Instagram introduced direct messaging (referred to as Instagram Direct) and most people assumed its use for personal conversations with friends. But it can be used in creative ways to grow your business and market your brand.
You can send direct messages to up 15 users per message and only those included on the message will be able to view the image and the comments.
Consider offering exclusive discounts to VIP customers via a direct message. You can also take customer service issues off the public forum and resolve them privately using the direct message feature.
These are all ways you can use Instagram to improve your marketing strategy. Just because you create content or conversations on Instagram, doesn’t mean it has to stay there. Take the high quality content and relationship opportunities beyond this site to add some excitement to other areas of your marketing plan.
Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash
How To Use Instagram FAQs
The only way to properly use Instagram is to read their Terms of Use and Community Guidelines to make sure you are not violating any policy that can lead to suspension of your account. You need to know the content type that is allowed in the app and the “do’s and don’ts” when using the app. It is also highly recommendable to utilize the features of the app that can help you with personal, business, and marketing-related stuff.
Instagram is a photo-sharing app made in 2010. As of now, the platform has 1 billion active monthly users since it was launched. The app was originally created for mobile use but in 2012, they launched a feature-limited desktop version. Instagram has features such as Instagram story, IGTV, Reels, Search and Explore, Shopping, and their recent collaboration with Facebook which is Messenger.
Check these tips on how to use Instagram as a beginner:
1. Post colorful and interesting photos
2. Play around with filters but don’t overuse them
3. Use relevant and right hashtags
4. Be consistent in posting content
5. Interact with your followers
6. Stay updated with Instagram trends and new features
Here are the steps to take to get started with Instagram:
1. Download the app on your mobile device.
2. Fill out the required information and create your username
3. Perform the other steps in completing your profile such as adding a profile picture
4. Post your first photo
5. Set up your location and bio
6. Explore other features
Instagram is mostly about photos and short videos while Facebook has a broader appeal on connecting with other users. Instagram is exclusively a photo-sharing application where you can follow another user, like their photos, or watch their IG stories. Meanwhile, Facebook offers multifaceted features like sharing pictures and videos, sell something on the Facebook marketplace, join and interact with groups, and others.
