Your Small Business and Instagram. The Basics You Need To Know To Make Your Brand Work For You!

Instagram

I love Instagram and have done a few pieces focusing on getting small businesses to take advantage of this useful app to increase their brand awareness. Without trying to sound like a broken record (some of you might remember records. You know, those plastic disc shape things? Ahem. well..) So lets continue on with some more tips on your branding and Instagram.

The Best Practices Of Using Instagram

Using Instagram is not a difficult thing to do but every business should follow these tips.

• Research your competitors – When you look at what your competitors are doing, you’ll not only see the quality of marketing you need to “beat,” you’ll also get some inspiration for your own posts. Make sure you come up with your own campaign. Don't copy them.
• Focus on timing – It’s not only important to determine what you should post, but also when you should post it. Unfortunately, studies about when it’s best to post on social media don’t always agree with one another. That’s why it’s best to experiment with posting at different times and check your analytics. Instagram provides good analytics to business account users.
• Use video – Instagram isn’t just an image-sharing app. You can use it to post video as well. In a recent survey I found, 92% of mobile video viewers share videos with others and social video generates 1,200% more shares than text and images combined.
• Be Yourself – Although it’s easy to appreciate the sarcastic humor of some brands, you might have trouble duplicating that. Good news: you don’t have to. Consumers like brands that are authentic and the display and usage of them to be real. You can do that, right?
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What to Post on Instagram: Workplace & Behind-The-Scenes

Peel back the corporate veil and let followers see what goes on in your workplace. Highlight your brand’s story by showing the people behind it. When you post those kinds of shots, you’re selling your brand more than you’re selling any product or service. That kind of marketing is important, too. You can also use behind-the-scenes photos and videos from your workplace in Instagram Stories.

Focus on Employees Followers love these kind of stories

Got an employee of the month? Post a pic of that person on Instagram and explain why he or she got the honor. You can also just post mini-bios of employees every now and then.

Tell Your Product Story

So how did your product come to market? There’s a story behind it, right? If so, make a short video telling that story and put it on Instagram.

Share Company Values and what makes your business special

Your business is more than just a money-making machine. It’s a corporate entity with a set of values. Share those values on Instagram in image and video format.
Share Customer Success Stories
Feel free to use Instagram for social proof. Find a few happy customers. Ask them to do video testimonials in exchange for free service. Post those testimonials on Instagram and reap the rewards.

Post Product Use Images and Videos

If you’re offering a physical product for sale, then it’s a breeze to find Instagram content. Just highlight what you’re selling. One of the easiest ways to do that is by posting high-quality images of your products. Please note: you’ll likely need to enlist the aid of a professional photographer to make that work. You don’t want to tarnish your brand with shoddy photos. Also, create videos that show people using your products. That’s one of the best ways to highlight your brand’s benefits.

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways you can use Instagram to promote your brand. Think about the kind of content that will resonate with your target audience and also reinforce your corporate identity. Consider also the use of Instagram surveys and maybe a contest.
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-Roy

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Tags:  #branding, #small business, #instagram, #apps #marketing, #mobility