Using Instagram for your business

The reason Facebook bought Instagram, a photo-sharing app which had been in existence for almost two years without making profit, for $1 billion is now becoming very clear now. BeforeFacebookrefocused its business around visual communications by placing emphasis on images and videos, it was relying on Instagram. Instagram is a combination of two words – ‘instant’ and ‘telegram’, and it was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. It was later acquired byFacebookin 2012. Why are people running toInstagram? People are only going to the site because there are not too many adverts interrupting interaction but also because it is photo/video-centric. Users can post images and short videos (up to 15 seconds). It is not just about text updates as in the case ofTwitterandFacebook. It also helps you to be creative with your image sizes. With an array of filters and an unlimited amount of creativity, people are finding great and creative ways of sharing their life, activities and thoughts with other people online. It is also gaining a lot of popularity because youths have found love with the ‘newFacebook’. While most youths are running away from stalking parents, more and more of them are finding expressions through the photo-sharing app that is limited to Android phones, making those with the office compliment BlackBerry to envy them. Finally, it is gaining popularity because we no longer have time to pay attention to anything again. Reading texts is becoming a lot of work while visual communication is becoming the king. While blogging and articles have their places, visual communication is the toast of every Internet user. Instagramcreates room for visual communications and it is gaining more users every day. Instagram allows people to share two variants of media content: photos and videos. How can businesses leverageInstagram? Apart from the fact that people are bombarding others’ timelines with adverts, here are some cool ways to use Instagram to promote your business: Show off your uniqueness If you are in the creative industry and your work involves retailing products, you have found your new love. Forget those albums and pictures sitting in your shop, office and laptops. It is time to flaunt your stuff. Take pictures of cool new products and design them as you want them to appear. Then, you can share the pictures. If you are into services, like consulting, hair making, public speaking and training, take time to take photos of your work-in-progress. Go behind the scenes Take pictures and videos to show how your products or goods are made and how much effort and time you put into delivering a quality job, especially if the process is unique or interesting. This will not only provide interesting content for your Instagram account, but will also show your customers and followers exactly what goes on in the background. You can also put your office on display, especially if it is decked out in cool décor. It will show your followers how interesting your company is. Get customers to flaunt your stuff Instagram does not only showcase your products and services, it also creates great mileage to get others to use and flaunt your stuff. Besides, your customers can share their reviews and images on your page. You can get them to do that on theirInstagramprofiles while tagging you. In this way, other users who want to know where the photograph comes from can easily find you. This works with any type of product or service: let your customers know you are onInstagramand the hashtags they can use to show off their photos. Just make sure you are checking them out, liking them and commenting on their posts. You should also respond to people who make enquiries. Hashtags, deals drive engagement Build and appreciate your Instagram followers by offering deals exclusive to them. Share an image with instructions on how to use the deal. For example, you can get them to use hashtags in their updates and images. You can get them to choose the winner; this will drive engagement. Include your employees The more people you are able to get to upload and share information online, the better for you. That is why it is a great idea to engage your employees if they are digitally-savvy. Make your brand’s Instagram page more personal by including your employees in your posts. Share pictures of your team members at work or having fun at company outings. Doing so shows your customers and followers that you care about and appreciate the people around you. Instagramis becoming the attention grabber and, like other platforms, those who adopt it first will become the superstars.