Instagram is used by around 300 million people and has become one of the most popular social media platforms available. This platform centres around the concept of sharing photos with followers and has quickly escalated from a trendy, iOS-only app to one of the most favoured social networks out there.
As a business you may wish to consider setting up an Instagram account as part of your social media marketing strategy, especially if you believe it is going to attract more visitors to your website and generate stronger revenues. Instagram is ideal for businesses that are very visually focused, but any business can use Instagram to promote itself.
For instance, if you run a florist, a bakery or a restaurant, you can easily capture captivating images of your work or products and post them on your Instagram page. If those images are compelling enough they will be sure to get a conversation going, which will ultimately garner you a great deal of success. Over time, you will find yourself featured in various publications, across different websites and on other people’s social media pages.
Instagram is a great platform to use to gain instant international recognition. Provided that you use the site effectively, over time, people from across the globe will begin to follow you, even if you are a small business with a small clientele.
How to Use Instagram more Effectively
Take a Perfect Shot
Instagram is all about getting the perfect shot. All images shared should be of the highest quality. They should be clear and easy to understand, without any blurriness or crooked angles.
Your main subject matter should be the focal point of your image while your background should also be taken into consideration. For instance, if you are snapping a shot of your latest cupcake, choose your background wisely. It should be something plain that will not deflect attention away from the main subject.
Use Filters and Apps to Touch Up Your Images
Instagram comes equipped with a range of filters that you can use to apply to your images to modify them and create different impressions. For instance, the Earlybird filter adds a warm tone to your picture to make it look older, while the Amaro filter adds light to the picture and focuses on the centre and is a great filter to use to snap a picture of something very specific.
Apps are also a great tool to have in your photo taking toolkit as they help you to improve upon your pictures without needing to call upon a professional. There are countless free and paid-for apps including PicMonkey and Pixlr Express, which enable you to crop or resize an image and give you plenty of filters to choose from.
Don’t Over-Promote
Instagram is designed to bring enjoyment to followers and as such you want to avoid over-promoting your products. To spice things up on your account and build stronger brand value you could add videos, quotes, photos of happy customers, photos of events attended or even something entirely non-related to your business.
With Instagram, the world is your oyster and the ability to appeal to a huge target market has never been stronger. By being savvy with your account, you will be well on your way to better promoting your business and appealing to a wider target market.
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