So, it is absolutely worth businesses getting onboard with Instagram.
Some quick Insta Stats...
- 22% of all Instagram users log in at least once a day
- 38% of users check Instagram multiple times a day
- 60% of users (that’s 600+ million people) seek out and discover new products on Instagram
- 80% of users follow at least one business
The main issue with instagram it also its strength - such a visual medium needs high quality imagery and lots of it. Now, if you run a food & drink or event business, an estate agency or a retail outlet of some kind, you will have access to a store of high quality images and these can be used to populate your feed and make it visually appealing. On the other hand, if you run a service business of some kind which has less visual content available, you are going to struggle with finding things to post. After all, there are only so many pictures of your lunch you can post!
For non visual businesses, the challenge is very much about how you can get creative to post engaging content on Instagram to keep followers interested and on your feed.
Make use of templates
Creating Instagram-worthy images has become much easier following the arrival of apps like Canva and venngage. You no longer need to be a Photoshop afficianado to be able to produce something which will look great on your feed.
Both Canva and Venngage offer a number of customisable templates for Instagram posts and offer the option of different post caterogories like special offers, quotes and announcements. Both offer a range of stock images to get you started. With a simple interface, you don't need any special skills to create something that will look great.
Stock Images don't have to be naff...
Making use of free stock images can be a useful way of creating posts - and they don't have to be naff! Pexels, Stocksnap and unsplash are all websites which offer high quality, royalty free images which don't look like your typical stock photo. A huge searchable bank of photos which is being added to all the time means that you are sure to be able to find a suitable image to liven up your feed. Images can be uploaded into one of the template apps above so you can add text overlays to create unique posts for your feed.
Run a competition
If you have a reasonable following you can make use of your existing audience to create content for you. Many brands encourage their customers to upload their own photos, whether that is using a specific product or perhaps some kind of 'spotting' competition, Asking people to upload their images and @ you or use a specific hashtag means you can easily track uploads - these can be reposted on your own feed. Have a look at this article from Photoslurp on successful UGC Instagram campaigns for inspiration.
Give some Insider knowledge
As we mentioned above, there are only so many photos of your lunch you can post on an Instagram feed. Similarly, a steady stream of self promotional images are not very inspirational for the viewer. Try uploading some images which give some 'insider' insight into your business or your day-to-day work life. Posts of this type can help to make your followers feel more of a connection with the people behind your business.
If you need a bit more information to get you started on Instagram - have a look at our blog post 'getting started with Instagram for business' where you can also download our free guide - Ten Top Tips for Effective Digital Marketing.