Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Using Instagram for Insta-Success

written by Tanvir Rahman

Instragram has become one of the top social media apps in the game right now and more and more businesses, artists, and freelancers are taking advantage of this phenomenon. Popular users are gaining followers by the thousands and finding a lot of success and networking opportunities. The best thing about Instagram is that it shares pictures instantly and easily from your mobile phone. What I enjoy about Instagram is the photo sharing because you get a clear visual of what’s going on and a picture is worth a thousand words! Many professionals are using this to their advantage to gain followers, customers, and networks.

Window-Shopping
Instagram is a great way to showcase products, merchandise, or even just services. One thing most people don’t know is that Instagram is also a website where photos are highlighted and organized. This is a great easy way to set up a portfolio to showcase work. Instagram has made it very easy to scroll through pictures and view all you have to offer. Viewers can see what your profile is about in a matter of minutes making it a quick and easy viewing tool.

Behind the Scenes
Instagram is also a great way to take pictures of you or your employees working hard on that next project. Give your followers a sneak peak of what’s to come and get them excited for that next product. One of my favorite clothing brands always posts pictures of their upcoming designs which always makes me wanting to see more. Getting a look at what goes on behind the scenes also helps connect with your followers or customers. It invites your consumers into your daily life helps connect with them.

Sales/Contests
Instagram is also an easy way to hold contests and spread your brands name. Having people like, comment, and/or share a photo you post and then choosing a random winner is an easy way to get more people aware of your brand and it helps build incentive to follow you. It is also a free way to get your followers to spread your brand’s name. Posting coupons or sales is also a good way to get your followers attention. Active users are on Instagram almost every day and this is an easy way to let them know of any sales or benefits.

Networking
Instagram also allows the ability to share and explore pictures from all over the world. There are similar accounts to yours and exploring them is very easy through the use of hashtags. Using appropriate tags in your posts can help boost awareness of your profile and lead to more followers from all over the world. I remember earlier this year I helped an artist from Georgia set up her exhibition and she posted on her Instagram asking any Indiana followers to come help. About 10 people showed up the same day. Instagram is also a good way to explore other talented people or businesses. It is a good way to network and find people that have things in common with you. From my personal experience, I found a graphic designer from Argentina whose work I really enjoy. I get a lot of advice and inspiration from him, just through Instagram. Most businesses are public so it is easy to follow and connect with them.

So Instagram has many potential ways to build your brand. It is a great and easy way to connect with your consumers or followers and gain more recognition. Instagram is unique in that it is a photo sharing service all over world with so much to explore. Instagram is a great way to gain more consumers and connect with other businesses like yours with professionals from all around the world. There are many great ways to use Instagram for insta-success!

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