A photo sharing application that lets users take photos, apply filters to their images, and share the photos instantly on the Instagram network and other social networks like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and Foursquare. The app is targeted toward mobile social sharing, and in just over one year, it has gained 15 million users. There are over 15 million users, growing at a rate of 2 million users per month with users uploading 400 million photos in less than two years (60 photos per second). Ten percent of all photos taken by humankind were taken in the past 12 months.
Instagram is a place where businesses use imagery and visual storytelling to connect with their customers in meaningful ways. In fact, 80% of accounts follow a business on Instagram, 60% learn about a product or service on Instagram, and 75% take action after being inspired by a post.1 Instagram Business Tools were designed with that in mind. Today, business profiles are used by 15 million businesses on Instagram. In addition, your business profile provides tools like insights and the ability to promote posts, which will help you better understand and reach your audience. We’ll look at insights and promoted posts in a later section. Once connected, your Instagram profile will import the business information included on your Facebook Page. Be sure to include a phone number, and a physical or email address so that customers can reach you. Once connected, your Instagram profile will import the business information included on your Facebook Page. Be sure to include a phone number, and a physical or email address so that customers can reach you.
INSTAGRAM STATISTICS
Instagram is quickly outgrowing Foursquare, the largest mobile social network. 91% of US citizens have their mobile phone within reach 24/7. 25% of people in the US have totally abandoned their laptops for the exclusive use of their mobile device and downloading Mobile apps 10.9 billion times and are expected to peak in 2013. Brands on Instagram that have been successful include GE, Starbucks, GoPro, and Red bull that have been effective in spreading awareness and cultivating relationships with their biggest fans.
Why is Instagram so cool? Readers process more information more quickly from images than from text, and thus images drive more audience engagement than text content. The popularity of Instagram seems to stem from the fact that it allows you to tell a story through visual images. 70% of Facebook user activity is centered on uploading, liking, and sharing photos. No wonder they purchased Instagram in 2012 for better picture sharing and increased engagement.
OPEN UP TO PEOPLE
Show people what happens with your brand behind the scenes. Show photos of yourself with respected people that you are connected to or anyone else who inspires you. Post attributed quotes that are branded with your colors. That means put your Instagram username on every point of customer contact and ASK people to follow you. Include it on invoices, in advertising, marketing material, signage or anywhere else you know you’ve got their attention. Announce your profile at your local networking groups—Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, etc—and ask for them to follow you. Fellow local business owners are a great source of support. Get people closer to your brand. Introduce followers to your employees and let them see more of what happens behind your business. This can gain you a lot of trust from customers.
WHO TO FOLLOW
Use Instagram’s Explore tool to find people or brands of interest to follow. Try searching by both username and hashtag to see how the two options differ. You can always go to Profile → Options → Find People to Follow (as shown below) to connect with people you know or follow users suggested by Instagram. Try checking the suggested users every now and then, as the list is generated based on your Instagram activity.
IMAGES
Filters, Frames, caption, @tagging, #hashtags, geotag location, Tilt-shift teardrop for creating an illusion of depth, eye button to rotating picture. Users are posting lifestyle photos that are visually appealing. People love visual content and photos tell stories. Storytelling is crucial to the social success of your content, and the emotions associated with photos carry a lot of weight. HubSpot has been carrying on a caption content using Instagram that literally asks users to tell the story of what’s happening in the photos. Be sure to add a caption that includes your call-to-action. Include appropriate hashtags. Make sure the link in your profile sends followers where you want them to go.
#HASHTAGS
Each Hashtag has its own page and its own RSS feed where the photos with that tag are displayed. Research what people in your industry are posting by searching for relevant #hashtags. This is also a good way to find new people to follow. Make a list of hashtags relevant to your industry. Use the Instagram Explore tab to research those hashtags. Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes and hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a post announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. Popular hashtags include #iphoneography, #iphone, #bw, #flashbackfriday, #sky, #cat, & #dog. Check out this list from socialmediaonlineclasses.com for some other great ideas:
Leave constructive comments, start conversations, and be nice. Geo-Tagging your location to make it easier for people to find your account. Host photo competitions by submitting photos to competitions such as #instadaily. Instagram is ideal to share stories and allow followers some insight into you and your world.
Make use of apps and list of Instagram apps:
- Instagoodies.com-Sticker books
- Postagramapp.com-Send actual Integra postcards to your pall
- Printstagr.am-Mini books, teen books, and posters
- Teenytile.com-Make teeny tile from your photos
- Stickygram.com-Fridge magnets from your Instaphotos
- Tagsforlikes.com-app comment to curate
- www.web.stagram.com-ideas for the best Instagram hashtags
- pixlromatic.com-more Instagram filters, Share photos on Instagram with #pixlr hashtag to get featured
- icon square.com-track Instagram stats
- simplyinstagram.com
- bluestacks.com-use Instagram too and mobile apps on the desktop
- collec.to-complete Instagram API
- picstitch-create multiple split screen photos. good for before and after
- Instaquote.com-Add text to your photos
- flipagram.com-creating music videos
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