You may be new to Instagram marketing. you may think it’s all about getting the best photos. Remember what Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom said. Instagram “is not a photography company. Instagram is a communications company.”
If you’re lost in the weeds of Instagram marketing, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of or download the eBook Instagram Marketing by Matthew Lucas. This slim book (26 pages) packs a ton of information in a short book.
Top Takeaways from Instagram Marketing
- Gaining Instagram fans is not easy, especially if you’re a newbie.
- In Instagram marketing, choose one aspect you want to focus on. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Instagram itself started out as a nimble startup with a dedicated focus on “visceral, visual communication & community.”
- If you’re an artist, focus on showcasing your paintings and engaging conversation.
- Despite what we said at the top of this article, don’t neglect the appearance of your account. Learn how to create photos that have great composition. Instagram is still a photographers’ medium despite some policy changes that offended users back when Facebook bought Instagram.
- Share your Instagram content using other channels such as Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. Remember Facebook is passe for millennials and teens (and not just because of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.)
- Interact with other Instagrammers, but #don’t use too many #hashtags. This can hurt your Instagram marketing campaigns
- Respond to your followers when they comment. Even if it’s just a response with an emoji. That can work for banks.
- Gaining more followers doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money. Hold an Instagram contest. Use the “Suggested Users” feature. Use the “Mayfair” filter for your Instagram marketing campaign. Share images your followers have uploaded.
- This should go without saying, but create a separate Instagram account for your business.
- Offer promos to your Instagram followers. Share content that others would like to see. If your followers want to see pictures of the latest fall fashions, share those.
- Use creative hashtags in your Instagram marketing to improve #visibility. Make your own hashtags. Just don’t use #snowicane.
- Add a direct question or call-to-action in your captions.
- Measure the success of your campaign.
Read Instagram marketing books. Matthew Lucas’s book is a good start.
