Instagram THAT!
Instagram isn't the new social media platform on the block anymore, but people are continually joining every year.
The social media platform started in October 2010, has over 12.4 million daily active users and over 20 billion shared photos. But most of these users are individuals and not businesses...so why are businesses not using this to their advantage? Here are some ways to create brand awareness using this social media platform.
Build an effective Instagram Account
Have all necessary account information in the about me section on the company's Instagram page. This information should include anything the comapny would want potential and current customers to know, brand logos as a profile picture, and a website url.
Focus on the Brand
Keep the business Instagram strictly business, no personal photos. Photos should tell a story about the brand and convey the message that the company wants to uphold. Festival season is almost here (I know, I know. This is a blog about social media in the ski/snowboard industry, hold on just for a second) and every apparel brand is getting ready for the influx of girls wanting the perfect festival outfit. Forever 21 is a perfect example of using social media to show creative ways of dressing down for these events. Each picture they take, pertains to full outfits and compiled of clothing and accessories from their brand. They have 1,215 posts of all clothing and accessories; if they post something besides that there's some sort of relevance back to their company.
Engage your audience with pleasing photos
It seems these days that everyone thinks they're a photographer. But make sure the photos are interesting, engaging, and pleasing to the eye. This way it will attract more followers and possibly more customers in the long run. The other thing you have to worry about, is the content that follows the appealing picture. Be creative and use hashtags!!
Crowdsource
Continuing with the topic of hashtags; it's an excellent way to crowdsource for earned media. Simply press the # button and write a catchy phrase or word that goes along with your photo or topic being posted. Hastags are awesome in the way they group similar photos for an event, contest, or series of photos all together for people to view. Free People, owned by Urban Outfitters, started a campaign for women to take pictures of themselves wearing their tie-dye jeans or regular denim using hashtags like #myfpdenim or #fpsorbettiedye. These photos tagged and posted onto Instagram are not only on this platform but also on Free People's website, creating a page of consumer models. People get to see how the pants acutally fit in real life, Free People receives free advertising, and someone gets their 15 seconds of fame; everyon wins!
Share away
Be sure to not only share with Instagram, but push all the extra social media buttons Instagram provides. Now, you are allowed to not only post pictures to Instagram with your catchy phrase and hashtags, but also carry that over to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Foursquare. The more people see your company's pictures and products, the more recognition you will given.
Snap away!
http://www.businessinsider.com/free-people-and-urban-outfitters-instagram-advertising-2012-7?op=1
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-21/how-to-turn-selfies-and-puppies-into-high-end-retail-sales
