When it comes to social media marketing, many companies focus on the big platforms, such as , , and . With so many people using these sites, they are a big draw for businesses to market on. Because there are so many businesses using these sites for marketing, it can be hard for one business’s content to stand out from all the others and be seen by a lot of people. This can be particularly true on Instagram, with thousands or more photos and videos being posted every day, by both normal users and companies. So what can a company do to make their content stand out on Instagram?
1. Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to make your content stand out. They are also the only way to search on Instagram. So if you want to be found, you have to use hashtags. People follow hashtags on Instagram, and there are many that you can use to increase likes and comments from the start. Stick to hashtags that make sense for the photo you are sharing and use it often. You also have the option to create your own hashtag, which is a great branding tool. Encourage others to use your hashtag to be featured on your page. Each photo can have 30 hashtags. You can search within Instagram itself to sort the trending ones from the not so popular ones. Hootsuite wrote an in-depth article on hashtagging on Instagram if you’d like to go further.
2. Optimize
Make sure your photos are of optimal quality for Instagram. Use size 1080 x 1080 and the max size is 2,048 x 2,048. Not only do your images need to fit the feel of your brand, they need to fit the feel and vibe of the Instagram community. Filters, a blue tone, and a low saturation and block colors seem to do well. There are many image and video apps available that can help you create great photos to share, Instagram’s own app is very simple and often my go to. You can use the Instagram camera or you can use the square setting in your iPhone camera app. Make sure the photos are in focus. A tripod is a good option for steady shots. You can also add text to your photos to grab attention. Here are some photographer tips for your Instagram photos!
3. Post
Post regularly. At least 3 times a week is good, but if you can have more interesting posts more often than that, go for it. Well known brands post an average of 1 to 2 times per day on Instagram and really large brands can post up to 10 times a day. Here is an article with an in-depth analysis of the best time to post. Don’t forget you can also share videos as well as photos. Instagram lets you create or upload 1-minute videos. You can trim videos within the app as well or with iMovie on the iPhone. Videos tend to have more engagement than photos, too.
4. Comment & Like
Engage with your followers. Comment and like on their posts, and respond when they comment or like your posts. Keeping engaged with your followers will create a good impression, and your followers will also be more likely to share your posts.
5. Tell A Story
Do just share a visually interesting photo. You’re posting to market your brand, so make sure your photos or videos also tell a story. Know what image will tell your story and make sure your photo captures that image. Here are some of the top brands on Instagram right now!
6. Unpredictable
Do something a little out of the ordinary with your photos in order to catch the eye of people scrolling by. Try interesting angles or extreme close-ups to make your photo stand out. Take an ordinary photo and run it through filters and other editing tools to make it look unique.
7. Giveaways
Contests and giveaways on Instagram are a great way to engage followers and gain a larger audience as people share their photo entries with others. The contests are easy to do: tell your followers the type of photo to share and assign a hashtag for the campaign.
8. Promote
Remember to promote your contests on your other social media sites, and also share your normal Instagram posts on your other social media sites.
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