This week guest blogger Ivan Serrano helps us with how to use Instagram for business. Are you an Instagram user? If so please connect with me here. Here’s what Ivan has to say about Instagram.
With over 4 billion mobile users in today’s world, social media is everywhere around us these days. It’s almost impossible not to have at least one account to stay up to date on the news, daily happenings, and hot new trends of businesses. Myspace and Facebook served as monumental figures to pave the way for other social media platforms to come, but they began with the basics: a way of projecting one’s self in a certain way, an invisible stage of sorts to create or re-create how one wanted to present one’s self. Companies are copying exactly the same tactics as individuals – and getting a lot of attention for it. When sites like Facebook and Myspace were created, they were important outlets to channel small bits of information. But now, the world of marketing is changing.
With new sites rising up like Twitter and Google Plus, social media allows for companies to provide as much information as they want about their brand or idea, without overloading their clients with information because clients read and browse at the pace they want to. The emphasis these days is less about who a brand is and more about what a brand does – the emphasis, in other words, is about the content that a company has to offer. But even content can be a bit draining to keep up with. With so many social media sites and Apps and competing startups and companies all vying for the same niche markets and mainstream attention, it’s difficult to really make your brand stand out. This is why a lot of companies have turned to Instagram as a solution. Using Instagram, you not only do all the other things that Facebook and Twitter offer – relaying information, creating #hashtagcampaigns and @mentions, but with Instagram the emphasis is on the image of your company. You tell the story as you want it to be seen. Here are some facts to get you started with Instagram:
I have Instagram but honestly haven’t used it much at all. I had NO idea how popular and relevant it is and the ideas you pose in this article (and visuals) are interesting. I’m going to have to use this social media channel more often.
Tandy,
I’m starting to play with Instagram a bit more, too.
Sue
This i s a lesson within a lesson. The method of writing with the
variety of creativity around the words from colors to illustrations.
Quite interesting style.
I am not on Instagram and had no clue about any of this so thanks for the education! I’d love to know the demographics of Instagram users. Mary Ellen mentions tweens and yet your blog mentions companies using it?
Yes, Trudy, many large companies and tons of small ones use Instagram and have sales from that publicity.
Do you have to know male to female ratio and age-groups. My audience is women 35-65
I love the way Ivan teaches through visual images. I am an Instagram user, and found this very helpful. Thanks for sharing Sue!
Great infographic, Sue! Very comprehensive! XO, Katherine
Sue, as the mother of a 12 year old son I can’t imagine NOT being on Instagram! ! I have been on it for awhile now and allowed him on it at the beginning of this school year. It is absolutely the tweens social media channel of choice. They say Facebook is for “old people.” To me it’s vital to watch trends and watch where the young people are using and where they are headed.