7 Tips for Using Instagram for Your Brand

If you aren’t already, you are likely looking into using Instagram to market your business. The image-based social network is a great way to interact with current and potential customers as well as the perfect platform to develop your brand. To make the most of the platform, it is essential to understand the culture and the benefits.

To help you make the most of Instagram for your brand, take a look at these seven tips for using Instagram for your brand.

1) Read the Instagram for Business Blog

Instagram has already provided businesses with a wealth of information about using their platform. The blog is a great place to start if you want to learn more about how other brands are using the platform and how to best manage your time on the network. Just like the platform, the blog is provides stunning visuals that will keep you enthralled.

2) Find balance between fun photos and business photos.

Nobody wants to stare at boring business photos all day. Keep your follower entertained by finding a good balance between just-for-fun photos and photos that directly related to your brand. It will pay off for you big time in the long run if you can keep your followers engaged.

3) Take advantage of Instagram Video

Earlier this year, Instagram debuted Instagram Video which allows users to create or upload 15-sec videos. With this upgrade the world of Instagram expanded considerably. Keep your Instagram feed fresh, and your followers happy, by implementing this feature. The videos do not have to be big productions. Anything that is entertaining and to the point will be well received by your fans.

4) Find ways to inspire your followers.

Is there a way your brand could be implemented into followers daily lives? Or maybe the field your in could inspire action from followers? Brainstorm how you could be helpful to your followers by providing tips and tricks and they will reward you will higher engagement.

5) Run a contest.

This is an effective strategy on any platform, including Instagram. Running contests encourage sharing which in turn leads to more followers. Photo or video contests work best on Instagram because of its visual nature. Offering a prize is the best way to make followers pay attention, but you can be creative in the winnings. Maybe the winner gets a shout-out on your account or a tour of your facilities. Or you could always go the traditional route and offer money or free stuff.

6) Give a behind-the-scenes look at your business.

Users are following your brand because it interests them. Reward them by showing an inside look into the daily workings of your business. A great way to do this is by profiling employees. Show the accomplishments they have made or take photos of them in fun situations. Followers will love that you are humanizing your brand.

7) Follow other brands.

One of the best ways to learn the tricks of the trade on Instagram is to follow other brands. Take note of what type of posts and interaction is the most popular. Consider how your brand may be able to replicate that success.

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5 Mobile Social Media Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business

#1: Connect With Prospects On LinkedIn Mobile

The LinkedIn mobile app brings a streamlined version of the desktop site to your smartphone or other mobile device. You’ll have access to all the key LinkedIn features, including updates, your profile, messages and groups.

An example of the LinkedIn home screen on a smartphone.

From your LinkedIn home page, tap on your profile photo to access your profile screen to see who has viewed your profile recently. If someone has viewed your profile, it’s a good indication that they might be interested in hearing from you.

With the mobile app, you can reach out to them from your phone or tablet. Justtap on their profile photo and say hello to them via LinkedIn.

Allowing the app to send you push notifications is a great way to stay in touch with your LinkedIn connections, even when you’re away from your desktop computer.

#2: Build Your Brand on Instagram

Many people think of Instagram as nothing more than a photo-sharing app for personal use, but you can also use it to promote your corporate or personal brand.

In addition to sharing photos of his own travels, Dave Kerpen, author of Likeable Business and CEO of Likeable Media, uses Instagram to build brand awareness by posting pictures of the Likeable foam hand at baseball games around the country.

A picture of the Likeable foam hand from Dave Kerpen’s Instagram feed.

Shelly Kramer, founder of integrated marketing firm V3 uses humor to extend her brand’s personality when she shares Instagram photos with her clients and followers.

Shelly Kramer posted “More evidence of my really bad, terrible, horrible day.”

When you post images from your mobile device to Instagram it can help youform a strong connection with your audience and build a visual representation of your brand. Consider using similar tactics to promote your brand and build awareness through this popular social platform.

#3: Use Promoted Tweets to Target Mobile Users

Did you know that 55% of users who log into Twitter every month do so at least once using a mobile device? You can reach these people by using Promoted Tweets todisplay your tweet to users who access Twitter from a mobile device.

Sprint uses promoted Tweets to capture the attention of potential customers who are using Twitter from their smartphones with a tweet that offers $100 to people who switch to Sprint as their mobile carrier.

Sprint’s Promoted Tweet is surfaced only to users viewing Twitter on a mobile device.

Mobile targeting on Twitter will let you tailor tweets to appeal to prospects and customers who use smartphones. You’ll want to keep this tactic in mind as mobile usage continues to grow.

#4: Drive Traffic to Mobile Sites With Facebook’s Promoted Posts

Unlike Facebook Ads or Sponsored Stories, which display in the right sidebar,Promoted Posts are visible to mobile users because they display in the Facebook news feed.

Below is an example of a Promoted Post that drives traffic to a landing page on the company’s mobile website. The image on the left shows an ad that’s integrated into a user’s Facebook stream. The ad drives prospects and customers to a landing page on the company’s mobile website, as shown in the image on the right.

Use Facebook’s Promoted Posts to show ads in the news feeds of mobile users.

Retailers, e-commerce sites, mobile app developers and traditional businesses have all used Facebook’s native advertising to acquire new customers cost-effectively.

#5: Use a QR Code to Increase Your Social Audience

Research indicates that 27% of all smartphone owners have scanned a QR code. And, while QR codes aren’t going to be around forever, they’re still a great way toconnect with people using social media on their mobile devices.

Use a QR code to grow your Twitter audience.

Here’s a simple technique you can use to get more Twitter followers using QR codes. Copy the URL and visit Mobile-Barcodes. Paste the URL into the QR code generator and hit Submit. Instantly, you’ll have your very own QR code, which can be saved to your desktop.

Now you can add the QR code to any printed materials—business cards, brochures, posters, even T-shirts. People who scan the QR code will be driven to your Twitter page, where they can follow you from their mobile device.

Go on, grab your smartphone and scan the code.s