This document provides tips and strategies for using Instagram as a marketing tool. It recommends establishing a strong profile with a photo, headshot, logo and website link. Posts should include a mix of promotional, behind-the-scenes, and personal content to engage followers. Hashtags, contests, cross-posting and responding to comments can help build an audience. Videos and photos should showcase work in progress, milestones, and the business personality to attract and retain Instagram followers.

1. May 27, 2014
Julie Kittredge
Business Services Advisor

2. Why use Instagram?
 Photo sharing social
media platform
 Can attract a
completely different
audience and expand
your sphere of
influence
 It’s not quite as fast
paced as other
platforms
 Can use it to cross
post to other
platforms,
simplifying your
marketing a bit.

3. Photos get more engagement

4. First things first – your profile
 Photo
 Headshot
 Logo
 Signature
product
 Profile
summary
 Link to your
website

5. How to use it as a marketing tool
 Extend your branding
 Use filters that
compliment your look
(consistency will help
“brand” your images)
 Provide a glimpse into
the personality and
lifestyle of your
business
 Incorporate Instagram
marketing into your
editorial calendar

6. Create an editorial Calendar
November 2013
◄ Oct 2013 ~ November 2013 ~ Dec 2013 ►
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Blog:
Photography workshop gift
certificates available
2
Event:
Smith Family Session
3 4 5 6 7
Instagram:
Behind the scenes look at
photography workshop
prep
8 9
Event: Photography
workshop
10 11
Instagram:
Just a peek of the nature
photo calendars in
progress
12 13
Instagram:
Family session in progress
14 15
Blog:
Photo workshop success
story
16
17 18
Event:
List new photo calendars
in the shop
19
Instagram:
Show new photo calendars
with announcement of
availability
20 21
Blog:
Share Photo calendar
process with coupon code
22 23
24 25 26 27
Blog: Thanksgiving wishes
28
Happy
Thanksgiving!
29
Instagram:
A little peek into family
time and relaxation
30
More Calendars from WinCalendar: December, January, February

7. Inspiration: what to include
 Peek at projects to come
 A stack of your research books
 The weather outside your
window with a personal
reflection
 Works in progress
 Personal celebrations
 Business milestones
 Sales
 A peek at your work process
 Completed projects
 Materials you use
 Highlight an employee

8. Inspiration: 15 second videos
 Works in progress
 A glimpse during a walk
 A moment of beauty
with your followers
 A peek at a company
event
 A (15 second)
testimonial from your
favorite client
 Your product in use

9. A good balance of content creates
fans that follow.
 You do not need to post content every day
 The feed pace of Instagram is much more laid back than
some of the other social media outlets. Posting every day
might become too much for some of your followers.
 Be authentic
 Be relatable
 30/30/30 rule
 1/3 Promotional
 1/3 Business (pull back the curtain – behind the scenes)
 1/3 Personal

10. Example of the 30% rule
work in progress example of artwork in
private living space
daily bread making

11. How do I cultivate a following?
 Contests (ideas here)
 Hashtags (#yourbusiness)
 See Bolthouse Farms creative use of hashtags
 Cross post on other social media
 Facebook & Twitter
 Video – 15 seconds of video
 You can edit your video
 You can choose your cover photo
 You can post directly to facebook

12. Sharing posts across social media
platforms
 Direct sharing of
your image to
social media
 Special note:
Facebook - must
choose personal
profile OR
business page

13. How do I interact with my
customers?
 Dialogue with customer comments.
 Tag other users (@customername)
 Use hashtags (#mybusiness,
#arlingtonheights, #industry)
 Be strategic in who you follow or follow back.
 Follow those brands you enjoy and can learn
from – emulate what you like
 Comment & like their feeds

14. Can I organize my posts?
 Use the same editing
filter for each “category”
 Behind the scenes
 Product shots
 Customer shots
 Events
 Hashtags
(#mybusinesslife,
#myfamilylife,
#mybusinessproducts)

15. Additional apps
Statigram – provides statistics about your
feed
Photo editing apps
 Snapseed
 VSCO cam
 Camera+

16. Let’s see it in action!

17. Additional apps
 5 Tips for getting your business on instagram
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/get-your-
business-started-on-instagram/