How Instagram has become a powerful tool for businesses today?

You would know by now, Instagram is one of the most powerful social media networks out there. It has over 400 million users and is one of the best engaged communities with more engagement taking place than on Facebook or Twitter. Whether you are a small or large business, there’s much to gain from showcasing creative visuals.

While most people think of Instagram last in the advertising strategy, we strongly suggest you think of it as first. Instagram has a super active audience that is constantly on it at various times of the day. In fact, a recent study found Instagram generates engagement 120 times more than Twitter per follower. With engagement being so high, it is easier to connect with people, build relationships, brand credibility and turn customers into buyers.

How well your audience knows you

You may not already know this, but your audience may be sharing your business with other followers. For instance, this is true of the restaurant business or brick and mortar store. People are constantly posting images of food they eat, clothes they buy or music they listen to. By sharing a photo of your location, you can let your audience get a peek into your business. You can even see how many others have shared your business, by taking a photo of your location and tagging it. This will display other similar photos taken by your followers. It gives you insight into how many followers like what you are doing.

Why hashtags matter

Instagram helps you reach new audiences. You can discover new people through hashtags. hashtags should be compelling and intriguing, it shouldn’t be the same old boring lines over and again. There must be something new and exciting about the few words that accompany an image. Hashtags is a great way to share your passion or ask followers to share theirs. You can find prospective customers through hashtags. For instance, if you run a pet grooming service, you can post hashtags to find people with pets in a nearby location. Then, you can introduce yourself and the business.

Who is your audience?

Get to know your audience in an intimate manner. If you pay attention to your followers, they are likely to respond. Get your audience to share their daily life through images, publish these to show they matter to you. This will build loyalty. Existing and potential customers like to feel appreciated, like they are part of adding value to your business. Many of them will become repeat customers. All it takes is interaction on your part.

Share images across other channels

Fuel your other social media networks and marketing channels with Instagram. You can re-use images and content across multiple channels through Instagram settings. Photos posted on Instagram will be automatically shared on different networks. Instagram photos can be even used in email marketing campaigns. You can integrate these photos and send them out when the email marketing campaign is ready to be launched.