How to Build Your Brand on Instagram

It's the mobile app that has everyone scrolling and double tapping. Launched in 2010 and acquired by Facebook in 2012, Instagram has unleashed a new channel of social media marketing. The platform is for more than just sharing memories, it is a powerful networking engine for businesses. More than 8 million registered businesses have started to grow and promote their brand on Instagram, reaching new audiences. [bctt tweet="More than 8 million registered businesses have started to grow and promote their brand on Instagram." username="meetsoci"] Are you ready to start tapping into the power of Instagram? Here are four tips to help you get your brand-building Instagram game started.

Brand-Building Tips for Instagram

Set Up Your Profile

There are three key parts to an Instagram profile: your profile image, profile description, and URL link. Each of these pieces plays an important role in showcasing your company's image, mission, and personality. While your profile photo is important across all social platforms, it holds a bit more weight within Instagram. This is because Instagram is an image-conscious platform whose audience loves eye-catching and captivating photos. [bctt tweet="There are three key parts to an Instagram profile: your profile image, profile description, and URL link." username="meetsoci"] Your profile photo is one of the first things that they see. Make yourself easily identifiable by using an image of your well-known logo. You can also customize your profile photo for different seasons and occasions to give your profile a more relatable and personal feel. When writing your profile description, be sure to tell users who you are, what you do, and what you'll be posting on your profile. If you will be posting tips or news, you can say, "Follow us to stay up-to-date on the latest social news!". Or, if you're posting about company culture and personality, invite them to stay by saying, "Get a look at the everyday life of a SOCilite." Letting your audience know what to expect from following you often helps you gain followers and prevents potential future unfollows. The last often overlooked, yet crucial piece in your Instagram profile is providing a link in your profile. Make sure your followers have an easy way to learn more about your company, services, and projects by providing a link to a web page of your choice.

Post Consistently

People follow you on Instagram because they want to see what you're up to, what's coming up, and what you're excited about. While many businesses post consistently on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, they often don't do the same on Instagram. Keep your followers engaged by creating a content calendar for posting. [bctt tweet="Businesses can post as often or as seldom on Instagram, however, it must follow a consistent flow. " username="meetsoci"] The key to Instagram is establishing a posting frequency. Businesses can post as often or as seldom on Instagram, however, it must follow a consistent flow. Posting a specific amount of times throughout a day or week allows your followers to know what and when they can look forward to. Steadily exposing your customers to more products, services, and company personality will cause them to associate you with these things. They will start understanding your business and what its mission is.

Find That Filter

Instagram is an image-focused platform, so you should focus on images, too. First things first, make sure the photos you are sharing are well lit, eye-catching, and on-brand to gain as many likes as possible. After that, make your photos easily recognizable by giving them a consistent filter. This doesn't mean using one of Instagram's present filters or making your pictures extremely saturated or bright. It means that they should promote a similar look and feel, one that aligns with your brand's other collateral. Giving all your marketing efforts a similar look and feel provides a more seamless, reliable experience. You can also create a style pattern with your photos. This could mean alternating between two different filters for posts to create a checkerboard pattern on your profile, or posting a quote before a photo to give your overall profile a more innovative and distinct look.

Create a Hashtag

We don't have to tell you that hashtags are incredibly useful and help drive traffic to your profile. Create your own to start a conversation with your followers and to inspire your fans to post user-generated content of your products. When creating a hashtag, be sure to search for it within Instagram itself to guarantee that it isn't being used by another company. You want something that is unique, brand forward, and findable. It should be short, simple, and something that your followers can remember and associate with you. [bctt tweet="Hashtags can be the name of your company or the name of your campaign, product, or something that represents your brand identity." username="meetsoci"] While many people believe their hashtag has to allude to the business's name, it doesn't necessarily have to.  Hashtags can be the name of your company or the name of your campaign, product, or something that represents your brand identity. Take a look at how REI does it with their #letscamp campaign, which inspires people to explore nature while also sharing their campsite setups put together with REI gear. There is no doubting that Instagram is on the rise and that it can be a key part of your marketing strategy. Audiences love captivating photos that are easy to digest. Paint a picture of how your products can be used and incorporated in the daily lives of your audience. Get started with these tips and don't forget to give us a follow on Instagram as well.