When you think of social media marketing, or the social media landscape in general, what are the brands that come to mind? Facebook, certainly. Twitter, too. But what about the media-sharing mogul, Instagram? If Instagram isn’t already a part of your content marketing strategy, it may be time to reconsider your approach. Instagram delivers per-follower engagement at levels that are 58 times that of Facebook and a whopping 120 times that of Twitter to brands who have mastered the ins and outs of the platform.

How can you leverage this powerhouse of a platform to boost brand recognition, engagement, and bring clients to your doors? Our social media marketing experts here at Little Egg Solutions have put together this list of five tips to harness this remarkable engagement for your business and to put Instagram to work for you.

1. #HashtagsAreMarketingMagic

Just like on Twitter, hashtags are a simple way to categorize your Instagram posts and to hop on the hype-wagon when there’s a trendy topic that lines up with your industry, your company values, or your online image. They link your post to other similar posts, and that lends your content a certain level of relatability (which, in social media marketing, translates to like-ability and share-ability) and even authority within your industry.

Just Remember: Use them, don’t abuse them. Too many hashtags can be worse than none at all, and they should always work with your brand.

2. Mix It Up

Instagram is one platform that stresses quality over quantity. There’s no need to post multiple times per day, or even every single day. It’s also a place where you can liven up your presence with a little variety. Use different filters to show off the creativity of your team, use no filter to get down to the nitty-gritty. Add fun posts and serious posts alike for a balance that appeals to your entire audience in a way that you can’t on other platforms.

Just Remember: Variety is the spice of Instagram, but you’ll still want to maintain some level of consistency in language and voice to build recognition.

3. Humanize Your Brand

The purpose of social media marketing is to connect with consumers and clients on a personal level, and Instagram is an ideal platform for doing so. Behind-the-scenes photos and videos give your audience a glimpse into the inner-workings of your company, sneak peeks and celebrity sightings make them feel special, and team or employee photos give your brand an actual human face for your audience to relate to.

Just Remember: The purpose of humanizing posts is for your followers to feel connected on a human level. Don’t drown them in hype-y copy or it can ruin the effect.

4. Followers Love Feeling Special

In addition to sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content and sneak previews or tours, there are tons of ways to make your followers feel like they’ve got an in with your business on Instagram. Hosting contests is a great way to boost engagement, and sharing exclusive coupons or deals for your followers keeps the digital word-of-mouth spreading like wildfire.    

Just Remember: One-on-one interaction is guaranteed to make your followers feel special. Respond to comments and always remember to thank the faithful with a follow-back.

5. Integrate Your Approach

The key to a successful social media marketing strategy is integration. Instagram alone can’t bring your brand to the forefront, but an active Instagram presence, coupled with integrated Facebook and Twitter posts, will go a long way to meeting your goals. Embed your Instagram videos and photos on other platforms, on your website, and in your blog for maximum impact and exposure.

Just Remember: Instagram is partnered with dozens of apps that can make your marketing much, much easier. Explore these options and integrate them into your overall strategy.

Instagram may not be the first name you think of when defining your content marketing strategy, but it definitely has the potential to boost your reach and your engagement if you follow the simple tips above. For more help navigating the (sometimes murky, always complicated) waters of social media marketing, talk to our experts at Little Egg Solutions today. Together, we can bring your business to the eyes and ears of those you want to reach.