By Angie Tutterow, By Design Media
Why use Instagram? People come to Instagram to be inspired and discover things they care about, and that includes content from brands and businesses. 71% of businesses in the United States are on Instagram, so there’s no denying that the social network is becoming more important for brands and social media marketers alike. Instagram presents a unique platform for brands to create visually engaging content to promote their services and connect with their fans.
According to Instagram there are :
- 25 Million+ business profiles worldwide.
- 2 Million+ advertisers worldwide use Instagram to share their stories and drive business results.
- 60% of people say they discover new products on Instagram.
- 200 Million+ Instagrammers visit at least one Business Profile daily.
- 80% Increase in time spent watching video on Instagram.
- ⅓ of the most viewed stories are from businesses.
If you have put aside creating an account on this rapidly growing platform, now is the perfect time to start. Below are easy to follow steps to start and grow your business Instagram account.
The first step is to download the app and set up an account. Then brand your page by choosing the username consistent with your other accounts and adding your profile photo or logo, bio and website URL. Remember that Instagram is an image-heavy platform, so it’s essential to use consistently use high-quality photos. One of the first images you will be asked to upload is your profile photo. The profile photo will be very small, so text is out of the question. Instead, use your company logo or a professional headshot, if you own a personal brand. People want to know who they are doing business with or who they are following. If you are a personal brand, I recommend using a photo of yourself – people will feel more connected to you.
Next, Instagram won’t ask you to provide profile information, but it’s important to fill out these details especially if you want to drive traffic to your website or a webpage. To add information, go to your profile page and tap on “Edit Profile.” Here you can add your page’s description and website URL and change your name and username. After typing your brand’s information, simply tap done. That’s it! Your Instagram account is now completely set up!
Start adding photos to your gallery. The best thing about Instagram is your ability to reinvent old photos by adding filters. People love the authenticity of the platform, so you don’t need pro skills to tell great stories. Once you know how to use Instagram for business, you can create Stories to drive engagement. Instagram stories are short photo or video collections that disappear after 24 hours. This simple feature is an effective way to share a funny, educational or heartwarming moment with your followers. What is the feeling you want people to have when they view your account? Write out a list of words that describe you and your business. Every post should be based around these words. Remember, Tell your story and Stand out by being you!