Instagram For Business by Judi Gray
Blue Bird Internet Marketing & Social Media.

Instagram Overview:
Instagram is a mobile phone based app for iphone products & android systems. Instagram allows users to create a profile and share images that predominately taken on their phones, uploaded to Instagram, then cropped to a square shape with the options of editing the images.  Users view a home page of images provided by those they have followed or friends of theirs.  The Instagram App is free to download from the Appstore or GooglePlay.  Instagram was purchased by Facebook in April 2012 and has since made some improvements, for example, the photo feed is now available to view on your PC.

Creating An Instagram Profile:
You will require a username (similar also to Twitter).  I recommend if you are using Instagram for Business Purposes, you use your Company Name if you are representing the company, alternatively for personal use, use your personal name or a varient of.

Instagram Privacy:
Users create their profiles I recommend private for personal usage, which only allows your Instagram friends to view your profile and images & open for business usage so everyone can view your pictures.

Image Hash Tags:
To create interest, users use #Hashtags attached to all of their posts (similar to Twitter) (See More on Hash Tags Here).  For Example a business would always tag themselves e.g. #mybusiness and to tag someone else in the post, eg someone you want to link to your image you use the @symbol - much the same as Facebook. 

Get Creative:
Photography is fun!  If you don't like taking images or generally don't notice the beautiful things in the world around you - hand this job to someone who does, someone with a creative eye.

Business's may wonder what type of images they should post to Instagram.  Consumers always love to see your products, but don't overload them with them.  


A few ideas to get you started:
1.    Behind the Scenes - show your work office, the set-up of a photo shoot, the creative process in making a product, not always just the finished result.  Users will feel like they get an "inside look to how your business works"
2.    Introduce your employees - images of your employees do not need to be boring - showcase their favourite desk items, pair of shoes, or projects they are working on.
3.    Preperation - are you preparing for a project?  Show the finished product of your work along with the work involved.
4.    What are you doing?  - Are you attending a conference, meeting someone new from another business - why not showcase their businesses as well?  Take a photo of your favorite funky coffee shop and share.  Food Images are always popular also.  Always remember to add the information of where the image was taken so credit can be given to the photographed business.
5.    Sneak-Peek's - offer consumers a sneak-peek into your upcoming product launches or projects. Let them feel like an insider!

Let Us know how you go!  List your links in the Comment's Below.

Judi Gray
Blue Bird Internet Marketing & Social Media