Businesses underestimate Instagram as a creative marketing tool. Lots of pointers shared here for any business to implement.

1. October 7, 2014
Julie Kittredge
Business Services Advisor

2. Why use Instagram?
 Photo sharing
social media
platform
 Different audience
 Slower pace
 Can use it to cross
post to other
platforms,
simplifying your
marketing a bit.

3. Photos get more engagement

4. First things first – your profile
 Photo
Headshot
 Logo
 Signature
product
 Profile
summary
 Link to your
website

5. How to use it as a marketing tool
 Extend your branding
 Use filters that
compliment your look
(consistency will help
“brand” your images)
 Provide a glimpse into
the personality and
lifestyle of your
business
 Incorporate Instagram
marketing into your
editorial calendar

6. Create an editorial Calendar
November 2013
◄ Oct 2013 ~ November 2013 ~ Dec 2013 ►
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Blog:
Photography workshop gift
certificates available
2
Event:
Smith Family Session
3
4
5
6
7
Instagram:
Behind the scenes look at
photography workshop
prep
8
9
Event: Photography
workshop
10
11
Instagram:
Just a peek of the nature
photo calendars in
progress
12
13
Instagram:
Family session in progress
14
15
Blog:
Photo workshop success
story
16
17
18
Event:
List new photo calendars
in the shop
19
Instagram:
Show new photo calendars
with announcement of
availability
20
21
Blog:
Share Photo calendar
process with coupon code
22
23
24
25
26
27
Blog: Thanksgiving wishes
28
Happy
Thanksgiving!
29
Instagram:
A little peek into family
time and relaxation
30
More Calendars from WinCalendar: December, January, February

7. Inspiration: what to include
 Peek at projects to come
 A stack of your research books
 The weather outside your
window with a personal
reflection
 Works in progress
 Personal celebrations
 Business milestones
 Sales
 A peek at your work process
 Completed projects
 Materials you use
 Highlight an employee

8. Inspiration: 15 second videos
Works in progress
 A glimpse during a walk
 A moment of beauty
with your followers
 A peek at a company
event
 A (15 second)
testimonial from your
favorite client
 Your product in use

9. A good balance of content creates
fans that follow.
You do not need to post content every day
Be authentic
Be relatable
Guidelines for balance
 1/3 Industry
 1/3 Business
 1/3 Personal

10. Example of the 1/3 rule
work in progress example of artwork in
private living space
daily bread making

11. How do I cultivate a following?
 Contests (ideas here)
Hashtags (#yourbusiness)
 See Bolthouse Farms creative use of hashtags
 Cross post on other social media
 Facebook & Twitter
 Video – 15 seconds of video
 You can edit your video
 You can choose your cover photo
 You can post directly to facebook

12. Sharing posts across social media
platforms
 Direct sharing of
your image to
social media
 Special note:
Facebook - must
choose personal
profile OR
business page

13. How do I interact with my
customers?
Dialogue with customer comments.
 Tag other users (@customername)
Use hashtags (#mybusiness, #snow,
#industry)
 Be strategic in who you follow or follow back.
 Follow those brands you enjoy and can learn
from – emulate what you like
 Comment & like their feeds

14. Can I organize my posts?
Hashtags
(#mybusinesslife,
#myfamilylife,
#mybusinessproducts)

15. Additional apps
 Statigram – provides statistics about your
feed
 Photo editing apps
 Snapseed
VSCO cam
 Camera+

16. Additional apps
 5 Tips for getting your business on instagram
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/get-your-business-
started-on-instagram/
 How to use Instagram as a marketing tool
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/use-instagram-
to-promote-products/