Instagram was designed as a photo sharing site. Users are encouraged to share photos (and now videos as well) to their feeds. But, when it comes to marketing, sometimes we need more than just photos. So, here are some ways to think outside the box and use posts other than traditional photos.
Because Instagram images can only be uploaded from your mobile device, it takes a little creativity and a couple extra steps to implement these tips I'm going to mention.
If you can't create images on your mobile device, you will have to create your images on your computer and then send them to your mobile device. Personally, I like to use PowerPoint to create images and then save the file as a jpeg. The easiest way to get the file to my smartphone is to email the file to myself. Then I open the email on my phone and download the attachment(s).
If you want to add text on top of your mobile device images, there are a variety of apps that you can use. Personally, I like to use TextCutie. Whichever app you choose, you can quickly add content and text to your images to boost them to a whole new level. These are great ways to convey a message since many people may not read your comments below the photo. Putting the text right in the image ensures that your audience gets your message!
So, now that you know how to create images, let look at the types of images you can use.
Advertise or Promote
If you have a sale going on or an event coming up, create an image to promote this. These images make it easy for your audience to see what you have going on. Include the event, the date, the time, and the location in your image.
Teasers
Are you launching a new product in the near future? You could create a series of reveal images by covering the actual product photo with a "mask". Once a day, or once a week, leading up to the launch, you could "pull back the mask" a little more, providing a little bit more of a sneak peek. Encourage your fans to submit their guesses or ideas in the comments. This will help to hype up your fans for the actual product launch.
Tips
Whether you offer a tip of the day or a tip of the week, Instagram can be a great way to share these. Choose images that demonstrate the tip or represent your product. Include the tip or informational text on top of the image to further educate your audience.
Motivational Quotes
While these don't always garner as many likes as a normal photo, if it's right for your audience, then you should include these. Mixing it up and providing a little motivation to your audience can be rewarding.
With all of these options, play with fonts, colors, and background images to keep the images fun and interesting. You can still add filters to these images once you upload them to give them another layer of creativity.
Remember to have fun and experiment. Try new things and find what works for your audience.
If you would like assistance setting up an Instagram strategy for your business, please contact me!
