With more than 300 million active users, Instagram has grown into the most popular social platform for sharing photos, and with a whole host of fit pros choosing Instagram as their primary social network, it’s only going to grow bigger and bigger for our industry.
In 2012, Instagram’s purchase for $1 billion by Facebook was seen as madness! But with a current estimated value of $35 billion, it’s looking like Zuckerburg and his team have grabbed a bargain.
With Instragram becoming such a force in the social media world, it’s clear to see how powerful the tool can be, and how essential it is that your business uses it to it’s full potential.
Instagram is an excellent tool for establishing a brand identity and keeping customers in the loop about company news and promotions, but how do you turn your profile into a big player? How do you get more people engaging with your content? Well in this article we will tell you how, with the help of Protein World’s exciting insta-profile, as they seem to be hitting every Instagram-shaped nail on the head right now!
1. Use trending hashtags’s
Trends on Instagram can happen at lightning speed – and they are often even quicker to go. If you spot a trend, and it fits with your business, use it. Not only does this keep your business trendy, your post could literally be seen by thousands of interested consumers in a matter a minutes. Great for promotion!
2. Run an Instagram Hashtag Contest
A hashtag contest allows your fans and followers to upload photos under a certain hashtag. Look at Protein World’s post above. The #SlenderSundays will help push their competition and their product with little work from them – the users do the work by re-hashtagging. This is a great way to build an audience on Instagram and for people to start talking about your business.
3. Make your clients famous
We always tell fit pros how essential success stories of their client’s transformations are for their website – this is also the case for social media too! This is even more essential for Instagram as it’s a photo-based social network. Body transformations are a huge hit on Instagram and will bring in the likes by the bucket-load. Posting your clients transformation pictures also help your current database too; showing them that you actually care and are proud of their hard work. Creating noise and keeping your current clients extremely happy – win win situation, we’d say.
4. Be creative with your photos
Instagram has many filters built in, as many of you already know, and we would recommend using these from time to time. However natural shots are just as, if not more, effective. Use cool angles, lighting and other photography tricks – whether you hire a photographer, or learn a few tricks on your own. Use photoshop, Diptic, or photoshake to edit your pics, or combine a number of photos into one.
5. Partner with other big players on Instagram
Whether you’re a small PT business, or a large gym, you have relationships with other businesses. If they’re on Instagram too, partner up, and get them to post your products on their Instagram feed. This will help you and your partners cross-promote and will bring both of your Instagram profiles more engagement. As you can see above, PW have a partnership with UFC girl Arianny Celeste, as well as many other big players on Instagram. If it works for the big boys, it will work for you too.
6. Make videos
Instagram now has short video capabilities. Use this to make 15 second videos on your Instagram feed. This will add some variety to your posts and also allow you to fit more information into them. They are also perfect if you’re looking to show off your workout routines or classes.
7. Build pre-launch momentum
If you’re launching a new bootcamp or you have new sessions coming up for the season, then be sure to promote them through Instagram and build excitement. Tease your followers with a 15 second video behind-the-scenes looks at how you’re preparing for the new classes – without giving away exactly what it is. (Think iconic Steve Jobs marketing.)
8. Ask questions about your business or products
Just like Facebook posts, using questions on Instagram draws in traffic and gets your people talking about your business. For example, ask your Followers if they enjoyed your sessions this month. Add a unique hashtag and give your consumers a hub to share photos of how they are progressing. You can then use them images for testimonials in the future.
9. Post consistently
Somebody once said ‘consistency is key’ and they weren’t wrong! Take a look at a gallery of PW’s posts below. All look similar right? And all use their brand guidelines. This is great as your posts and branding will then become familiar to users. As soon as followers of PW see that yellow, they will now think of them. Great marketing and great branding is what we love! Users will be more apt to become more regular customers this way too, as they know your business.
10. Go behind the scenes
A great way of showing that your business is human is to post behind the scene shots. It also shows that you’re not afraid for people to see how your company works behind all the glitz and photoshop glamour. Use your fun behind the scenes shots to your advantage.
11. Show your fun side
Another great way to give your business a positive friendly vibe is by showing your fun side. Not every post has to be cooperate. Take a look at the post below from PW. Remember, Instagram isn’t a serious platform and users don’t log in to be sold to. Try to keep your posts friendly and more users will engage.
12. Monitor your Instagram results
Once your posts are up and running, you want to monitor their results. This is just like you would on Facebook, Twitter or with any other social media post – use third party analytics, or track your followers, your hashtag post numbers, your post likes and comments. Once you see what is and isn’t working you will be able to make the necessary amendments on the next post and grow your profile even more.
13. Continuously improve
Based on your content results, keep improving your photo and video posts. If a particular type of image drives tons of engagement, keep using those types of posts. If using general hashtags get your posts interacted with a lot, keep searching for and using general hashtags. Always keep improving and you will eventually reap the rewards.
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So there you have it, 13 tips to find out how to use Instagram to it’s full potential and get you better connected with your market. Try them out, and see how authentically successful your visual mobile marketing can be.
