Although photo sharing has always been a part of social media, we've really seen it play out as one of the most crucial roles in online sharing during the past year. The most popular of said services is Instagram, a mobile-only platform that allows users to take photos, add filters, and share them.

With its Facebook acquisition back in April, the service has sprung into mainstream demand, now with over 80 million registered users using the app to create and share photos. And many of these users happen to be  businesses and organizations. They've got the right idea because using Instagram will be an invaluable tool for sharing inside information directly with their clientele.

Why Should I Use Yet Another Service?

You should be using Instagram for a number of reasons, but none more important than connecting with your followers and producing a conversation. By sharing photos, you and your clientele will be brought closer together, increasing their brand loyalty. The simplicity of photo sharing nowadays is incredible. Instagram will even incorporate directly into your existing social media accounts (such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, and FourSquare).

Photos will also produce a much higher chance of conversation. They also allow you to portray your brand identity in ways status updates and the like never can. Instagram is quickly developing into a service your business cannot afford to miss out on. So how can you make the best use of it?

Go Behind the Scenes

People love seeing what goes on behind the curtain, it makes them feel involved and peaks their interest. Take and share photos of your staff in action shots. If you are hiring or looking for extra aid, let people know what they can look forward to working with you. Take shots of upcoming projects or products, and give them a real "inside scoop." You want to give your followers a complete experience of what it feels like being a part of your business or organization.

Offer Exclusive Deals and Contests

Reward your followers! Occasionally offer a discount to them by having them show you the photo you just took. Or hold a contest to see who can take the best picture of your product. There are an incredible amount of ways you can creatively engage your followers.  Just remember that you always want to encourage people into conversation and interaction. 

Hashtags and Photo Maps

When publishing a photo, you are given the option to add a description and location. Be sure to fill out the caption with a funny/interesting/explanatory bit, and supply links! However, perhaps even more importantly, is the adding of various hashtags to your caption and supplying your location information.

If you use Twitter, you will already know what hashtags are, and how incredibly useful they can be for finding relevant information. Well, they are the exact same thing on Instagram.

Many people will use the "Explore" section of Instagram to look up photos, and will come across your image if it is a potential match. Use hashtags as keywords, and accurately add your location, in order to show up in results. Remember, we are posting Instagram in order to be found.

You should also do the exact reverse of this every once in a while; occasionally do a search for hashtags that you are interested in or related to. See what others in your industry are doing, compare yourself, and learn how you can improve.

Neat! Now What?

As its heart, Instagram is a tool will add a relatable, interesting, and human touch your company. You will be able to empathize with your clients and produce better interaction. Plus it is a very fun app to use! The app is only available for download from your smartphone in the App Store or Google Play store. Registering is an extremely easy and straightforward process.

Let us know your thoughts and experiences with Instagram by leaving a comment below! We just set up our own Instagram account this week, so follow us @customfitonline, and let's create a dialogue.

Filed in // Social Media, Brand Identity, Social Media Marketing