Techniques to Effectively use Instagram

The not-so-newbie on the block – Instagram took the social world by storm. Primarily a pictorial platform, Instagram boasts of more than 300 million monthly active users! Yes, it’s true. It’s a widely growing platform with rising popularity (on the likes of Facebook and Twitter) and rising market share. More and more brands are striving to make the presence felt on the social platform and are trying various combinations and permutations to increase their followers with each passing day.

So whether you are individual trying to make a mark on Instagram or a brand trying to reach your consumers, here are a few tips to make the process quicker and simpler.

Original Content

For any social media platform, content is the king. Whatever it is that you are posting, make sure that it is original. Be it a photograph or a graphic, if your thoughts are communicated clearly enough – you’ve made your voice heard. Sounds simple, right?

What most brands and individuals miss out on is an idea. If your Instagram profile has an idea, a purpose and content supporting it – you will be an Instagram celebrity in no time. So the next time you are trying to make a mark on Instagram, remember to keep your content original and awesome.

Timing makes all the difference

Observe, learn and act. Your community speaks to you through their posts and through their response on yours. Experiment with different timings and notice during which time your  community is the most active. If your followers are night timers, there is no point in posting all your great content early in the morning. Keep an eye on when everyone is the most active and hence decide your posting schedule.

Adding a location results in almost 79% more interaction

Though this may be slightly tricky and you may feel that you are restricting your audience, research has shown that tagging the location makes it easier for someone to locate your content. In fact, adding the location also opens up your content to new users you would have not reached otherwise. To begin with, you can try a combination of posts – some with location tagging and some without. This will help you get an idea of what works for you.

And last but definitely as important as the others – interact with your followers. Through contests, interesting posts, commenting and liking their content, build a relationship with your followers. Gradually you will see your follower count increasing, your brand presence growing and a faithful community you can communicate you brand story to.

Tip: Don’t lose patience if the followers increase slowly. Wait for your brand to make its presence felt and in no time you will have an envious follower count.