Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media networks and one that many businesses are moving too, with over 500 million monthly active users, less competition and a more engaged audience than other social media like Facebook or Twitter.
This presents businesses with a new opportunity to market their products, to a more interested audience without spending on paid advertising.
Starting an account is quick and easy.
You are not able to create an account from a desktop so you either need a smart phone or tablet to get started.
Download the Instagram app for iOS from the App Store, Android from Google Play store or Windows Phone from the Windows Phone Store. Once the app is installed on your mobile phone, tap to open it.
Sign Up
Tap Sign Up, then enter your email address and tap Next, or tap Log in with Facebook to sign up with your Facebook account.
Set up a free business profile
Within the app, find settings, then scroll down to Switch to Business Account.
Once you have a business account, you can add a contact us link to your profile and you can see stats from your post via insights.
Before you start.
Links
One fundamental difference with Instagram, which can make it hard to get started, is you are unable to add links into your messages. So how do you get traffic to your website? The only link you have is your profile link, this you can change as often as you want and you can think about having a specific landing page for people coming from Instagram.
Images
Instagram is an image based social media platform, quality is key top getting good images, take some time to set up you image before snapping, this is not a selfie posting platform.
Hashtags
Permission to go hashtag crazy on instagram, this is how you will get engagement. After your message add multiple hashtags. including your location and any keywords linked to your post. The more hashtags the more engagement.
Get Started.
Post
Post your first image with a small description and plenty of hashtags.
Follow others
Follow other users who you are interested in and start to like their post. Note there is also no reposting option on instagram. Engagement is either a like or a comment.