HOW TO CREATE SHAREABLE EXPERIENCES USING INSTAGRAM
Creating experiences that your customers can share is the key to free marketing for your business.
Maybe you’ve noticed that you aren’t receiving a ton of engagement on your Instagram business account. As a content and social media specialist, I’ve worked with small businesses that are interested in growing their social media presence.
The number one social media platform I recommend is Instagram.
Why Instagram?
Over 200 million Instagrammers visit at least one business profile a day. People go to Instagram to be inspired by others and discover things they care about, and that includes content from brands and businesses.
When you follow these five easy steps, you will see your engagement with your Instagram increase and thereby gain more followers.
1. Create an Instagram-worthy space where people can share.
Make sure you have a unique place in or around your store where your customers can take photos of their experience to share on social media.
One business that has an awesome Instagram worthy space is Bird Bird Biscuit.
Their feature wall is not only colorful but matches their brand aesthetic perfectly. I mean, how could you not take a picture against that wall?
2. Encourage sharing with calls to action or branded signs.
Place signs around your business that encourage people to take photos and share their content on Instagram. You could even run a giveaway such as, “Tag us in your photo on Instagram for a chance to win a $XX gift card!” or “Tag us in your photo for a FREE item.”
Everyone loves free items and winning at a competition. You can also use giveaways on Instagram to encourage sharing such as Kate Somerville Skincare did here.
3. Create your own hashtag and create a location page.
Why should you create a hashtag for your business? When you create a hashtag associated with your business, this hashtag helps to categorize specific content centered on your business and helps to increase social media engagement with new users.
Below is an example of The Refinery’s location page here.
4. Search the explore tag and find posts you’re tagged in.
Re-share customer photos and videos but ask permission first! Reach out to them in the comments or via direct message. Once you have their approval, then post their photo to your Instagram profile (but only once you have their approval).
5. Share the love with an @mention and tagging their account.
This is a simple way to say thank you to your customers for creating free content for your Instagram account.
Bird Bird Biscuit did an excellent example of this here.
Once you’ve implemented these five steps, you should start to see engagement pickup on your Instagram business account.
