How to be an Instagram success

Gone are the days where by sending a few emails or going to a couple of networking events landed you contacts and clients. There’s now much more to it and by being active across all social media platforms will put yourself, and your company, out there.

Instagram may require you to put a bit more effort in compared to Twitter and LinkedIn, but it is worth it. Instagram currently has over 300 million users, with 53% of those being between the ages of 18-29, so if you want to get in there with the millennials, you should try doing these seven things on your Insta.

1. Get started with your contacts
You can actually find contacts in your mobile phone and Facebook friends to follow to get you going. Head to the Settings option on the app and get adding. When you follow each person, suggestions for others in the same industry or of a similar age will appear and you can scan their profiles and follow them too. Try and boost your followers so you will get more activity on your page.

2. Be social on social
It can be difficult knowing what to take photos of on Instagram and what your followers will like. But in terms of networking, take photos whilst attending events to let people know you’re there. If you appear to be a social person on Instagram, more people will be likely to follow you and want to know what you do. Take photos of everything from your work attire, your desk and where you’re heading that day. You need to essentially see your Instagram as a platform where you can share what you’re up to in a more creative way than a tweet.

3. Don’t overlook the words
Instead of just uploading a photo, think about the caption. It sounds daft, but if your followers are scrolling down their feed, they need to see something that will catch their eye and therefore engage in. Give your images context and explain what it is, what’s going on, why you’re doing it. It’s really important to appear like a good communicator.

4. Location, location, location
When uploading a photo, there is the option to check into your location too. By doing so, people who search that location will come across your posts and profile and you could earn yourself a few new contacts. You can also do this at networking events, so others there can see who you are and make themselves known to you.

5. #powerofahashtag
You should never underestimate the power of a hashtag on Instagram. By using hashtags of your location, the event, your company name, your industry and profession, it will give users a good idea of who you are, what you do and if they want to know you. By spending a minute getting some decent hashtags together to go alongside your post, you could bring a whole range of people similar to yourself to your profile.

6. The early bird catches the Instagrammer
The best time to post on Instagram is in the morning, so consider posting a photo or two between 7am-10am when people will be on their morning commute or checking their social media when they first wake up. Don’t be afraid of overdoing it, a photo a day isn’t too much at all. Make a habit of having a photo ready to post each morning, whether you’re on your way to a meeting or even just what you’re doing in the office that day.

7. Follow first
If you don’t follow anyone back, you won’t look like a very good networker at all and seem uninterested in what other people post. Don’t be scared of the follow button and get commenting on user’s photos and start conversations. You never know what could come from it, so by keeping your options open and following others, you’re putting yourself out there and being good at networking.

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close