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5 Secrets to Instagram Success

Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social network that allows you to create professional-looking photos with a click of a button, using a number of different digital filters. The best part is that it is super easy to use – both to create visually-appealing images, and to share your new photos to social networks.

There are a countless ways that you can use Instagram for your business, but if you are just getting started, here are 5 quick “secrets” to success:

Get familiar before diving in: It’s easy to over think your new venture. Just because you eventually want to build your new channel, doesn’t mean that this has to be your first goal. Play around with the platform, take some photos and share them on your personal social networks. This will help you get used to the new technology and will allow you to see how others react to specific pieces of content. Once you understand how it works, create photos for your business and share them on your business social networks.

Connect Instagram with your Facebook Business Page: Whether you’ve already connected your Instagram account to your personal or business Facebook Page or not, don’t worry. It’s easy to connect Instagram to your Facebook Page.This will make it easier for you to share your Instagram photos on Facebook, and easier for people on Facebook to connect with you on Instagram as well.

Use hashtags the right way: Hashtags are widely used on Instagram to discover new photos. This means that your current and potential customers are probably already searching hashtags on Instagram, so this is a great way to help them find you. Make sure, when using hashtags, that you are only using ones that relate to the photo and help your target audience find your photos.It’s also important to remember that you do not want to use too many hashtags when sharing your images on Facebook. Hashtags are now operational on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean that your audience is ready to see five hashtags on every one of your Facebook posts. Each network is different, and the way they are used varies from platform to platform, so make sure you’re using the correct etiquette.

Remember– engagement matters!:  Just like all other social networks, engagement is key. Follow those who follow you and your network will grow. Engage with your audience and their friends by liking and commenting on others photos too because it increases the chances of your business being found on Instagram.

Show your personality: One of the best ways to utilize visual networks is to show the personality of your business. Share pictures of your employees, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and your fantastic customers (with their permission, of course).

By using these 5 secrets to your advantage, Instagram can very quickly become a tool that you’ll love and that will help you grow engagement and your audience on all of your social networks.

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Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9’s Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.

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