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I’m a writer. I love a good story. But sometimes the best stories are told through images. With over 20 billion photos shared all around the world, Instagram has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Maybe it’s the user-friendly platform or the appealing visuals—but something about those perfectly square pics bring in over 200 million active members a month

If visual story telling is on your marketing to-do list, Instagram is the place to make it happen. Give your fans an insider’s look into what you do, and allow Instagram to ignite your brand. Here’s how:

  1. Start With a Plan
    Before you get started, you’ll need to create a strategy and construct a path that stays true to your brand. Consider how you can use the app to connect with your audience. What is your end goal? Is it to increase product/service awareness, give a behind the scenes look at your company, or inspire people to take action? Whatever it is—set some goals and think about how you can achieve them through photos and videos.
  2.  Collect Your Visuals
    Depending on your marketing budget, consult with your creative team to come up with some incredibly captivating visuals that will speak directly to your target audience. Maybe this means collecting images from past projects or setting up a photo shoot to gain a fresh perspective. Take a look at your end goals and consider what kinds of images will engage your viewers. Don’t forget to collect video footage as well!
  3. Stay Consistent
    Brands that have success on Instagram have found a way to remain consistent in their storyline.  Decide what emotions you would you like to appeal to in your viewers—their sense of wonder, curiosity, beauty, humor, fun, competitiveness, or creativity. The list goes on. A steady theme will allow your audience to follow your story and always wonder, “What happens next?”
  4. Harness the Hashtag
    Hashtag campaigns are a great way to show off your brand’s unique personality. Your hashtag should be easy to spell and creatively related back to your brand. Don’t go hashtag crazy—we recommend three per post at most.Encourage your followers to participate in your campaign by offering an incentive. Perhaps encourage them to upload a photo of themselves using your product, including your unique hashtag in their post. The best photo could be re-posted to your account. You could even promote a product give-away for the best entry.
  5. Utilize Creative Tools
    Instagram recently released new features to make your brand stand out even more. Now, you can adjust a photo’s brightness, contrast, saturation, warmth, and more. Always update your app to stay relevant to new services and features. You can also download Instagram apps to create even more visual appeal—InstaSize, Overgram, Aviary, etc.

Stop making excuses. Maybe your brand isn’t as visually stimulating as a cupcake bakery or high fashion line. But that’s okay! This is your time to be as creative as you choose to be. Make no mistake—every brand has a story to tell. Create something visually appealing to share it with the world.