Ridgewood NJ, The economy of the United States has been performing well in recent times.  Whether attributable to the actions of the Trump administration or simply due to economic cycles, the fact of the matter is that business opportunities abound.  This is particularly the case when referring to the online community.  Still, times are changing and what might have worked well a few years ago could be outdated in the near future.  One of the most potent ways in which you can promote your business to an audience far beyond the borders of New Jersey is to use the power of social media to your advantage.  You might be surprised to learn that Instagram can play a very important role. Let’s take a look at why this is the case as well as what steps you can take in order to successfully promote your ongoing business operations.

Why Instagram and Why Now?

The first answer to this understandable question involves the momentum of the social media community as a whole.  We are all aware that sites such as Facebook have gained a considerable amount of attention over the years. However, we are also witnessing a paradigm shift towards Instagram.  Why is this the case? One of the main reasons involves the very visual nature of this platform.  A growing number of users are accessing social media feeds with portable devices such as mobile phones and tablets.  As a result, they do not have a great deal of time to read lengthy blocks of text. The framework behind Instagram is particularly appealing, as images can be viewed in a matter of seconds and comments can be posted in even less time.  So, it only stands to reason that Instagram is gaining ground in relation to other popular social media circles. The main question now involves how you can leverage this increase exposure to your advantage. Let’s take a look at a handful of excellent steps to keep in mind at all times.

The Power of the Image

This first step is to choose an image that is relevant to your business.  There are two reasons behind this school of thought. The most obvious is the fact that irrelevant content will be frowned upon by your intended audience.  Keep it fresh and specific to the products or services that you are offering. Avoid “cookie-cutter” or otherwise generic image content and never use copyrighted photos.  There is nothing wrong with adding captions; particularly if they are funny. This is one of the ways that an Instagram post can go viral (think about the sheer variety of memes currently available).  If you can appeal to your target audience through an image, they are more likely to listen to what it is that you have to say.

What About Hashtags?

The character count associated with an Instagram post is limited.  This is one of the reason why you will often see #hashtags within the associated content.  The main reason behind a hashtag is to create a searchable term which can be used to highlight the content of your media.  These are easy to type and thanks to an HTML algorithm, such hashtags will be immediately hyperlinked back to your page. They can also be shared amongst other users; helping to increase your online exposure and digital clout.

Engaging With Your Audience

Still, knowing how to get followers on Instagram also must involve a proactive approach. If we think about it for a moment, this statement is absolutely true.  Some of the most popular channels (business or otherwise) are those which regularly speak with their audience members.  Otherwise known as client engagement, there are several advantages associated with this method:

– You will be able to appreciate the opinions of others (both positive and constructive).

– You can keep your finger on the proverbial pulse of your customer base.

– You can understand how your marketing strategies are performing.

– This is a great way to generate brand loyalty over time.

Above all, you will be able to make any changes on the fly while demonstrating to your clients that you care about what they may have to say.  They are more likely to comment in the future as a result.

Putting it all Together

Gaining followers on Instagram is arguably one of the best ways to reach a larger New Jersey audience.  After all, why limit your operations to Elizabeth or Camden when you can expand to entirely different markets?  As Instagram is absolutely free, you will not have to worry about increased overhead if you happen to be operating within a limited budget. The suggestions mentioned above will all come in handy and yet, never be afraid to experiment if you hope to discover even more interesting approaches to take.  2019 could be a great year if you are willing to take the next digital step!

Why Instagram and Why Now?

The first answer to this understandable question involves the momentum of the social media community as a whole.  We are all aware that sites such as Facebook have gained a considerable amount of attention over the years. However, we are also witnessing a paradigm shift towards Instagram.  Why is this the case? One of the main reasons involves the very visual nature of this platform.  A growing number of users are accessing social media feeds with portable devices such as mobile phones and tablets.  As a result, they do not have a great deal of time to read lengthy blocks of text. The framework behind Instagram is particularly appealing, as images can be viewed in a matter of seconds and comments can be posted in even less time.  So, it only stands to reason that Instagram is gaining ground in relation to other popular social media circles. The main question now involves how you can leverage this increase exposure to your advantage. Let’s take a look at a handful of excellent steps to keep in mind at all times.

The Power of the Image

This first step is to choose an image that is relevant to your business.  There are two reasons behind this school of thought. The most obvious is the fact that irrelevant content will be frowned upon by your intended audience.  Keep it fresh and specific to the products or services that you are offering. Avoid “cookie-cutter” or otherwise generic image content and never use copyrighted photos.  There is nothing wrong with adding captions; particularly if they are funny. This is one of the ways that an Instagram post can go viral (think about the sheer variety of memes currently available).  If you can appeal to your target audience through an image, they are more likely to listen to what it is that you have to say.

What About Hashtags?

The character count associated with an Instagram post is limited.  This is one of the reason why you will often see #hashtags within the associated content.  The main reason behind a hashtag is to create a searchable term which can be used to highlight the content of your media.  These are easy to type and thanks to an HTML algorithm, such hashtags will be immediately hyperlinked back to your page. They can also be shared amongst other users; helping to increase your online exposure and digital clout.

Engaging With Your Audience

Still, knowing how to get followers on Instagram also must involve a proactive approach. If we think about it for a moment, this statement is absolutely true.  Some of the most popular channels (business or otherwise) are those which regularly speak with their audience members.  Otherwise known as client engagement, there are several advantages associated with this method:

– You will be able to appreciate the opinions of others (both positive and constructive).

– You can keep your finger on the proverbial pulse of your customer base.

– You can understand how your marketing strategies are performing.

– This is a great way to generate brand loyalty over time.

Above all, you will be able to make any changes on the fly while demonstrating to your clients that you care about what they may have to say.  They are more likely to comment in the future as a result.

Putting it all Together

Gaining followers on Instagram is arguably one of the best ways to reach a larger New Jersey audience.  After all, why limit your operations to Elizabeth or Camden when you can expand to entirely different markets?  As Instagram is absolutely free, you will not have to worry about increased overhead if you happen to be operating within a limited budget. The suggestions mentioned above will all come in handy and yet, never be afraid to experiment if you hope to discover even more interesting approaches to take.  2019 could be a great year if you are willing to take the next digital step!