It’s undeniable. Social media has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes. It’s the cheapest, easiest, most effective way to reach your target audience. And oftentimes, it’s their first look and opinion of your brand. So taking the time to truly understand social media best practices is essential in building a successful real estate business. Consumers want to interact with you via social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. So let’s optimize your content and meet them where they’re at.
In this post, we’ll cover Instagram, a photo sharing app that has shifted to become a powerful marketing mechanism. The most successful businesses build connections with consumers via Instagram. It’s a casual, yet very strategic entity at your disposal. And engagement is everything.
First Things First
We need to make sure that your Instagram is set up as a BUSINESS profile. On your account, locate “Settings” and click on “Switch to Business Account” if you haven’t already. This feature allows you to share valuable business information with Instagram users, like your hours and contact information. It also provides you with up-to-date analytics on how your content is performing.
Over 200 million Instagram users visit at least one business profile every single day. With strong, consistent content, you can ensure that your profile is receiving traffic and generating leads like never before.
If you'd like more information about Instagram business profiles, business.instagram.com is a great start.
Instagram Posts
Selecting a strategy for your Instagram posts requires both logic and creativity. It’s all about figuring out what works best for your brand, which may take some trial and error. Test out different styles of posts—graphics, videos, photos, carousels—and analyze the metrics.
Use those metrics to determine which posts to replicate and which ones need to be improved. As you constantly refresh and update the content in your Instagram posts, don’t be afraid to flex your creative muscles and produce innovative, interactive content. Make sure the posts are shareable and that the captions call the consumer to action.
As you build your personal feed of Instagram posts, pay attention to how those posts look together on the page. Does it look cohesive? Do the colors and fonts match from post to post? Have you established a brand identity? Remember, an Instagram user will go to your profile for their first impression of your business. Have you created an impression you’re proud of?
For more Instagram post ideas, we would suggest this blog from hootsuite.com.
Instagram Stories
These are the circles that appear at the top of the main Instagram page and that disappear after 24 hours. Instagram stories are an impactful way to reach your target audience and direct them back to your website. According to Instagram, “one-third of the most viewed stories come from businesses, and one in five stories gets a direct message from its viewers.”
This means that Instagram users are actively watching and willing to engage with the content that we share on our stories. Instagram provides tools—questions, polls, trivia, swipe-ups—that prompt consumers to interact with story content. So, make sure to use them often and strategically.
Although stories will disappear from the main feed after 24 hours, you can save your stories to your Highlights on your personal page. Highlights allow Instagram users to archive and organize their story content into different categories. When consumers come to look at your profile, they can sift through the highlights and gather information from old stories.
For some Instagram story ideas, hootsuite.com has some really good tips.
Additional Instagram Tools
The Instagram capabilities do not end there. If interested, here is information on some additional Instagram tools that may come in handy as you master the posts and stories.