Exploring Instagram for Retailers:
Instagram is THE social media platform solely based on images. Instagram has over 700 million users and 250 people use Instagram Stories daily. People prefer eye-capturing images over bland texts. And that’s what Instagram does. Instagram is a great way for retailers to capture someone’s attention and engage them in your products through the images you post. Do you have an Instagram? If not, MicroD is here to talk to you about why Instagram is so important for retailers and what you should be posting.
Instagram’s Features:
Instagram has it all.
Instagram stories follow the same process as snapchat stories and allows you to post an image of what you are currently doing that lasts for 24 hours. When you are at market or conferences, this is a great way to show an image of your booth or an interaction between retailers and customers.
Next, Live Streaming. Just like Facebook but easier to navigate. With a click of a button you are live and you can see who has joined, who’s commenting, and who likes the video. If you are releasing a new product, you can introduce it with an Instagram live video. Your followers will automatically get a notification about it too.
Gallery Posts. Why post one photo, when you can post multiple? You have a brand new sofa that you want to display, but want to show off all of its angles. Instagram is the solution. With a gallery post, instagrammers have the ability to scroll through all the images posted with just a few swipes to the left.
Instagram in the Home Furnishings Industry:
As talked about above, Instagram offers everything. It combines all other social media platforms into one. Instagram is the most popular platform used amongst millennials. Millennials care a lot about home and want it to be comfy, expressive, and lively. As millennials are searching for new furniture in their house, you want to make sure you have a way to reach out to them. When you aren’t private on Instagram, people can see what is trending and end up on your profile. But how do you go from getting someone on your profile to actually making a purchase? We have the answer. MicroD and our partner Curalate allow you to have a Like2Buy option in your bio so that Instagrammers can go from falling in love with your product to having it in their house. We want you to be able to expand sources of selling by implementing social commerce and our service is your solution!
How can you make your Instagram successful?
It’s one thing to have an Instagram. It’s another thing to know what to post. Photos create an emotional connection that texts can’t. It’s fun, engaging and also makes your brand more relatable. Here are ways to make your Instagram posts a success:
- High quality photos
- Make sure the images you are posting are of good quality. It’s more eye capturing, more professional, and more trustworthy.
- Use hashtags
- Come up with unique hashtags so that Instagrammers can easily find your company.
- Engagement
- Show your interactions within the company and with customers. People value seeing what your company culture is like and become more interested in your business.
- Show your Community Service
- For millennials, giving back is key. What are you doing in the community? Show it!
- Establish a posting pattern:
- Be consistent with how often you post. If you post three times in one week and then don’t post for the next two weeks, there is inconsistency. Figure out how often you want to post and stick with it.
“In an age where attention is more divided than ever between apps, feeds, timelines, articles, shows, and dozens of other types of content, a single app that exists to serve most of your photo and video sharing/streaming needs just makes sense.” Consumers crave the ability to share visuals, their reactions, and their experiences- a platform that describes Instagram. In the furniture industry, people need to SEE the furniture and Instagram does just that. Even further, you can add the Like2Buy function to let customers purchase your product from Instagram. What are you waiting for?
Contact our Strategic Services to learn more!