Have you heard of Instagram?  I’m sure you have since they were acquired by Facebook for $1 billion dollars back in 2012.  Now why would they do that?  Forbes gave us 10 reasons why here, but I think they did because they realized that’s where the younger generation was gravitating.  That’s where the eyeballs were moving.  In marketing, you want to be where the people are, but you also want to be where your customers are.  And your customers LOVE looking at photos on Instagram.

Now, do I think Instagram is going to be a huge lead generator for you?  No.  But it’s a great branding tool and you can leverage it once prospects already know about you.  Once they’ve engaged in a discussion about possibly doing a remodeling project, they’re going to “check you out online”.  And if you’re the one remodeler that has a hip, interesting Instagram profile full of awesome photos, design ideas and current projects, Instagram just might help you close the deal.

So, if you’re going to get on Instagram, here are 5 ways you should be leveraging this social media platform.

1. Daily

If you’re thinking about joining Instagram for your business, you need to be prepared to be sharing content daily (or at least every other day).  The news feed is starting to fill up, but it’s nothing like Twitter or Facebook, so if you’re posting daily, there’s a good chance your followers will see you daily.  People check their Instagram accounts multiple times per day and they don’t like to miss any photos.

2. Current Project Photos

Are you in the middle of a project?  This is the perfect opportunity to capture some of the progress and share it with your followers.  And since you’ll be posting daily, your followers can track along with the project from the comfort of their home.  It’s fun to see the progression and it adds a level of transparency that people appreciate today.

3. Team Photos

Instagram provides a great opportunity to share some more informal moments.  Snap photos of your team on the job site or even in the office.  As your prospects do research, they want to see who they will be working with.  Capturing photos of your team allows prospects to get a better feel for your company personality as well as your team’s individual personalities.  This can help set you apart from your competitors.

4. Finished Projects

This one is a no brainer.  Gorgeous, stunning photos.  This is what Instagram is all about.  Don’t forget to take advantage of the filters built into Instagram to enchance your photos.  Leverage hashtags as well to attract others that may be searching for topics such as #kitchens or #bathrooms.  Sharing finished projects on social media is one of the best methods of showcasing your work and attracting new followers.

5. You + Your Clients

This actually may be the most important way you can leverage Instagram.  By taking photos with your clients in the middle of their finished project, you can leverage their network.

Mention your clients by using the “@” symbol.  This will spur some client ineteraction with your post and help your get in front of their friends and family.  Referrals are always the best kind of leads, so make sure you take advantage of this opportunity to get some referrals.

Summary

So, do I think you should be on Instagram?  In general, I think the channel is worth experimenting with if you have someone on staff that can do a quality job taking photos and being consistent.  If you’re just going to half-heartedly play in the space, don’t bother.

It’s not going to be a huge lead generator like blogging or search engine optimization, but it’s a great branding channel and has the potential to drive some high quality referrals.

What about you?

Are you using Instagram already?  I’d love to hear your successes (or failures) with this social network!