If businesses run on paper, marketing runs on images! While using a professional photographer for more permanent images, like the ones on your website, is fairly economical, regular social media posts can work out quite costly if you go with the pros. However, there’s good news. Your own camera – even a mobile phone with a relatively good camera – should be good enough to keep those images coming. And editing tools, including some cute tricks like using a background eraser tool can help you to produce attractive results. Try these tips to keep your business Instagram working for you.
Animate your Images
Movement catches the eye. Even subtle animations can help to draw attention to your post. Once again, editing tools are key. Use free or cheap options or invest in subscription software. Try using text that reveals itself in stages to hold attention. Think of your audience. They’re probably scrolling through their socials with the sound off at odd moments during the day. Your aim is to make them stop scrolling, even if it’s only for a few seconds.
Make a Slideshow or Collage
Like animations, slideshows and collages may help to make your viewers pause and take a closer look. Use them to expose a series of images and, when choosing a slideshow, consider adding some text to turn them into a story. Polls are a good way to invite interaction. Which image do your viewers like best? It’s also a way to help you improve your posts by finding out what your followers prefer.
Play Around With Camera Settings
It’s not just good editing that makes images interesting. Instagram is all about the eye candy, so the better the images you’re able to produce, the more attention you’ll get. Most people are viewing your images on a regular mobile phone, so you can get away with a few imperfections, but do shoot for the very best images you can get. Automatic settings are very helpful, but the better you know your camera, the more easily you can go beyond that and the greater the range of results you can achieve.
Always Know the “What”
No matter which kind of photography you’re doing, one of the most common errors is to try and include too much in the shots. Ask yourself what part of the scene is important to you and let it fill as much of the frame as possible. Think of it this way. If you’re carving a horse from a block of wood, you’d remove everything that isn’t part of the horse. The same applies to just about any creative endeavour. Decide what it’s about, and remove just about everything else.
Let it Shine
While darker, more atmospheric images have their place, most of your posts will feature images that are as light, bright and as clear as you can get them. Part of this lies in the way you took the picture. Always start with the best image you can achieve. After that, try editing things up by boosting light, colour, and saturation as needed. Save several versions of each chosen shot, and get to know your editing software in the process.
Know Your Market
You may be using several methods to get more exposure for your Instagram posts. Hashtags are free to use and could see your post featured on your target market’s feeds. Choose them well and always go for relevance. You may also pay to boost your posts, targeting people in your geographical area, for example.
Whichever methods you use, the images you publish are the make-or-break. Try different approaches and see what resonates with your target market by checking your analytics. Which image ideas are the most popular with your audience? What time of day elicited the best response? That’s the kind of thing you’ll keep on doing.
Instagram is a great way to let people know about what your business does, but your results will depend on your strategy as well as the quality of the images you post. Keep your finger on the pulse!
