Instagram Marketing Strategies For Your Brand Success

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about all that I have to be grateful for. The well-being of one’s loved ones and oneself naturally take precedence. We in the field of marketing have a lot for which to be grateful. In our field, technology has been developed to aid workers. When I think back on 2016’s marketing scene, I see a lot of changes, including new HubSpot features, updated Google algorithms, and enhanced social media channels. This year, Instagram has been one of my favourite social media platforms.

I joined Instagram somewhat late in the game. My undergraduate classmates all started using Instagram around the same time I did (five years ago for me). But I never abandoned my true love…Facebook. I had to be dragged kicking and screaming away from Myspace. I wasn’t quite ready to switch to Facebook’s more minimalist look, which would require me to forego the attractive changeable background and top 8.The same thing happened to me as I made the switch from Facebook to Instagram. However, I’ve come to admire Instagram’s streamlined interface and how it simplifies social media by focusing on what users care about most: sharing photos and videos. Pictures or it didn’t happen, as the social media generation likes to say.

Instagram has seen significant evolution in the past 12 months. Some of that simplicity has been sacrificed so that they can compete with newer social networks like Snapchat and Vine (RIP Vine!). It now has “stories” that function like SnapChat’s ephemeral photo albums. A new live video option was just unveiled, directly competing with a similar Facebook tool, which was only released a few days ago.

This year, I’ve had the privilege of working with a client (I’ll shamelessly promote Wolfers Lighting here) to create a brand new Instagram account and strategy. While at PMG we focus on business-to-business transactions, Wolfers sells to both B2B and B2C customers and features stunning fixtures that would make excellent “eye candy” for Instagram. This experience has shown me how useful Instagram can be for any company, particularly those whose offerings can be sold to both business and consumer markets.

Knowing how to get started on a new social platform might be challenging. To get your creative juices flowing, I’ve compiled a list of B2B and B2C brands that are killing it on Instagram.

Creative B2C Brands on Instagram

Coca-Cola’s website is certainly eye-catching and fun. They brag about having 1.6 million followers and 15,000 to 50,000 likes per article. They also update the account regularly (a few times a week) with a variety of social and video content. There’s no denying that Coke’s spending is as large as their profits. However, regardless of the size of your company, you can take inspiration from the way Coke promotes its beverages by linking them to complementary items, such as the snacks you’ll be eating while drinking them.

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that marketing is about more than just us. Coca-Cola is a master of co-marketing, and I enjoy seeing pictures of the familiar glass bottle alongside “parings” of different foods. Similarly, your product or service is probably not isolated in a vacuum. Discover all the ways your product may be used and all the ways it can be combined with other services. If you want to maximise the effectiveness of your marketing, don’t be reluctant to reach out to collaborators.

Hotel Tonight’s Instagram is the perfect place to indulge your wanderlust

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about Hotel Tonight, one of my go-to travel applications. The hospitality industry is, in my opinion, the most photogenic sector of the economy. Hotel Tonight does a fantastic job of showcasing both the accommodations available through their app and two of our favourite aspects of any trip: the cuisine and the sights.

While not every sector will be as photogenic as others, there is still much that other firms may learn from these ad campaigns. Hotel Tonight is offering a $500 hotel credit in a Thanksgiving post. I think they do a great job of conveying stories, and the images they employ are sure to catch your eye. Instagram is a powerful lead generation tool if used correctly. We can all learn a thing or two about “thinking outside the box” from Hotel Tonight’s visual marketing strategy.

Clothes and Charity Use Together on the Anthropology Website

Raise your hand if you’d like to sell your house and spend the rest of your life in an attractive Anthropologie. Anthropologie is a powerhouse on Instagram thanks to the brand’s stylish clothing, home decor, and furnishings. They do an amazing job of showcasing the variety of products they provide by taking stunning photos both inside and outside of their establishments. Additionally, they occasionally highlight the in-store staff.

Advertising donation or charity programmes is a potent strategy that may be used by both business-to-business and business-to-consumer enterprises. Throughout the year, many companies contribute to their local neighbourhoods in numerous ways. Instagram is a great place to brag about the good work you’re doing in the neighbourhood. Post pictures from the functions you attend and your time spent volunteering. Content like this makes your company more approachable, which in turn increases brand loyalty.

No Reason for B2B Social Content to Be Boring!

A good brand that serves both businesses and consumers is UPS. They share both branded and personal photos on social media. They frequently share the photos of their followers and solicit comments from them by using the @ symbol (for those unfamiliar with Instagram).

UPS frequently posts Instagrams of puppies and babies because the two make a cute and relatable pair. Their website has a positive, uplifting vibe, which makes their product more approachable. The parcel on UPS’s Instagram feed is only part of the story. All B2B marketers should take note of this.