26
Aug 2014
Maximizing Instagram for PR Outreach
By Janette Speyer, Hot Ice Media ––
Are you using Instagram for your company? If not, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon. Not only will your business enjoy showcasing your products, but you will also be able to use it as a tool for media outreach.
Instagram continues to be one of the hottest social media tools and it’s growing daily. The platform now has over 200 million users according to an article published on its corporate blog. Companies are finally using its virtual communities to get to the right people.
Build a Robust Instagram Account
Make sure your Instagram account is ready to go with a complete branded bio that links to your website. Then link your account to all your available social media channels so you are able to share and re-post.
Create an Iconosquare Account
Previously known as Statigram, Iconosquare helps view, manage, re-post and track all your activity in one place. You will not be able to post an image but you can answer comments and “like” posts.
Enhance Your Profile
Achieve this by adding images of your brand’s activities. Here are some content ideas:
- Post an invitation to an upcoming event.
- Create a contest and promote it via your other social media channels.
- Post your company’s activities like a new hire or an event. This will build trust and confidence for your prospective followers.
- Post ideas for product usage. Users love DIY ideas.
- Encourage your followers to post their own ideas on how to use your products and services. Thank them via your social media channels. For example, Birchbox has a promotional page on their website with Instagram images posted by their users. They also tweet and thank them for taking pictures.
Start A PR Outreach
Now you are ready to start searching for and tagging media for PR purposes:
- Post an invitation to an upcoming event.
- Post a picture of the product you want to feature in a blog or an article. Make sure the Image is appealing. If you want to send a query for a “giveaway” blog, share a picture of the prize.
- Tag all your images with relevant hashtags for the audience you want to reach. For example, if you are targeting giveaway bloggers use these hastags: #giveaway #bloggers
- Find a relevant marketplace by using your newly created Iconosquare account to follow hashtags or users.
- Follow users that liked your posts and connect with them by adding a comment on their posts.
- Share all your posts on Twitter and Facebook to capture more of the marketplace.
- Last but not least, do thank, re-post and share the love to all those that are kind enough to engage you.
Conclusion
As our world and business connections become more virtual, platforms like Instagram can be a time saver and a quick means to communicate to the media. Instagram is friendly, visual and casual. The trick is to build trust and to be transparent. There are many brands that have used these techniques with great success. Try it and enjoy the ride. You can follow me on Instagram at @websuccess.