I is for… Instagram

I is for… Instagram

On Instagram Content and Community are king!

If you are going to use Instagram for networking – get started by smartening up your profile. You should have the same handle across all platforms and the same image so that people can easily find you. It is also worth noting that if you want to engage and network on Instagram you should not make your profile private.

Your Content on Instagram

You need to do some planning before you get started. Identify what your USP is and what you want to achieve by using Instagram for professional networking.  Think about what you are trying to put across and what you are offering that is different?

As well as posting great photographs you also need to put some effort into your caption. This is just as important as your image. You want to make people feel and relate. You want them to engage. Tell a story. Ask a question.

However, do remember that only the first couple of lines will show to people who are just scrolling through so you want to grab their attention at the start.

Additionally, You will want to engage with others who are engaging with your content. The first 30-60mins after your post is the most important as this is when your content is likely to be showing up in other people’s feeds.  Use relevant hashtags to boost your visibility.

Engaging with other people’s content on Instagram

With Instagram to create engagement you have to engage yourself and you need to reach out.

A quick and easy way to engage on Instagram is to pick a relevant hashtag. Then regularly spend 10-15 mins liking and commenting. The more you do this, the more that others will engage back.

Also take the time to identify people that you want to build relationships with on Instagram. Who do you want to notice you? Who do you want to work with? Who do you already know?

If you truly want to network on Instagram – you will also need to think about building your own engaged community around a shared interest or participating in other communities on Instagram which you can find through using hashtags.

Thank you for stopping by during the A to Z Challenge.

Do you use Instagram? Do you use it for networking?