Instagram 101: A Primer For Wood Flooring Companies

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You've been told your business should be on Instagram, but what is it? Like all social media, Instagram lets you share your business with hundreds of millions of users. The key difference is what gets shared. Facebook and Twitter users share text-based information (status updates, news stories), but images and video, while encouraged, are optional. On Instagram, posts start with an image, and captions and hashtags are optional. Companies are seeing big returns: A study by research firm Forrester found posts by top Instagram brands generated a per-follower engagement rate of 4.21 percent—58 times greater than Facebook and 120 times more than Twitter. Here's how to get going.

1. Sign up.

Choose the same username for Instagram that you use on other social media. Your bio section should include your company name, services, territory and website. Some users add contact information, too. Keep in mind that your profile image will be cropped into a circle and viewed on small screens.

2. Take pictures.

If there's one photography principle to know, it's the rule of thirds. Imagine you're looking at what's in front of you through a Tic-Tac-Toe grid, and compose your shot so the important elements are along the grid's lines. Once you have your photo, select a filter to change the image's look. Find one that isn't too distracting and use the same filter for all images you upload. Or, don't use a filter at all.

3. Captions and hashtags.

Include a descriptive caption with your photo and don't be afraid to write in the first person. You can write as much as you want, but Instagram will cut it off in users' feeds around 240 characters. End your caption with hashtags, and don't be shy. You're allowed 30 hashtags, and some posts edge the limit. At bare minimum, include "#woodfloors."

Now get out there, start posting images and find people in the industry to follow, since engaging with others will boost your own traffic and engagement. Here are a few notable wood flooring accounts to get started: @callmetito, @sapwoodworking, @valentiflooring and @clintfudge.floorsander. You can find us @woodfloorbusiness, too!

Do you have a question about social media? Send it to [email protected].

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