by Francois Muscat | Dec 12, 2019 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Instagram – a marketer’s best friend. If you want to expand your reach and to attract a bigger audience online, Instagram is the way for you to go.
However, Instagram requires creativity. So, we’ve listed a few ideas for you to get started on creating unique and engaging video content:
Set a Goal for Your Video
Your short video (of one minute) needs to be compelling. This can be challenging as you don’t want to lose your audience’s attention. You need to decide what goal(s) you want to achieve by posting the video. Are you trying to attract more followers? Do you intend to attract more traffic to your website? Try to be specific with the video’s tone and feel.
Tell Your Brand’s Story
Every business has a story. The best way to attract your consumers’ attention is to create a video that tells a story. Plan your video to ensure that you optimize each second by dividing the content into three different parts:
- The beginning,
- The middle, and
- The end.
Stay focused on your end goal.
Setting the Stage for Your Video
You don’t need a fully equipped set up to create a professional looking video. You can create a masterpiece with your smartphone if you follow a few basic guidelines during filming. The most important aspect to consider is the lighting. Try to find natural light in your space.
Filming Your Video
You need to decide on the type of camera you are going to shoot with. Your smartphone’s camera would be ideal or a DSLR camera. We don’t recommend that you use Instagram’s camera function as it limits your shooting capabilities. Shoot in either portrait or landscape mode with the shot always focused on your subject.
With the many different types of videos around that you can experiment with, you can enhance your Instagram page and create a winning video marketing campaign with these simple steps.
If you have found these four tips useful, and you want more of the same, contact us today for more information on how to enhance your online presence.
by Marelise da Silva | Jul 12, 2019 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Following the news in mid-2018 that they would be enabling longer-form content, Instagram hit 1 billion monthly users. While still less than Facebook, the steep increase in user growth and engagement were in sharp contrast to the stagnant growth rates of Snapchat and Facebook. This impressive growth means that Instagram cannot be ignored as part of your digital marketing strategy.
What is IGTV?
On their blog, Facebook-owned Instagram explains that IGTV is “a new app for watching long-form, vertical video from your favourite Instagram creators. While there is a stand-alone IGTV app, you will also be able to watch from within the Instagram app so that the entire community of one billion can use it from the very start.”
Originally, the thinking was that being an app which was designed for mobile use, IGTV was “built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical.” However, two factors came into play which made Instagram relook at their new app:
- IGTV was slow in taking off.
- Those who share videos did not want to reformat each of their YouTube videos.
Recent Changes to IGTV
The result of this reassessment is that it is now possible for horizontal format videos to be uploaded. “We’ve heard from creators who want to upload landscape videos for IGTV. Similarly, we’ve heard from viewers who come across landscape videos in IGTV but want to watch them in a more natural way. That’s why we’re announcing support for landscape videos in addition to vertical.”
Kudos to Instagram for listening to their users and adjusting their product accordingly.
Learn More
Would you like to garner new leads or enhance your reputation through digital marketing? Then contact WSI OMS for social media marketing, website design and SEO services today.
by Francois Muscat | Mar 20, 2019 | Ecommerce, Instagram, Social Media Marketing, Twitter
Let’s face it, Twitter and Instagram provide users with a lot of data and easy access to reach people. You can go on Twitter right now, type in any search phrase, any business or any company that you want to work with and find them.
If you are a creator or an influencer that wants to work with Under Armour, for example, you can put these keywords in the search box on Twitter, click ‘People’, and see anyone who as “@Underarmour” in their bio. The same thing applies to Instagram.
You can also run searches for hashtags to find people who are speaking about specific topics. If you are an SEO expert, you can type in #SEOhelp and see anyone who is talking about this particular topic, swoop in, and offer to help them out. That is the power of using Twitter and Instagram for search.
Make Your Content Travel Further On Social Media Sites
Going forward, make sure that as you are building content on these platforms, that you are also using these platforms as search engines. Creating content takes a lot of time. Not only do you have to research what you want to write about, but you have to draft content, proof it, upload it and distribute it. Make it travel even further by finding your tribe on Twitter and Instagram.
http://www.wsioms.co.za/
WSI OMS specialises in social media marketing and digital marketing. Contact us if you want to make more money on social media.
by Marelise da Silva | Jan 30, 2019 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Instagram is all about looking good. So, the more aesthetically pleasing your feed is, the more likely you are to attract followers. Except, it is not always that simple. With the increasing number of users and brands on the platform, having unique content is just as important as ‘looking pretty’ if you want to stand out. With these tips, we will help you strike a balance and create a stunning Instagram feed.
- Know Your Target Audience
If you know who you are speaking to, then you will know what to say. Making sure your content is relevant is vital to not only attract customers, but also to keep them. One way to help organise the types of content for your target audience is using “content buckets”. Content buckets (or content pillars) are defined topics/themes that identify the types of posts your audience would love to see.
Content pillars are also a great tool to streamline your brand’s message on Instagram by focusing on key themes and topics that resonate with your target audience. For example, a business can establish a few core themes for their content such as:
- Products and services,
- Company culture, and
- Customer activation.
Under these main themes, they can include topics like ‘store locations’, ‘service offerings’ and ‘product features’ under Products and Services. From there they can decide the specific types of content to feature, whether it is video, GIFs, still images, etc.
- Choose An Overarching Instagram Aesthetic
Five seconds is all you have to convert users into followers, so first impressions count. That is why having an appropriate and consistent aesthetic for your feed are important. Depending on your brand personality, you might go for something dark and sultry, sleek and minimalist or bright with lots of natural lighting. Whatever it is, make sure it is aligned with your brand.
Rope In A Graphic Designer
Great design is important, so it is worth it to get a graphic designer involved when establishing your Instagram aesthetic. They can ensure your feed is on-brand by giving your posts visual consistency.
Designers are also able to look at the nitty gritty of whether you have the correct colours or fonts and if your posts are easy to read.
- Promote Your Products Like A Pro
Used the right way, Instagram can act as a trendy catalogue for your products. Here are a few examples of how you can get creative with your product posts:
These highlight the product on its own. For these, it is great to use a simple mono-coloured background.
These are close-ups of things that you want to draw attention to. They create focus and attention to detail. Micro shots are perfect to communicate what your product is all about.
These place your product in a broader context and create associations about where and when it can be used. For example, a pair of hiking boots in a forest.
Flatlays are photos that are taken from a top-down angle. They showcase a carefully styled setting like an office table or food.
These can be short ‘how-to’ videos on how your products should be used.
If you want to get the best out of your Instagram marketing strategy, contact WSI OMS today and request more information on our social media services.
by Marelise da Silva | Jan 25, 2019 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Instagram has grown exponentially since its launch in 2010. According to Buffer.com, worldwide, there are more than 800 million Instagrammers, sharing upwards of 250 million pieces of content daily. So when marketing on the platform, it is vital to have an effective Instagram marketing strategy to cut through the noise and attract the right customers.
Why Use Instagram?
Instagram has a huge user-base (300 million daily active users to be exact). So, naturally, marketers should be scrambling to find customers there. Better yet, 70% of Instagram users report having looked up a brand on the platform.
Instagram, like most popular social media sites, is a great place to gain influence over your consumer base by gathering a loyal following.
The unique part of Instagram is its visual appeal. Research has shown that the brain conceives visuals faster than any other type of content. It is literally the best place to make your brand ‘look’ good.
Here are a few ways to make Instagram work for you:
- Switch to a Business Account
If you have not done so already, we suggest switching your existing profile to a business account.
It is simple, just go to your settings menu, scroll down and select ‘Switch to Business Profile’.
Business profiles have a number of handy extras like Instagram ads, analytics tools (Instagram Insights) and a contact button to boost your conversion rates.
On Instagram, discount offers work well when accompanied by sharp imagery. Who does not want 40% off a stunning pair of shoes or a delicious looking smoothie? It is a great place to show off your product and provide an incentive for your customers to purchase it.
One of Instagram’s newest and most interesting features is ‘Stories’. With content that lasts only 24 hours, you do not have to worry about it fitting into your Instagram aesthetic, it can be spontaneous and there is more room for creativity. Live video, boomerangs, GIFs and face-filters are just a few of the things you can feature in your stories. You can give your followers exclusive behind the scenes insights into your brand during live events or even just a regular day at the office (showcasing company culture).
Leveraging an influencer’s audience-base is an easy way to reach more customers on Instagram. They trust them, and so, by association, will likely trust you. It is as simple as them giving a shout out to your brand and product on their page, doing a product review or offering discounts using a unique promo code. Influencers are a marketing goldmine on Instagram.
If you want to get the best out of your Instagram marketing strategy, contact WSI OMS today and request our social media services.
by Francois Muscat | Dec 12, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
The more aesthetically pleasing your Instagram feed is, the more likely you are to attract followers. But it is not always easy to build a following on Instagram. With the increasing number of users and brands on the platform, having unique content is just as important as ‘looking pretty’ if you want to stand out. With these tips, you will be able to strike a balance and create a stunning Instagram feed:
- Know Your Target Audience
If you know who you are speaking to, then you will know what to say. Making sure your content is relevant is vital to not only attract followers, but to keep them. One way to help organise the types of content for your target audience is using “content buckets”. Content buckets (or content pillars) are defined topics and/or themes that identify the types of posts your audience would love to see.
Content pillars are also a great tool to streamline your brand’s message on Instagram by focusing on key themes and topics that resonate with your target audience. For example, a business can establish a few core themes for their content such as products and services, company culture and customer activation. Under these main themes, they can include topics like ‘store locations’, ‘service offerings’ and ‘product features’ under Products and Services. From there they can decide the specific types of content to feature, whether it is video, GIFS, still images, etc.
- Choose An Overarching Instagram Aesthetic
Five seconds is all you have to convert users into followers, so first impressions count. That is why having an appropriate and consistent aesthetic for your feed is important. Depending on your brand personality, you might go for something dark and sultry, sleek and minimalist or bright with lots of natural lighting. Whatever it is, make sure it is aligned with your brand.
- Rope In A Graphic Designer
Great design is important, so it is worth it to get a graphic designer involved when establishing your Instagram aesthetic. They can ensure your feed is on-brand by giving your posts visual consistency.
Designers can look at the nitty-gritty of whether you have the correct colours or fonts and if your posts are easy to read.
- Promote Your Products Like A Pro
Used the right way, Instagram can act as a trendy catalogue for your products. Here are a few examples of how you can get creative with your product posts:
These highlight the product on its own. For these, it is great to use a simple mono-coloured background.
These are close-ups of things that you want to draw attention to. They create focus and attention to detail. Micro shots are perfect to communicate what your product is all about.
These place your product in a broader context and create associations about where and when it can be used. For example, a pair of hiking boots in a forest.
- Flatlays:
- These are photos taken from a top-down angle. They showcase a carefully styled setting like an office table or food.
- Instructionals:
These can be short ‘how-to’ videos on how your products should be used.
If you want to get the best out of your Instagram marketing strategy, contact WSI OMS today and request our social media services.
