“Anybody in business with a pulse better be on Instagram. There is no reason they shouldn’t be on it. Even lawyers, doctors, and accountants. It’s a digital scrapbook where you get to humanize your brand,” says Sue B. Zimmerman.
I interview Sue this week on The Brand Journalism Advantage Podcast. Give it a listen at ThinkLikeAJournalist.com to download to your mobile device. Find the Show Notes here. Episode 23.
When Instagram first came on the scene several years ago, teens took to it like it was the opening of a free candy store. For them the message was easy to digest and stuck with them: post a photo easily from your mobile device, share it with their friends, scroll, tap, and like. Pretty cool!
Professionals started to love Instagram too. Photographers, architects, interior designers found it was a fantastic way to showcase their portfolio. Brick and mortar stores started posting photos of products and services. They found that sales increased.
That was the case for Sue B. Zimmerman, owner of SueB.Do in Cape Cod. She spotted her twin daughters endlessly scrolling on their smartphones (specializing and teaching social media). Sue immediately wanted to know what they were up to.
Sue opened her first Instagram account and began posting. Her employees also contributed but posted to their own Instagram accounts, tagging the store @SueBDo.capecod. The branding and marketing strategy took off.
“The sales increased by over 40 percent that summer,” says Sue.
The ever-entrepreneur turned her success into a business. Today, she teaches Instagram tips and strategies around the world at conferences and on podcasts.
Instagram was founded by Kevin Systrom (@Kevin) and Mike Krieger (@Mikeyk) both graduates from Stanford University. They founded Instagram in 2010. In 2011, they had a community of 10 million users and in 2012, they joined forces with Facebook. By 2013, Instagram had more than 150 million users.
But maybe you’re still wondering which businesses really are operating successfully on Instagram? Are consumers really on Instagram?
Consider this: Time Magazine used Instagram to release important news coverage of Hurricane Sandy to the masses.
Instagram has become a vital marketing strategy for businesses. But like any social media platform, how you use it will determine the success. Using the platform incorrectly will merely be a lesson in frustration.
Sue offers tips and information about getting your Instagram dialed in so your brand can experience Insta-Results. See the Show Notes and listen to this episode, be prepared to learn!
