Let’s face it: Facebook is letting us down.
The social media mammoth website is hoarding loads of social media views from us, leading us to one of two things: pay for sponsored posts, or move on to other ways to drive traffic.
Personally, I am cheap and am moving on, Zuckerberg.
Twitter, Google Plus and Pinterest are some obvious websites to drive traffic. Yet Instagram has more than 75 million daily active users without signs of slowing down. So how can you take advantage of this photo-rific social site for your blog?
Here’s 6 surprising ways to use Instagram to Drive Traffic:
- Create an Instagram account with your blog name. Even if you have a personal account, make sure to brand an account with your blog’s name. Your followers may not be as excited to see photos of your friends and children’s birthday parties as you are. Plus, it can help your keep your personal life a little more private.
- Follow Instagram Users similar to your niche. Connecting with users similar to you will help you gain the right target followers. Make sure to ‘like’ and comment on their photos for interactions.
- Tease upcoming blog posts with photos. Getting ready to post a new recipe? Take a shot of a few ingredients or action shot to tease the upcoming post. Use a Throwback Thursday hashtag (#tbt) to tease an upcoming blog topic on your blog post.
- Announce live blog posts or contests. Add text in photoshop or PicMonkey and post those photos to announce live blog material. Make sure to add a lead like “on the blog today” or “link in description” for a call to action right from users’ cell phones.
- Use hashtags where appropriate. Don’t make every other word a hashtag, but using targeted themes can help grow your instagram popularity.
- Sneak a peek behind the scenes. Whether you take a shot of your laptop, notebook or calendar, previewing a photo behind-the-scenes reminds the audience of the time you spend preparing and writing.
What tricks do you have for Instagram?
Guest blogger Julie Hancher is founder of Green Philly Blog and EcoPlatypus. She’s a green enthusiast, carefully avoiding the word ‘treehugger while sharing how to a navigate lighter carbon footprint in her blog posts. She also works as a consultant for digital marketing including Social Media, SEO & blogging. Follow her on Twitter @greenphillyblog or @juliehancher.
I can’t figure out how to add links to Instagram, i’ve tried coping and pasting and it didn’t work for me. I’m opening up my blog post on my phone and saving them then uploading them in instagram but I still can’t figure out how to get my links in my post.
Lily you can’t add live links to posts in Instagram. You only have an option to add one link, in the profile.
Definitely correct. I’ve seen bloggers say “blog post on X toady – link in the profile” as a solution/reminder to followers.
Definitely correct. I’ve seen bloggers say “blog post on X today – link in my profile” as a reminder to followers.
I love Instagram and also have become disappointed in FB, so am spending more energy and time at G+.
I think a lot of people, especially younger adults, are losing faith with FB and it’s losing some of its appeal. Instagram will hopefully help get back some of that traffic!
I love that you moved on from Facebook to Instagram and said goodbye to Zuckerberg. The irony is that he owns Instagram too. I’m sure he doesn’t mind you switching.
That said, Instgram does have great engagement if you can grow a following.
Thank you so much for this great, informative post Julie. I’m just finding it in September but it’s perfect timing for me because I just created an instagram account for my blog. And I’m 44 and not a techie so Instagramming is not second nature to me. I need all the tips and tricks and advice I can get. Thank you, thank you, thank you
I couldn’t agree more. This is exactly what I do and it’s been successful for me. Most people don’t like Instagram for driving traffic and prefer FB but Instagram is my favorite SM. It’s a great way to interact with people and connect with an audience.