Three easy tips for getting business with Instagram - By David Pride

There are over 400 million Instagram users searching, liking, and commenting on photos every month and if you’re like most business owners, you’re trying to figure out how to take advantage of this massive market. Below are three tips to help you increase your interaction, followers and return-on-investment.

1.      Consistency: Remember that time you forgot to water your plants and all of the sudden your beautiful tomatoes strain began to look like they had been in your garden since Elvis last sang live? It wasn't because there was a problem with the seed, soil, or lighting - it was because you forgot to water and feed it on a regular and consistent basis. Plants, much like Instagram, need consistent daily attention. Plan to post a new well-lit photo at least four times a week. This trains your audience on what to expect from you and also helps you stay top of mind!

2.      Use Hashtags: Instagram users find photos and companies they want to interact with by searching hashtags. Unless you’re a major brand that has an organic following you should too. Think about what hashtags make sense for your product or service and include then in the comments section below your photo. Remember, you can use up to 30 hashtags per photo! Bring on the #hash!

3.      Search by location: Do you serve a local market? If so, you should be liking and commenting on photos that were taken nearby. It’s easy to do. Simply open Instagram, click the little microscope, click the “search” bar, and now click “Places” all the way to the right. Your first option will be, “Near Current Location.” Click that and now you will see all the photos taken near your current location!

The most important thing to remember is be helpful and stay human! Have fun watch your following grow!