When Facebook purchased Instagram for $1 billion (which ended up actually being $715 million), plenty of people thought that Facebook had lost all business sense. However, now that Instagram has become a bigger platform than Twitter and shows no signs of slowing, Facebook definitely deserves to get the last laugh.

Regardless of what you personally thought when Facebook purchased Instagram, what’s important for your business is understanding that Instagram is here to stay for the foreseeable future. If 18 to 34-year-olds make up the most important demographic for your business, chances are you’ve already spent some time building a presence on Instagram. But even if your business is focused on an older demographic, there’s a very good reason for you to integrate Instagram into your social media marketing.

The reason is that Instagram is already starting to go through the same evolution as Facebook. Since the platform has become such a popular place for younger users to share all of their photos, older family members and friends don’t want to miss out. This has brought an increased number of older adults to Instagram and will continue to do so.

So with all that being said, let’s jump right into exactly what you can do over the next year to find success with Instagram and your overall social media strategy:

Focus on an Actionable Hashtag

A hashtag is a great way to spread awareness about your brand across Instagram, as well as other social media sites. Choosing an actionable one is the best way to get people excited about engaging.

Don’t Feel Pressured to Constantly Post

One reason so many businesses are hesitant to commit to social media is that they don’t think they’ll have enough time to stay relevant. The good news about social media management is it doesn’t have to consume as much time as many people assume. In fact, you’ll benefit from not posting excessively on Instagram. Due to its visual nature, quality definitely trumps quantity on Instagram.

Even B2B Can Be Beautiful

Although hip consumer products may have an easier time coming up with great pictures for Instagram, even B2B companies that aren’t as flashy can find success on this platform. All it takes is a little outside-the-box thinking. Whether it’s focusing on people or surroundings, there will always be interesting things for businesses to post on Instagram.

Get to Know the Tools Instagram Has to Offer

In terms of social media training, it’s definitely worth getting to know all the tools Instagram offers. Editing tools, special effects, and filters are why pictures always look so good on this network. And with just a little effort and learning, your pictures can look just as good.

Actively Find and Credit Inspiration

If you want to hit the ground running, don’t be shy about looking for inspiration and then putting your own unique spin on it. By crediting your sources of inspiration, you can create interactions that may have otherwise never happened. Taking this approach will quickly give you the confidence to start putting out ideas that will make a great year for your business on Instagram!

Do you want to increase your sales, brand awareness and turn fans into customers? This can be accomplished with the right social media strategy! Learn how I can help you develop a strategy to drive more leads.