Instagram was huge in 2011.
Just one year since launching in 2010 ,by Autumn 2011 the app had ten million registered users.
What’s the fuss? Well instagram helps us share our lives in snapshots. The visual has become important as we present ourselves more and more online. We can be sitting in PJ’s with no make up on but we send a snap of our morning cafetière and the world we project is suddenly visual, nostalgic, more hip and appealing than reality.
Hair and beauty brand could and should be harnessing this explosion of aesthetic social networking this year. Here are our top tips on how to do just that:
★ Street photographers have turned to instagram to document style online in a stream. Why not use willing clients as your online portfolio of looks to add an extra platform to your salon in real time?
★ Images add a real story to a brand. Some behind the scenes snaps of stylists and technicians at work adds an insider knowledge ad friendly face to your brand. People want to feel like they know you, so let them in!
★ Encourage clients to take their own hair images of a style they like, or images of themselves in a certain look to share with you using a hashtag. Getting them to interact with you between visits and appointments will generate more brand loyalty in social media.
★ Why not offer a competition using instagram? Ask clients to tweet or email in their looks and offer a prize for the best/most original/funniest, whichever suits your brand. This will engage clients and prospect clients in a nwe way and is a really effective and cheap marketing tool.
★ Instagram books can now be created really easily using Blurb. Why not collect instagram pics of your best looks, cuts and styles and produce some books for the coffee table and waiting area?
★ For larger events such as awards, parties or launches, why not use instaprint a hirable device for location based printing? Party attendees can print to it by taking shots at the event, and using a hashtag the images will all be printed on the spot. How cool is that?
★consider a screen in-house that can show a real-time display of both your images but the visual timelines of people you follow for some inspirational images.
★ Add instagram to your website as a widget, to keep your site flowing with images as they happen.
Have you seen instagram used well in the industry? Have these ideas sparked off some new ways you can use the app in your marketing?
Let us know.
Also, Cherry Sorbet are planning something very exciting using instagram this year, so make sure you sign up to receive our news and updates t be the first to know.
