Instagram's recent Android launch has helped it gain steady popularity as a social networking site. It allows fans to connect with their favourite celebrities and brands as well their friends and followers. Instagram's press site data shows that there are 1,000 comments every second and 8,500 Likes every minute, and that its 100 million monthly user are uploading 40 million new photos each day.

Incorporating Instagram into your social network list can help you build strong relationships with your followers and customers. You can also use it to promote existing products and introduce new ones to your audience.

You have many options to market your brand on Instagram.

Photo Contests

Holding a contest on Instagram is a great way to get a spike in followers. Engagement is key to keeping your followers. A prize can be offered for followers who post photos of their products with a unique hashtag or company name.

You can create a contest with prizes that fit your business. Your products should be promoted, not others. You may be able to see a big increase in your sales by giving away an iPad, but you won't have long-term customers.

Offer one of your designs as a prize for custom jewelry designers. Ask your followers to take a picture of their favorite accessory and post it as a contest prize. Don't forget to keep your fans happy and not give away expensive gifts.

Photo a Day Engagement

Instagram's "Photo-a-Day” Challenge is a trending topic. Many businesses and bloggers create lists that are posted at the beginning each month. This encourages followers to take new pictures every day. These photos are easy to find online. To increase brand exposure, you can tie contests to these challenges.

Unique Hashtags

Twitter has used the hashtag since long to make it easier for users to find tweets relating to a certain topic. In the same manner, Instagram uses hashtags. They make it easier for people to participate in contests and for businesses that they can be used to find those entries. Look for hashtags that match your business and contests. You can search Top-hashtags.com to find the most popular hashtags.

Cross Promote

It's a smart move to link your other social networks to your Instagram account once you have set it up. By linking to your Twitter and Facebook accounts, your photos can be automatically posted to these networks. This allows for increased exposure and better user engagement.

Personalization

Instagram allows businesses to personalize their brand in a very easy way. It allows users to get a sneak peek at the celebrities and brands they love. You can share photos of your products and give your followers a glimpse into your business. You can share photos of your office, including your cat, if you have a small business. If your business is larger and has a physical location, take photos of your employees. Your followers will appreciate a more intimate view of your business. This will help you to build a closer bond.