They say pictures are worth a thousand words. In digital marketing, digital assets like photography and videography help brands market and tell their story. By showcasing your brand photos and videos on social media platforms like Instagram, you can better connect with your rental customers and build trust and loyalty over time.
Social Tip #1: Always consider your customer demographics before deciding to invest time and money on a social media platform.
According to Statista, as of January 2021, 33 percent of global Instagram audiences were between the ages of 25-34 years old. And with 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram is a very popular social media platform that can help showcase your brand to a wider and younger rental audience.
Not sure how to get started on Instagram? First, ask yourself questions like what content can I deliver to my customer that would help them better understand my business? How can I showcase my brand and what can I offer to help solve my rental customer’s pain points or problems? Instagram has several tools at your disposal to make it easy for you to create and stay up to date with the latest social trends.
Here’s 5 simple ways you can engage with your rental customers:
1. Write short and engaging captions.
What is storytelling without a few words? A caption is a piece of text paired with an Instagram image to give the photo more context. Most Instagram captions are followed by hashtags to help more people on Instagram discover your post. Instagram allows you to add a maximum of 30 hashtags but it’s recommended to use 3-5 on your posts so you appear less spammy. By creating a compelling and engaging caption, you can share your brand’s voice while appealing to your target customer audiences.
2. Use Emojis
I do it, my friends do it, and your grandma probably does as well. Using emojis in captions has completely transformed the way in which we communicate emotions on social media. Using emojis in your captions can help your brand seem more relatable and help increase engagement on each of your posts. This means you don’t have to hesitate the next time you want to use the winky face, upside-down face, and laugh emoji, as long as it’s appropriate to your message.
3. Share Video Content
Did you know on average, people scroll through 300 feet of content on social media per day? That’s relative to the size of the Statue of Liberty! With the ability to share more interactive content on social media, video has become increasingly popular. Contrary to popular belief, the video doesn’t have to be expensive or require lots of production for social. A simple 30 second or less video shot from an iPhone camera would suffice, especially if you’re looking to capture a simple behind-the-scenes look from your rental shop or a fun engaging video of your team.
4. Repurpose UGC (User-Generated Content)
UGC, or user-generated content, is content your customers create on Instagram that mentions your brand or showcases your product or work. Perhaps you have a rental customer who is very active on Instagram and would like to showcase their event rental set up by taking a picture and tagging you on their page. By posting their work on your page, you’ll encourage them to share their content with you, and it gives your customers a sense of pride that you chose their work to showcase. Plus, sharing this content will also promote your services and products without you having to spend advertising dollars.
Social Tip#2: Make sure to ask permission or give credit to your follower before re-sharing or using their content on your own social media Instagram page.
5. Utilize new Instagram Features: Stories & Reels
Stories
Another great Instagram feature that can help boost your engagement and interactions is Instagram Stories. Instagram stories are located at the top of an Instagram newsfeed and are more visible to help promote your news, events, polls, and more. This is a great tool to highlight an announcement you really want your rental customers to see.
Reels
With TikTok opening the door for quick, short, and entertaining videos, Instagram hopped on the bandwagon with their version, called Instagram Reels. By utilizing this feature, you can easily create content on your general Instagram page, while developing fun snippets of video for your younger audiences to engage with. With so many different filters, effects, and sounds, you can use your own creativity and make your videos stand out without having to invest in professional equipment.
With these simple tips, you’ll be on your way to using Instagram like a pro. Stay tuned as we provide more social media tips you can use to help elevate your rental business.