Instagram is no longer just a place for your kids to share goofy pictures with their friends. This social media platform has grown up and offers businesses great opportunities for brand building. Home improvement companies in particular can take advantage of the power of Instagram because it is nothing if not visual. What could be better suited to marketing home improvement services than images? Additionally, as many as 68% of Instagram users are women and you know that women are the #1 influencer in purchasing decisions, especially those that involve the home.

That Tiny Screen!

One stumbling block to utilizing Instagram for business can be the thought that everything needs to be done from a tiny phone screen and keyboard. Fortunately this is not so. Iconosquare is a great website that essentially acts as your Instagram management console. It allows you to take control of your Instagram account from the comfort of your desktop or laptop. But it is more than just a place from which you can more easily post images.

Metrics Made Easy

Iconosquare allows you to maximize the benefit you receive from your Instagram account by giving you access to a nice mix of analytics that can guide your ongoing strategies. Track the number of likes and comments you receive and compare results month to month, review your tag choices along with those most popular on Instagram, compare the times you post to the times when your community is most active and more.

Tips for Using Instagram and Iconosquare Together

Harnessing the power of Iconosquare, your home improvement company can use Instagram to connect with people, drive engagement and promote your business. Here are a few tips that can help you get started:

• Tell a Story

Many home improvement jobs span several days and at the very least offer before and after photo opportunities. Make posts that show the progress of a job, giving followers a reason to come back. Iconosquare metrics can provide valuable feedback on these campaigns.

• Promote People

When homeowners hire contractors, they hire you, not just your work. Vary the content of your posts to showcase you and your employees as much as your jobs. Put up images of the local softball team you sponsor and congratulate them on their season. Posts with your employees in it can go a long way toward brand building and, once again, the metrics will help you define future post content.

• Showcase Customers

Include your customers-with you-in posts that show off jobs well done. People love to see themselves in the limelight and this is a great way to give them their moment of glory while also getting the benefit of what is essentially a visual testimonial.

• Engage

When you engage, you encourage others to do so. Use Iconosquare to make and manage your comments, share posts on other social media platforms, set up an Instagram feed tab on your Facebook page and even set your own vanity URL to allow your feed to be seen by more people.

The importance of tracking results from any marketing activity cannot be stressed enough. Iconosquare gives you that ability so that you can use your time (which is money) most wisely.

Put IG and IS to work for you

While Pinterest can be credited with proving the power of images in social media, Instagram should not be discounted. Its streamlined interface is accessible to users and with the addition of Iconosquare, your business can stay on top of how your activity is performing and make sure it works for you.