Insta-Pin-Vine Is it Worth Your Time?

Ericka Andersen, National Review

Instagram

• Instagram is the fastest growing social medium in existence today with over 300 million active users.

• Up to 35% of the U.S. population uses Instagram

• Many favor Instagram over Facebook for simplicity, privacy and ease.

• Brands increasingly recognizing the visual power of Instagram.

There’s No Reason Not To

• Lay the foundation for the future

• Simple, quick and easy

• Experiment with different ideas

• Let fans on other social mediums know you are there.

• Brand awareness never hurt anyone

How to Use It

• Behind-the-scenes photos

• Use the trends: Throwback Thursday, Motivation Monday

• Feature photos that represent your brand

• Create hashtag campaigns that align with your brand

• Interact with followers by commenting, re-gramming

• Feature “pretty” photos that are visually pleasing

Consider the Benefits

• Prominent fixture in the Instagram feed

• Opportunity to grab attention in a positive way

• Make fans feel like they know you intimately

• Tell your story the way you want it to be told

• Blend in the culture and trends

• Building a loyal following

Pinterest

• Pinterest continues to be a huge traffic driver for many brands, especially clothes & food.

• An important way to reach women where they already are.

• A visual collection board of things that best represent your company or organization.

• Opportunity to optimize material to best fit the Pinterest model

Make It Work Well

• Install the Pin-It button

• Pin items with vertically-designed cover photos

• Use list-form articles for more clicks

• Write thoughtful descriptions with key words.

• Collaborate with other pinners on group boards

• Host a Pinterest contest or campaign featuring unique hashtag

Consider the Benefits

• Staying on the cutting edge.

• Reaching your female target group

• Thinking outside the box

• Messaging to audience you may not reach elsewhere

• Critical thinking about how to package well

• New ways to tell your story

Vine

• Has at least 40 million users

• Short opportunity to make a big impact

• Ability to force your brand in front of people with video tweets.

• Smoothly integrated with Twitter

• Sure to get lots of loops and plays if you actually use it.

Make It Work

• Capture key news clips

• Showcase your message in a new way with stop-motion graphics.

• Deliver your talking point in a powerful 6 seconds.

• Create a recurring theme Vine every week (Fact of the Week, State of the Day, Message of the Month)

• Opportunity to get really creative, such as brands like Home Depot

Conclusion?

• Create your accounts on these mediums.

• Genuinely experiment

• Copy successful campaigns you’ve seen from other brands like crazy.

• Research best practices & stay up on it.

• One real “hit” can gain you some sweet earned media

• Have fun with it & impress your followers