If you’re on the internet, then you’ve heard of Instagram. You probably use it yourself, and many of your friends and family are on it. However, you might still be wondering - should I use Instagram for my kids’ activities classes? Does my swim school need to be on Instagram? Do my dance lessons need an Instagram profile?
The answer depends on your resources and overall strategy. It’s another avenue to help you drum up a new business, connect with your current clients and boost your overall branding - here’s how.
Instagram can help you get new clients.
Instagram, if used effectively, can help you get in front of people who have never heard of you before. New clients could discover you simply by stumbling on you via the location tag (which would require you to tag your photos), a hashtag or via a friend’s page who just uploaded a pic of their kid and his 50-meter swim trophy and tagged you in it.
Instagram can help you maintain a relationship with your current clients.
Instagram is also a great place to keep in touch with current clients. You can post your closures or new class announcements there, do competitions to engage the parents to participate or showcase some of the kids’ successes – with parental permission, of course. Often parents don’t mind and are very proud of their little ones. Some parents also prefer to communicate with you about classes through direct messages on Instagram.
Instagram can strengthen your brand.
Instagram allows you to build your brand and raise awareness of what you stand for. You can even showcase your brand logo and colours, your fantastic team, yourself and your personal inspirational story behind the business.
How do I get new clients from Instagram?
Profile, Pic and Bio
Well, firstly, you need to be on it. Get yourself a profile – preferably a business one and a personal one to complement - social media platforms can benefit from a personal touch. Then add a profile picture which could be your logo. And then write yourself a good short bio. The bio is the first thing a potential client would see – you have limited words and emojis to describe yourself and get their attention. Make sure you answer the question of what you do, where you do it, and who your service is for and include a link for booking.
You want the other users to be able to tell if you’re relevant to them. If you’re a dance studio from the Lower West Side, CH - make sure you say so. A busy mother considering services in Chicago would instantly be able to tell you’re a good fit and worth exploring.
Hashtags, geotags and picture tags.
Use hashtags and geo-location tags on your pictures, making your images visible to anyone browsing these tags or locations. A new client could stumble upon your content and discover you this way.
Encourage your existing clients to tag you on their photos so their friends can see you – this is another way a new prospect could come your way.
Influencers.
Another way you could extend your reach on Instagram and be seen by new people is to consider partnering up with local influencers. Influencers aren’t just for beauty products and diet teas – they’re thousands of little (or micro) influencers with a few thousand loyal followers who can be very niche. You could look for a mom or dad blogger in your area with a good local following. They could be a fantastic partner to give a free taster class to in exchange for a review on their blog and some Instagram posts.
How does Instagram help me with my current clients?
Your current clients are probably one of your most prized possessions, as they should be. Happy clients usually bring more clients, and word of mouth is one of the best (and free) forms of advertising. Customer satisfaction is why you must ensure your clients are happy with your classes and customer service. You ought to be approachable and easily contactable.
Nowadays, many parents expect that they should be able to type a quick message to their kid’s coach and get a response within a reasonable time frame. Being this available could sound daunting, but it is also an opportunity to form good relationships with your clients - and remember, you can always clarify your response times if you wish. Reply to messages or comments, and use tags likes and comments to connect with parents. Make participants feel seen and heard if they reach out to you.
Another great feature is stories – they can be short behind-the-scenes videos, how-to-shorts or just showing your team waving hello. This kind of content can make your business seem down-to-earth and approachable and is another excellent opportunity to establish a connection with your clients.
The other helpful side of an active social media profile is that it allows you to make announcements – closure dates for national holidays, classes on Thursdays, or adding a new team member. Posting on Instagram could enable you to reach many parents simultaneously, and there’s no need to message them individually.
What can Instagram do for my brand?
All of the above – setting a good foundation with a short and to-the-point bio, publicising yourself and being responsive to your clients and followers, should strengthen your brand. After all, who wouldn’t want to be known for – approachability and responsiveness. These are two qualities you’d be proud of being connected to your brand.
Instagram gives you a chance to put a face on your business – show not just your logo and brand colours. Your inspirational story of how you started your classes, tell your followers about your fantastic team or give them an insight about your venues or a competition you’re taking your pupils to. Show your current and potential clients what you stand for and how your business operates.
With Instagram being a very visual place, you should also think in the direction of aesthetics and try to keep a consistent and visually appealing feed. We aren’t talking about professional photo sessions (although that would be great), simply about nice looking, clear pictures and graphics of good quality - no grainy images or stolen content. It is effortless to cheapen your brand with such things.
Summary
In short, Instagram can be a great field of opportunities for any size business. Your presence there isn’t mandatory, but we’d strongly encourage it if you have the time and it fits – be where your clients are, and the likelihood is parents you’re trying to reach already have a profile. Once on Instagram, be responsive, consistent with your content and use the platform as much as practicable. Doing so can help you drum up a new business, connect with and keep your current clients and strengthen your brand by showing who you are and what you stand for.
