“Can Instagram really work for my wedding business?”
Sometimes it’s hard to know how to book weddings with Instagram – land of the beautiful selfies and perfectly curated feeds. It can feel pretty intimidating.
But when you run a wedding business, there are some pretty compelling stats that might make you want to dig into this social platform a bit more:
- 65% of the 1 billion+ users on Instagram are under age 35. Yep, Millennials brides and grooms are using Instagram.
- 63% of Americans use Instagram daily, with users spending an average of 28 minutes each day on the platform.
- 200 million+ Instagrammers visit at least one Business Profile daily. [source]
- Posts with a location get 79% more engagement – making it an ideal place to connect with local couples.
“I’ve found great success with Instagram. Twitter is just noise. Facebook has a complicated and ever changing algorithm and only a VERY small percentage of followers see your post. Instagram though – ALL your followers see it.” – Karen Moran, Sweet Lulu’s Bakery
Feeling convinced that you need to step up your Instagram presence? It’s time to learn how to book weddings with Instagram.
Here’s what to do to capture real wedding leads with Instagram:
1) Create a Business Account on Instagram.
Having a Business Account rather than a personal profile for your wedding business means you’ll have access to insights on the content you’re sharing and the people following you – something that personal accounts lack – which helps you make smarter decisions about what to share on Instagram, and when.
Plus, when you’re ready to start running Instagram ads, your profile is all set up and ready to go.
BONUS TIP: Make sure to connect your Facebook page to your Instagram Business Account to easily share content on both platforms – perfect for the time-strapped wedding pro.
2) Choose a super smart, keyword rich Instagram name.
When couples are searching Instagram, they’re likely not typing in your exact name (or business name) unless they already know about you – so make sure your profile name includes local and industry keywords to be more easily found on the platform, and use your official name / business name as your Instagram username.
Take @kartheekphoto, for example:
Kartheek used his business name, Kartheek Photo, as his username (or @ name), but listed “NJ Wedding Photographer” as the name on his profile – making him ultimately much more searchable for couples looking for local photographers for their wedding.
BONUS TIP: If your ideal name is taken, use underscores to find one that’s available. Example: london_wedding_photography
3) Write an awesome bio.
You only get 150 characters to work with, so make ‘em count. What you write here, combined with your photos, determines whether you get followed or not.
Describe exactly what your business does and be sure to include a link to your website. If your business has a physical location, make sure you include it!
BONUS TIP: Since Instagram only allows you to use one link in your bio, try using a service like Linktree to create one location where you can include multiple links, such as your scheduler, packages, etc.
4) Share photos that show off your expertise and attract your ideal couples.
Include photos of your products and services in all their glory. This establishes your credibly and encourages commenting and sharing by brides hungry for #weddinginspiration.
Don’t forget to include non-business photos that your couples will find interesting. Karen Moran of Sweet Lulu’s Bakery knows how to book weddings with Instagram – she makes sure the photos in her Instagram account are a fairly even balance between her products, her local Charleston area and personal photos, like her adorable dog. This earns her local followers and keeps her profile from turning people off because it’s not overly salesy.
BONUS TIP: Try to include some behind-the-scenes photos and videos when you can – local couples will love to see the care and effort you put into your business, and what it takes to create the final product for them!
5) Use your keyword hashtags. Lots of ‘em!
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per photo, so take advantage of them. Each hashtag represents an opportunity to connect with brides or grooms who are searching for those terms. Include as many relevant hashtags as possible with every photo.
Great hashtags for wedding pros:
- #WeddingWednesday – share wedding tips and inspiration every Wednesday
- #InstaWedding – instagram wedding pics
- #VintageWedding
- #WeddingInspiration
Create a custom hashtag for your own business to curate the images shared by you and your clients. Search Instagram for keywords related to your business to get ideas about the hashtags you should be using to attract your couples.
Events By L uses hashtags containing local and wedding related keywords like #chicago #chicagoweddings and #instawedding to attract targeted followers and leads.
BONUS TIP: Keep an eye on your account in the first 30 minutes to respond right away to people liking and commenting on your post – this helps increase your reach in Instagram’s algorithm.
6) Promote other wedding pros and local businesses to get more followers.
Extend your networking to Instagram. The best way to get others to promote you is to promote them first.
Use the @ tag to give a shout out to outstanding wedding businesses and your couples. Include a business’ unique hashtag to promote their business and build your referral relationship over time.
BONUS TIP: Post a screenshot of another business’ profile to encourage your followers to follow them.
The Wedding Chicks use #WCHappyHour and #WeddingChicks to connect with their followers across multiple social media accounts.
7) Be social and encourage engagement.
Take the time to reply to the comments on your photos. You need to build relationships to get attention and earn leads with Instagram.
Get your followers engaged:
- Follow back your followers, especially other wedding businesses and couples.
- Encourage your couples to post their own photos using your hashtag.
- Like and comment on your followers’ photos.
- Ask questions.
- Share resources and info.
- Host an Instagram contest.
BONUS TIP: Use Geo Tags when posting from your store location or a wedding venue and encourage your couples to do the same. This is another way to curate your photos and increase your brand visibility.
8) Optimize your image captions.
In addition to a great photo, your caption has everything to do with how much attention and engagement you get on Instagram.
For maximum results:
- Use relevant local and keyword hashtags.
- Write with your audience in mind.
- Keep it short.
- Use humor and show your personality.
BONUS TIP: Add a call to action telling your followers exactly what to do.
Instagram is a free way to promote your wedding business that’s highly recommended if you love photos, have a local business and enjoy connecting with others through social media.
Want more tips on how to book weddings with Instagram? Check out our video on this topic on IGTV – or schedule a free consultation call with me and we’ll find some ways to start growing your reach on this popular social media platform!
The post How to Book Weddings With Instagram appeared first on Wedding Business Marketing | Bridal Advertising Solutions for Wedding Professionals.
