As of March of this year, the social media photo sharing platform Instagram has reached 200 million members sharing more than 20 billion photos to date. Similar to Twitter’s constant feed of 140 text characters or less, Instagram allows users to share, comment, and like each other’s filtered photos. The photo sharing app claims to have 90 million users per month. With this type of consistent growth, both B2B and B2C companies are keeping a close eye on how to advertise through the platform. Instagram recently rolled out sponsored advertising on top of allowing users to upload custom videos up to 15 seconds in length.

Here are four basic tips on how to market effectively through Instagram.

1. Interact with Influencers: Leveraging existing users with a large following increases exposure for your posts. Similar to retweeting or favoring tweets on Twitter, Instagram allows users to like (by double tapping on each photo) or comment on other users’ pictures. Constant interactions with influencers – whether it’s a brand or an individual – with a large following will eventually give you visibility by association.

2. Use Hashtags: In a previous blog post, we covered the importance of using hashtags on Twitter. The same principles apply on Instagram as hashtags allow your photos to be properly categorized. Piqora’s original research shows that “including just 3 hashtags on your posts can increase your number of likes on that individual post by up to 110%. Including 5 hashtags can increase it by 180% per post. Research suggests that using 7 hashtags in a given post is optimal, and brands are drastically under-using hashtags as a general rule. Nearly 30% of posts have no hashtags, while more than half average one or less. Adding just three can result in huge gains, but only 10% of brands are doing so. Only 4% of brands are using the recommended 5 to 7 in each post.”

3. Post Often: If content is king, then consistency is queen. Instagram accounts with a large organic following did not happen overnight. This is a result of consistent, original content that has been posted using the appropriate hashtags in conjunction with the right interaction with influencers and top followers. We suggest posting at least once a day. Be relevant and be interesting.

4. Get Creative: Instagram allows users to unleash their inner photographer. With 20 different filters in addition to a variety of borders, focus lenses, and tilting options, Instagram is an amateur photographer’s dream for turning regular pictures into artistic pieces. People appreciate aesthetics and the application of the right filters on top of everything else.

The consistent user growth on Instagram shows that marketers and brand executives from all kinds of companies need to start paying close attention to where their customers are active online. Becoming an influencer on Instagram allows another way to connect more closely with your customers.

For more information on how to leverage social media platforms, download our free internet marketing guide and receive more tips on how to effectively market on Instagram. Get a head start on your competition in the space!