By The Associated Press
In this undated image provided by Miranda Jade Plater and posted in April 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Limelight Extensions, Plater poses wearing long, black curly hair extensions with the ends dyed bright orange at her salon in Farmington Hills, Mich. This photo alone has generated about $10,000 in sales. (AP Photo/Courtesy Miranda Jade Plater)
SmallBiz Instagram
In this photo provided by Josey Orr and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of his company, Dyer and Jenkins, Orr models some of his company’s fashions. Orr posts three photos a day to the Los Angeles company’s Instagram account and has a rule: 20 percent of the photos are of Dyer and Jenkins clothing and 80 percent are photos of weathered American flags, classic cars or West Coast highways. (AP Photo/Courtesy Josey Orr)
SmallBiz Instagram
This May 2014 photo provided by Josey Orr and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of his company, Dyer and Jenkins, advertises some of the company’s fashions. Orr posts three photos a day to the Los Angeles company’s Instagram account and has a rule: 20 percent of the photos are of Dyer and Jenkins clothing and 80 percent are photos of weathered American flags, classic cars or West Coast highways. (AP Photo/Courtesy Josey Orr)
SmallBiz Instagram
In this photo provided by Josey Orr and posted in April 2014to the Instagram account of his company, Dyer and Jenkins, David Enrico models a limited run tote bag. Orr posts three photos a day to the Los Angeles company’s Instagram account and has a rule: 20 percent of the photos are of Dyer and Jenkins clothing and 80 percent are photos of weathered American flags, classic cars or West Coast highways. (AP Photo/Courtesy Josey Orr)
SmallBiz Instagram
In this April 13, 2014 photo provided by UOI Boutique and posted to the company’s Instagram account, store employee Cierra, no last name given, models a dress at the Sterling, Ill. store. The photo has gotten the most likes on UOI’s Instagram. (AP Photo/Courtesy UOI Boutique)
SmallBiz Instagram
This June 10, 2014 photo provided by UOI Boutique and posted to the company’s Instagram account shows an “Outfit of the Day” that a store employee put together in her spare time while at work. The Sterling, Ill., company asks its 25 workers to take at least one photo on their smartphone during their shifts. The best ones get uploaded to UOI Boutique’s Instagram account. (AP Photo/Courtesy UOI Boutique)
Tiffany Jones
This undated photo provided by Tiffany Jones and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Peridot Sweets Las Vegas, shows Jones, left, with one of her creations, an 8-tier cake made for Morrow Meadows. Peridot Sweets’ Twitter and Facebook accounts are set to automatically update from the shots of wedding cakes, macarons and cupcakes she posts on Instagram. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tiffany Jones)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Tiffany Jones and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Peridot Sweets Las Vegas, shows a Mother’s Day cake. Jones says she sold seven of the cakes to people who saw the photo on Instagram. The photo also automatically posted to the company’s Facebook page, which is followed by nearly 1,200. She sold six more cakes to Facebook fans. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tiffany Jones)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Andrea Eppolito Events and posted in April, 2014 to the Instagram account of Tiffany Jones’ company, Peridot Sweets Las Vegas, shows a “Groom Cake” from Peridot Sweets. Peridot Sweets’ Twitter and Facebook accounts are set to automatically update from the shots of wedding cakes, macarons and cupcakes she posts on Instagram. (AP Photo/Courtesy Andrea Eppolito Events via Tiffany Jones)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Tiffany Jones and posted in March 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Peridot Sweets Las Vegas, shows a Winnie the Pooh birthday cake with coordinating smash cake. Jones says this cake had the most Instagram “likes” of all her children’s cakes. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tiffany Jones)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Tim Fernandes-Parsons and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of his company, Adoboloco, features one of his products, Hamajang Hot Sauce, with fresh omemade Aku Poke. “We use Instagram to show what we’re doing in our lives and outside of the business,” says Parsons. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tim Fernandes-Parsons)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Tim Fernandes-Parsons and posted in June 2014 to the Instagram account of his company, Adoboloco, shows his product with tacos at La Tienda Del Sol in Kihei, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tim Fernandes-Parsons)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Tim Fernandes-Parsons and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of his company, Adoboloco, shows Hawaiian chili peppers used in Adoboloco products. “We use Instagram to show what we’re doing in our lives and outside of the business,” says Parsons. (AP Photo/Courtesy Tim Fernandes-Parsons)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Brooke Sacco and posted in June 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Behind the Moon, a shop that sells used and new kids clothing in Hammonton, N.J., shows Jersey top knot headbands by plumTango. (AP Photo/Courtesy Brooke Sacco)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Brooke Sacco and posted in June 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Behind the Moon, a shop that sells used and new kids clothing in Hammonton, N.J., shows a Zutano romper and a locally made bibdana. (AP Photo/Courtesy Brooke Sacco)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Brooke Sacco and posted in May 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, Behind the Moon, a shop that sells used and new kids clothing in Hammonton, N.J., shows some of the baby fashions offered by her company. (AP Photo/Courtesy Brooke Sacco)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Daniela Devitt and posted in March 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, YUMBOX, shows a Yumbox with masala chickpeas, jalapenos, sliced mango, cucumbers and dill yogurt dip. (AP Photo/Courtesy Daniela Devitt)
SmallBiz Instagram
This undated photo provided by Daniela Devitt and posted in April 2014 to the Instagram account of her company, YUMBOX, shows a variety of her company’s product. (AP Photo/Courtesy Daniela Devitt)
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Small business owners say photo-sharing app Instagram is becoming a more important part of their social media strategy. They are able to build their company’s brand, gain customers and even boost sales.
Here’s five tips for entrepreneurs looking to use it for their small business:
1. TELL A STORY. Upload photos that are more than just product shots. A bakery can take a snapshot of someone putting together a wedding cake or painting the walls of a new store opening soon.
2. GET INSPIRED. Look at what major brands are doing on the app and see if you can copy some techniques. Instagram also has a website with tips and links to big brands that are using its app at business.instagram.com.
3. — USE HASHTAGS. A hashtag, which is a pound sign (#) before words or phrases, can make your photos easier to find. If you hashtag a picture with #weddingcake, people searching for wedding cakes on Instagram will be able to find you.
4. RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. As your following grows, so will the comments from users. People ask where they can buy items, sizes or what time your store closes. Those questions need to be monitored so you don’t miss a sale.
REPOST CUSTOMER PHOTOS. Using hashtags, search Instagram for people posting about your company and repost great pics. This will inspire more sharing and get your company’s product in front of more people. You’ll need a separate app to repost, such as PhotoRepost or Repost for Instagram, because it can’t be done from the Instagram app yet.
