5 Rules To Get More Instagram Followers

1. #nofilter is the most popular hashtag on Instagram, and Mayfair is the most successful filter when it comes to user interactions;
2. Statistically, Sunday and Monday are the best two days to post on Instagram;
3. The more #hashtags you use, the more your follower engagement will increase;
4. Any time is good to post pictures, there is no better time of the day to post;
5. But if you're posting videos, the best hour to do so is after work hours, between 9p.m. and 8.a.m. to get the highest number of interactions.

Instagram VS Vine (Twitter)

Social Media is at war. Instagram has been growing more and more, while Twitter is still very popular. Instagram now allows 15 seconds of video, shareable to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, E-mail and so on. Vine, the Twitter video app, only allows 6 seconds of video, and only shareable to Facebook and Twitter, but it allows embedding to blog posts.
One thing we know for sure: short video usage in social media has become more and more popular when it comes to engaging with the community and clients.

Social Media: Essential Tasks

1. Sign in, check messages, comments and replies;
2. Damage control if necessary;
3. Post fresh content;
4. Reach out to at least 3 of your followers;
5. Reach out to at least 3 new people;
6. Monitor the competitors and the industry reviews;
7. Brainstorm future posts based on your followers feedback;
8. Check out statistics

The Uses of Social Media (And How it Will Boost Your Business)

1. Know your audience;
2. Use multiple sites (don't just stick to Facebook and Twitter, explore the advantages of Pinterest, Instagram and Google+ as well);
3. Use a Social Media Manager (if you don't have the resources to hire someone, use sites like Ping.fm and HootSuite;
4. Post visual content (photos, videos...);
5. Interact and engage with your audience (followers);
6. Commit & be patient.

How to use Instagram to boost your business

If you look at Instagram as a tool instead of social entertainment, there are plenty of ways of benefiting from it. Almost everyone uses a Smartphone these days and the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has never been more actual. Plus, Instagram has the video feature, hashtags and direct sending, plus all the other sharing options for other social media channels, such as Tumblr, Foursquare and Facebook.
You can build your own community of followers, clients and prospect new ones by adding following the ones which profile is related to what your business is about.
Fashion, beauty and the food business have been the most profitable businesses on Instagram. Here are some tips:
Take live pictures from your business events, parties and gatherings and share them in real time;
Use and follow hashtags: by doing this you will be exposing your business as well as knowing what's out there, especially your competition;
Create a personality to your business: don't just share images and videos of your products, share inspirational pictures, thoughts, and tips. Make your audience feel that they are dealing with a human being instead of a marketing machine.