1. Instagram Getting Started with the Basics

2. Why are we talking about Instagram? 200 Million Monthly ACTIVE users 23% Increase in active user over 6month period Instagram deserves to be on the page with Facebook and Twitter In fact – A Forrester Research study showed brands received 58% more engagement on Instagram posts than Facebook and 120% more engagement than twitter.

3. Not just on brands like red bull and goPro General Electric and Ford, HomeDepot….all enjoyed huge engagement advantages over other Social media sites The Real Estate industry has taken notice Become your agent partners social Guru by learning the basics of this easy to use, FREE tool

4. First things First Get set up On your mobile device go to the Google Play or iTunes store Search “Instagram” Install the app

5. Sign Up or Log In You can create a separate account, but for strategies on using Instagram, choose the “Log In with Facebook” option

6. Give permission to link the accounts

7. Create a user name (by default it is your email from facebook before the @ symbol. For example mine was pbax11) YOU are your brand, use YOUR name or brand PaulBaxter PaultheMortgageMan PBmortgages PalmHarborHomeHelper Make sure it is easy for people to remember

9. Just click follow all If you want to take the time to go through them and be selective cool, I followed all

10. Now you are in The basic navigation

11. Make sure to start by getting the profile section completed and set up to maximize your brand

12. Add your website, and short about you section Click the check box when you are done to save

13. Your options screen will allow you to set up your notifications and linked accounts

14. Even though you signed up with Facebook it is not set to post pictures yet You must set each social site individually

15. Facebook and Twitter

16. The key is not the picture or the post itself, it’s the engagement The second side of the power in Instagram is in Hashtags Hashtag - a type of label or metadata tag used on social network and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or content. Users create and use hashtags by placing the hash character (or number sign) # in front of a word or unspaced phrase, either in the main text of a message or at the end. Searching for that hashtag will then present each message that has been tagged with it

18. Tomorrow we will be going over specific strategies to Use Instagram for branding on Facebook and everywhere else