Instagram: Instant Tile + Design Gratification

Tileometry on Instagram

I’ve converted. No, not religions, but my thought process on using Instagram for business. Previously, I never really saw the appeal of using Instagram as a marketing tool, but now I’ve realised that using things like a followers app can be great for attracting brands and products to your online presence.

It seems like ages ago, but during Coverings 2015, Christine Whittemore of Simple Marketing Now and I delivered a presentation entitled, “Image is Everything! How Houzz and Pinterest Steer Clients to Your Tile/Stone Business: A Case Study and Guide for Visual Online and Social Success.” Long title, packed with information, and a standing-room only crowd! You can download the presentation in its entirety here if you’d like.

We deliberately chose to focus on Houzz and Pinterest because, although there was interest, we didn’t feel Instagram had enough tile- and stone-related businesses/accounts that were active daily. Boy, did things take an upward trend shortly thereafter.

There’s a new-found focus on Instagram with not only tile and stone businesses, but accounts that are solely dedicated to showcasing tile from around the world submitted by fellow Instagram users. They’ve clearly done their keyword research for their sites, and are now flexing those skills on a new platform.

The Instagram phenomena #ihavethisthingwithfloors has spawned several similar accounts, including #ihavethisthingwithtiles, #parisianfloors, and many others. Now, on top of tile showrooms, retailers, manufacturers, associations, interior designers and architects, digital inspiration has spread its wings. What’s a follower to do?

Here are some thoughts on getting started on Instagram:

• Fill out your profile info, including your company logo, bio, etc. If people can’t tell who or what you are, then why should they follow you? It’ll also be useful to put your company links in your Instagram bio but if you have more than one link, it may be worth your while to use a company like linktree to create a micro webpage. However, there are alternatives to linktree, so it will be worth your while reading reviews on it.
• Do a search for similar or like-minded accounts. Designers and architects are perfect for inspiration!
• As in real life, mind your manners. Respond to comments on the images you post. Most importantly, please attribute the source of your image when reposting (regramming). If it’s not your image, then you are being deceitful and will be caught! Include the account name (such as, “Regrammed via @tinytiletown’s Instagram feed), within the description area, as well as tagging the source.
• Hashtags. Use them. Cast a wide net in accordance to what the image you posted depicts. Here are a couple of examples from Tileometry:

And another:

I hope this post has been helpful! There’s so much more to talk about, but I’ll save it for another post!

If you have any tips and trick you’d like to share, then please post a comment. You have to register on Tileometry to comment (keeping spam away is hard work!).

If you’re interested in growing your instagram following check out some of the best instagram bots around. My friend told me they provide some staggering results.

Lastly, if you’re not already following Tileometry on Instagram, then I’d sure be appreciative if you did! Many thanks!