Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the United States and across the world. To date, Instagram has more than 500 MILLION MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS, up from 300 million in a little less than a year! The audience on Instagram covers a wide variety of users ranging in age and gender. This makes Instagram a popular choice in industries that have many attractive images to share with users, leads and customers. The builder industry is the perfect candidate for using Instagram. With a variety of images and information to share via Instagram, builders can use this platform to reach a new group of potential customers by simply interacting and engaging. Here are some tips builders can use to take their Instagram account to the next level.

Connect through hashtags: Hashtags on Instagram work the same as on Twitter. Hashtags allow Instagram to group your images into particular topics on the platform. These will help your images be discovered and reach an audience that is not a follower of your Instagram account yet. Use relevant hashtags that your target audience is likely to research such as: #newhome, #customhome, #community, and #homedesign.

Use the filters: Instagram provides a wide variety of filters for users to enhance their images on the platform.  Take advantage of these filters to create the best images to use for your company. The filters are extremely helpful for images out on site when you may not have a high-quality camera nearby. Instagram allows you to create high-quality images of your homes quickly and on-the-go.

Document your home construction: Post images throughout the building process to keep home owners up-to-date on the construction process and inform potential buyers about how the building process occurs through images. This will provide potential buyers with quality images of your homes, the variety of homes you have to offer, the usual speed of construction and keep followers checking back for more great info from your company.

Promote open houses and accomplishments: Do you have an upcoming open house or are you proud of a recently-built custom home? Promote these great events using Instagram. Use images of the home and community with relevant hashtags to the event.  Provide the date, time and location so users will know where to go. Did your company build a LEED Green home?  Show off this great accomplishment via Instagram. Take a picture in front of the home with key employees and use hashtags relevant to that accomplishment. 

Emphasize stand-out portions of the home: If a home has a beautiful entrance or above-par landscaping, take pictures and post onto Instagram with information about this home. The wants and needs of some customers will differ from others; emphasizing the various rooms in the home may pique the interest of a potential buyer who is very emphatic about having a specific kitchen, bathroom, backyard, etc. This can be the difference between a customer bypassing your company or choosing you to build their home.

Provide other images and information about the community: Buyers do not purchase just the physical home; by buying property in a particular area, they are buying the community as well. Providing quality images and information about events, schools, and community life can reassure a potential buyer that they want to buy in that area and with your company. Post images from events and festivals in the community to inform users about the area.

Instagram grows in popularity every day.  Builders who are not participating in this great platform could be missing great opportunities to connect with potential buyers with minimal work. Take these tips and integrate into your Instagram campaign to improve home sales!