Is Instagram the next big thing for business?

New social networks are introduced monthly, so it’s hard to tell which is going to be the most popular in 2016.

But if trends continue, Instagram is a must-have for your business.

We currently use Instagram for two of our publications (@StationeryTrend and @GiftShop_Magazine). In the past, we used the social network to post photos of the publications, share popular products seen at trade shows and give inspiration to our followers.

That won’t change in 2016, but we will be adding something new. To beef up our subscription efforts, we will now post sales and specials on Instagram.

We tried it for the first time this month and it worked!

Here’s how we did it.

Step 1: Select an eye-catching photo that accurately represents the sale or special discount you’re offering. Our designer used a bright colored background with simple, black “Subscription Special” text. It was the perfect amount of simplicity.

Step 2: Write something catchy. Instagram gives you a lot of space to say what’s on your mind, but be careful not to say too much. It’s important to get to the point and get your followers excited about what you’re selling.

Step 3: Update your Instagram bio. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, links posted on Instagram are not clickable. Instead, we finish our sale photo captions with “Link in our bio.” and direct people to the top of our page. This step seems a little out of the ordinary, but it’s common practice on Instagram.

Step 4: Monitor the post. One of the most important things to remember when working with social media is to focus on engagement. Watch your sale post for a few hours and respond to any comments or questions. People expect a reply.

New things are always a tad intimidating, but Instagram is worth a try. If it doesn’t work, reallocate your resources. Trial and error is the name of the game!