This is a guest post written by Ashley Halsey.
Instagram is a valuable tool for any business, but for summer camps it’s especially appealing. Instagram is a platform based on visual output – fantastic pictures and videos on Instagram find a huge audience. Summer camps offer magical experiences and generate so much Insta-worthy content that just needs to be seen. Let’s take a look at how your summer camp can put Instagram to use to share the magic.
1. It Begins With The Bio
Although flawless images and videos will display the best of your summer camp, most users start with the bio. Crafting the perfect bio is an opportunity to share your mission with the world. With just 150 characters you need to capture the imagination of your users and have them clicking ‘follow’. Don’t be afraid to throw in some personality – a few emojis will indicate the fun and friendly vibe of your camp, and include a call to action (CTA) such as “Hit follow to get involved in some summer fun.”
2. Using The Business Tools
Instagram has been building a fantastic platform for businesses to engage their audiences, but to make the most of these tools you need to switch to a business account – you can do so in the settings of any regular account. With a business account you add CTA buttons on your profile that will drive traffic to your website as well as access handy analytics that show how well your posts have been performing.
3. Find Your Followers
Growing your Instagram account takes a small investment of your time but there are many ways you can find new followers. Instagram is a great place to network so get active on the platform and engage with your followers as well as other partners. A summer camp is built on its energetic staff and chances are your summer camp crew already have their own Instas, so start off by commenting on these images and seeing if your staff can share your profile in their story. Reach out to your camp’s alumni and see if they have any fond memories of camp days that they might want to share.
You can reach a wider audience by engaging with similar brands across Instagram, too. Whether it’s the local county or the kayak manufacturer, your summer camp will have plenty of connections that you can put to use in finding a following. Offer these other pages some cross-posting potential and start sharing each others’ stories.
4. Creating High-Quality Content
Scroll through any feed and you’ll see what Instagram is all about – high-quality visual content. Your Instagram account is a place to share your camp’s best side, so make sure you’re only using images that are high-quality. Fortunately, today’s mobile phones are equipped with great cameras that can capture the moment brilliantly, so start encouraging your staff to share their snaps with you. Your Instagram homepage will feature 6-9 of your latest images so try to share a diverse variety of content, from wildlife to activities on offer to those beautiful campfire moments.
5. Create A Digital Tour
One new feature of Instagram is sharing short videos in your “Stories” and now you can save these to your profile. This offers the opportunity to create and preserve a visual tour right on your Insta home page. Why not introduce your followers to the wonders of camp life with a digital tour, broken down into 15 second stories?
6. Introduce Your Year-Round Staff
It’s important to have some personality shine through on Instagram. Introducing your year-round staff could be a great way to bring your page to life. Your staff members are the heart of your camp, and parents will feel more comfortable sending their kids away if they feel like they’ve built a relationship with them. A portrait and a bio is a great way to bring your followers a personal look at camp life.
School’s Out
You’re already creating those magical camp moments so why not start capturing them and building your Instagram? Instagram is a great platform for authentic content so you can start sharing what you’re doing and reaching a wider audience. Building a thriving Insta doesn’t happen in a day, so get that bio written and start creating content now.
_______
Ashley Halsey is a writer and editor at Luckyassignments.com and Gum Essays. Ashley spent every summer of her youth at camp and has been a camp counsellor for fifteen years – she just keeps on coming back.
Leave a Comment