Instagram is a mobile photo editing and sharing app that has seen its user base explode from 15 to 100 million since Facebook acquired the company. But even before the acquisition, many savvy brands had joined the platform. Food trucks are a natural fit for both the platform technology and Instagram’s user base.
However, unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram doesn’t have business-specific profiles, built-in visibility or engagement metrics, or paid advertising options. So why should your food truck join yet another social network? Simple…
3 Reasons Food Trucks Should Use Instagram
Ease of Use
Instagram’s technology helps you easily create stunning images that you can easily use on your food truck’s other social networks. Both Facebook and Twitter have optimized how photos are displayed on these platforms and you can share directly from Instagram to those platforms (as well as to Tumblr, Foursquare, Flickr, and email) automatically or by individual selection.
RELATED: Instagram Tips To Get The Most Out Of It For Your Food Truck
Tell Your Story
Both the way the platform works and the way most users approach the platform allows you to employ visual storytelling that has more continuity and artistic value than other platforms.
With the absence of advertising, business uses for an Instagram profile begin and end with awareness and branding. However, a few images that encapsulate a brand moment in a second or two is much more impactful than lines and lines of copy—no matter how brilliant the writing is.
RELATED: Building A Branding Identity For Your Mobile Food Business
It’s Mobile – Like You
Instagram combines two of the most powerful forces in the social technology market—mobile and photo sharing—to create a platform that truly offers a unique value proposition. Food Truck owners with an Instagram presence can take advantage of that intersection where users are focusing their attention.
Are you wondering how a food truck might be able to take advantage of Instagram to promote your business? Here’s an easy concept NYC based Comodo restaurant used. They were able to bring in more business with the hashtag #ComodoMenu: an operation for visitors to snap photos of their plates and share them on Instagram so others could get a glimpse of what they could order. The YouTube video announcement has accumulated 122,000 views in just under 3 months, in addition to the many publications (include us now) that reported on the restaurant’s creative initiative.
The Botttom Line
As the old adage goes; a picture is worth 1,000 words. This statement is still true today, but with Instagram, a picture may also be worth 1,000 “likes,” retweets, and shares. Instagram is a great way to bring people closer to your food truck business by expressing your personality and creativity. You can easily set up an account in minutes. Then it’s just a matter of snapping your way towards a list of engaged followers.
Are you already using Instagram for your food truck business? Tell us how you you’ve used it to help promote your rolling bistro in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter
