Instagram has become one of the most powerful tools for promoting one’s business. The social media website is used daily by millions to search for providers, learn about new treatments and share their personal experiences. But very few of us have a content studio in our aesthetic practice or a socially savvy millennial in the driver seat of our Instagram account.
So how can you dial-up the quality of your content?
At a recent Cartessa sponsored event, Emily Frost, an aesthetic nurse and med-spa owner with seventy thousand engaged followers and growing, shared nine applications that if you are not using, you are missing out when promoting your business on Instagram. Many of these tools offer the same general bells and whistles, so it’s about finding your go-to. Here’s what makes these programs download worthy:
STORYART – This Instagram story application allows you to take your pictures and videos and create beautiful moving stories. There are thousands of templates to choose from to add action and intrigue to your content. Animate a laser hair removal treatment to promote your new laser hair removal machine, effectively list out the benefits of your brand-new RF Microneedling tool…there is a ton of potential.
CANVA – This graphic design platform is a favorite amongst the Cartessa marketing and practice development team. In fact, if you have worked with a Cartessa practice development consultant to customize assets from our marketing kits, chances are they suggested signing up for this free tool. With the ability to upload your logos, photos and key brand elements PLUS hundreds of templates and file specifications, it’s easy to design high-quality assets and resize them to meet your marketing requirements.
LAYOUT – The Layout app for Instagram lets you create a collage of your photos and then share them on your social network. When you just can’t choose one, Layout gives you the option to load multiple photos and play around with their orientation. We often use this tool comes when laying out before and after’s and when we have lots of aesthetic practices to feature – like our recent international women’s day post!
PLANOLY – Planoly has a number of tools but we especially like is the ability to visually draft, schedule and publish your content. It’s not easy to get your Instagram feed to look consistent and curated. Planoly – and other scheduling platforms – can take the daily posting anxiety away and provide a way to thoughtfully strategize what you want to share.
COLORSTORY – Apple calls Colorstory one of the best apps for self-promoters as it provides a way to add color to your posts, by utilizing unique filters to edit photos and videos. There are a lot of bells and whistles to this tool, but it can be just the thing you need to take your photos to the next level.
LIGHTROOM – Lightroom CC or Lightroom Classic, both from Adobe, is another popular photo-editing tool that makes it possible to access your photos from your desktop, mobile and other devices. It’s a great way to organize your library (your files are stored in the cloud) and tap into your inner photographer.
PIC COLLAGE – Like Layout, Pic collage lets you take one or multiple photos and create custom collages. Choose any number of photos, apply stickers, captions etc. One way we like to utilize Pic Collage is to point out specific parts of before and after’s and include informative call-outs alongside pictures.
INSTASIZE – This photo and video editing tool has a number of very cool on trend features. One we love is the layering effect that helps you frame your photos in unique ways. There are retouch tools, filters and easy ways to resize your assets for various social platforms. This app takes the hassle out of sharing your own content and formatting it to display correctly on social.
SPLICE – Splice is a popular video editor that was originally developed by filming innovator GoPro. It’s hard to ignore the importance video has come to play in engaging our audiences. Filming a treatment or capturing you and your team on import video is one of the BEST ways to promote your services to current and new patients. If you don’t have a go-to video editor, Splice is an effective, and free option.
The team at Cartessa is here to not only introduce you to breakthrough aesthetic innovations like CoolPeel and the VirtueRF, but to give you the tools to successfully integrate these technologies into your practice – with marketing assets and best practices for getting the most out of your marketing. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social to get tips and tricks like these that are being used by our network of successful aesthetic practices and by our team of marketing experts.
