Instagram is an online photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, apply digital filters and share them on a variety of social networks. But did you know that Instagram can be a great marketing tool for your business?

Here are four great ways to utilize Instagram in your marketing.

Showcase Your Store

Here’s an easy concept. You love taking photos, the home furnishings industry is all about images… why not take photos from your furniture store? Take an Instagram of some new furniture that just arrived in your store. Tell a story with the photos. If you’re an interior design firm, post Instagram photos of a house or business that you designed.

Showcase the Personal Side of the Store

Post photos that are relevant to your brand, photos that will help bring in potential customers. Don’t just clutter your Instagram account with business photos; show your personal/fun side. Have a good balance between work and play. Just like Twitter and Facebook, you don’t want to turn off your followers because all you posted were business-related photos. Customers want to see your personal side as well as your business side.

Connect with Other Social Networks

Speaking of followers, are you connected on Instagram? You’ve worked on building a following on Facebook and Twitter, so connect that following to your Instagram account. You can cross-post photos from Instagram to Facebook and Twitter. It will help inform those people who do not know that you have Instagram.

Create a Posting Plan

Just like Facebook and Twitter, it’s important to create a posting plan. There is no need to post every day on Instagram. You want to post enough to get noticed, but not so much as to annoy your followers.

Instagram offers numerous ways to market your business. Don’t be afraid to take it a step further. Have fun with it as well as leverage it to help your business.