When it comes to online advertising, most Singapore businesses prefer to use Facebook or Twitter. After all, these platforms have a combined total of over a billion users. However, there are other networks that marketers tend to overlook and as a result, miss the opportunities that they provide. This is particularly the case when it comes to Flickr.
Flickr is a photo sharing platform and social media network. It has over 90 million monthly users. And it’s used in over 63 countries. While Flickr is typically associated with photographers and videographers, it can also be a great place for other industries to promote their brand as well. If you’re interested in using Flickr for business, take a look at the following tips.
Consider whether images can help your business
The average user loves to look at captivating images. That’s why image sharing platforms like Instagram have become so popular. People are visual. However, this does not mean that your business will necessarily fit into the image-sharing scheme.
For instance, if you own a tourism business, work in hospitality or are a chef, then Flickr may be just the tool that gets you more traffic. However, if you are an accountant, plumber or computer programmer, then it’s very unlikely that you will be able to fit images in your marketing strategy because in these niches, appealing photos are not easy to produce. So before posting images on Flickr, think about whether or not sharing images will really help your brand. Make sure that Flickr fits into your overall business goals.
Create a memorable username, profile, and profile image
If you want to ensure that people take you seriously, then you need to make sure that your profile is completely filled out. Users need to know as much as possible about your business and the profile is a great place to start. It’s also a great way to give your business a little personality.
When creating your username, it’s a good idea to use your URL. For example, your username would look something like ‘Example.com.’ This way, whenever you post a new image or someone happens to share your image, they will always be treated to a link to your site.
The profile image you choose should reflect positively on your business. If you are representing your own personal brand, then you may choose to use a headshot. However, if you are promoting your company, then you could always use a photo of something that is related to your business.
Post captivating photos and videos
The most important part of attracting an audience on Flickr is posting images and videos that are highly captivating. Your photos should be interesting enough to start conversations. This means that you need to create posts that are unusual, beautiful, emotional, cute or informative.
Encourage people to re-use your photos
In order to make sure that you get the most exposure as possible, you need to encourage people to re-use your photos. You see Flickr allows its users to determine how they would like to share their images. And this option comes in the form of different types of licensing.
Attribution means that other users can display, copy, distribute, your images and videos as long as they give you credit. Non-commercial means that others can display, copy, and distribute your images and videos but for noncommercial purposes. No Derivative Works means users can display, copy, distribute, and display your images and videos verbatim, not as a derivative. Share Alike means: that users can only distribute derivative of your images and videos only under a license that governs them. Public Domain Dedication, also referred to as CC0, means that users can use your images and videos without restriction.
As you can see, there are a lot of options that you can choose from. And the type of license you select will depend on your own preferences. However, no matter which license you choose for your images and videos, just keep in mind that the more freedom you give people to use them, the more visibility your brand will likely have. You can see examples of this type of sharing on Pinterest. The more people share your photos, the more likely you are to attract a lot of traffic to your website.
Link images to your site, blog, Twitter or Facebook page
Flickr gives you the ability to link all of your photos to your other online services. For instance, you can create slideshows or ‘badges’ on Flickr and upload it to your site, so that a collection of your Flickr images appear there. Flickr also gives you the ability to choose options that automatically post your images to your blog, Twitter, or Facebook page. And this helps you to expand the number of people who see them.
Connect with other users
There are many Singapore business owners who assume that photo sharing websites are simply places to post images–as if they are no more than online storage. What they fail to realise is that Flickr and sites like it are also communities. This means that not only can you share here, but you can also make connections with users and other businesses in your niche.
Flickr has an endless number of groups, discussions, and lists that you can join in on. You can create your own favourites list and other people’s photos to them to show how much you appreciate them. You can also find the most popular accounts in your industry and follow them. And if they choose to follow you back, then your brand could be exposed to a whole new audience. You may also hold competitions and giveaways on this platform.
Make use of titles, tags, and descriptions
Flickr gives you the ability to name your images and add ‘tags,’ or keywords, to them during the uploading process. You may also choose to add a description to your photo, just as is the case with Pinterest. It’s important that you take advantage of these options and fill out all of this information completely. You should do your best to make sure that this information is as relevant as possible. Most importantly, you should make sure that your titles, tags, and descriptions are keyword heavy. This is great in terms of the search engine and increasing your ranking.
Engage, don’t sell
It can be tempting to use Flickr to promote your latest event or offer a discount or coupon for your latest product or service. However, Singapore business owners need to keep in mind that direct is against Flickr’s guidelines. You see, this platform has strict rules when it comes to commercial activity. It prohibits the selling of products or services. In other words, you should avoid using your account as your own personal product catalog or even linking to commercial pages. If you happen to go against these rules, it could result in your being banned.
So instead of selling, engage the users. Hold conversations. Join in on the discussions and make comments. You may not be able to sell directly, but you can create relationships and make people want to know more about your products and services. The more they visit your website, the more likely they are to make a purchase.
Plan, track and promote
Just as is the case with any social media platform, you need to make sure that you have a social media marketing plan. You need to have a good idea of what your goals are on Flickr. Who will manage this account? How often will you upload to the account? What primary keywords will you use in your title descriptions and tags? Also, Flickr also gives you the ability to track your performance on the site. For instance, take into consideration how many comments, likes, or shares you have.
Conclusion
When it comes to social media platforms, there are a lot of missed opportunities. And this is mainly due to the explosion of sites like Facebook and Twitter. However, if you take the time to look beyond what is now becoming traditional online advertising and use sites like Flickr, you can tap into an audience that you never even knew existed. One of the biggest advantages to using Flick is that it has a very active community. If you post images and videos that are eye-catching, it’s very likely that they will be shared or you may even be invited to share in a certain exclusive group.
The key to doing business on Flickr is to make sure that it truly fits in your business goals and overall objective. Make sure that your profile is completely filled out and is memorable. Ensure that you photos are captivating. Engage your audience and make connections with other brands in your niche. Show a bit of your brand personality. Make good use of your title, tags, and descriptions as this will help out in the search engines. Also, make sure that people are free to share your photos as much as they would like.
