Last year I added Northwest Arkansas to my list of “must-see” places in America. Why, you ask? Because of the Northwest Arkansas pictures I repeatedly saw in an airline magazine. I had no idea how beautiful Arkansas could be. And to be honest, I really knew nothing about Arkansas. But a few simple pictures added this region to my “must-see” list.
This experience reinforced within me the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words. I don’t think any verbal explanation would have persuaded me to add Northwest Arkansas to my “must-see” list as effectively and quickly as these pictures did.
Chambers and CVBs in communities throughout the nation have the “power of picture” at their fingertips – literally. With Instagram, these organizations can take photos of their communities and utilize Instagram’s filters to enhance the beauty of the image and give it a professional look. As I’ve begun to follow more chambers on Instagram, I’ve been amazed by the stunning vistas found all throughout the country. Commerce and tourism can increase as chambers and CVBs use pictures to tell the stories of their communities.
Three tips for organizations new to Instagram:
1. Take one picture a week. Don’t become overwhelmed by adding another social media tool to your arsenal. Start out by taking just one picture a week. It could be a picture of a beautiful sunset or a picture of a delicious looking meal at one of your town’s popular restaurants.
2. Follow other chambers and CVBs on Instagram. Take a look at what others are posting. When you see something that impresses you, think about how you could mimic that image in your own community.
3. Tell the story of your community. Don’t use Instagram to promote your organization; use Instagram to promote your community. A strong community is the greatest asset to a chamber or CVB. And doing so will allow you to attract more followers.
