Home Stagers On Instagram

When I first began my home staging business the only route to self promote was with traditional marketing. From mailers to paid ads in the local paper. I remember reviewing my finances at the end of that year and shocked how much I actually spent in advertising. By the way, the ROI was not great, maybe a handful of leads. It wasn’t until a few years later I knew I had to change it up and discovered the power for Home Stagers on Instagram. 

Home Stagers On Instagram

I started with what I knew, Facebook. I created a business page and began sharing projects, finished projects with their listing information for potential buyers and every once in a while a few tips for homeowners or stagers.

I saw some traction but it wasn’t until I created an Instagram account that things changed. Within a couple of years, almost 80% of my “cold call” clients were from Instagram. That is when I knew I needed to spend some time and energy growing my Instagram account and creating a social media brand. I wanted to be one of the leading Home Stagers On Instagram It didn’t happen overnight and it is still a lot of work, but the results are well worth it.

First, many suggest having your Instagram account be your name. I think this is fine if your company is your business name. However, I already had a blog, Home with Keki, and I knew I wanted to eventually create a brand with my alter ego, Keki. It was the direction I knew I was heading. (A lot of people ask me why Home with Keki and your biz page is Cecilia Cannon Staging & Interiors, well, that is a long story for another time. 😉 )

How to Set Up Your Instagram Handle / Name

Okay, so the way I suggest to set up your account as a Home Stagers On Instagram starts with your handle. I believe your handle needs to be your business name and then use your location under your photo, versus your business name again. Instagram is becoming an archival dialogue, like a search engine. People who don’t know you and are googling stagers in their area will not google your name. They most likely will google “home stagers Chicago,” right? So, when it comes to Instagram searches, the likelihood of your name getting searched is unlikely in the beginning. That is until you grow and people search your name all the time 😉

Here is a great example of Home Stagers On Instagram doing it right.

This is exactly how my Instagram account was first set up. As I grew, I changed what was under my photo to my name.

What To Post On The Feed

No two home stagers are alike. Different styles and vibes. I learned that the potential clients that call me via Instagram connected with my feel and style and that 100 % of the time become clients you enjoy working with. You already connected because you gave a good representation of who you are, not only as a stager but as a person.

I want people to see that my feed is organized. That there is a specific color scheme that I relate to. I am not a hodgepodge of different styles, colors, or even add grainy dark blurry photos one day and then the next post is a beautiful crisp photo. Keep it aligned.

TIP: Choose 3-4 colors that define your style and brand. Then make sure just one of those colors is in every photo. And that all 3 colors are in every third photo.

For instance, my colors are black, brass/gold, white and a hint of blue.

And remember, your feed is your portfolio. So I make sure that I am proud of each photo that goes up. If I want to show a before and after, then I will make sure the “before” photo is second in the slide. 

How To Use Stories

So stories are a great way to connect with your followers. They love to see that there are people behind the accounts and to see the real-life. Stories are a great space to show you onsite at a staging and sharing tips. How you would stage a bookcase or even just the craziness of movers, painters, and you all onsite at the same time.

People relate to your story. To your struggles, to your life. So feel free to show you working at your desk while you share a tip on staging or real estate. Let them know you are just like them, a hard-working home stager.

Hashtags & Geotags

Use them! Every time I post I use the geotag, this is the location. I also add 5-20 hashtags. Here is a list of staging hashtags I like to use.

#homestaging #stagedhomes #homestager #houseflipper #homereno #realestate #reator #chicagorealestate #chicagointeriors #chicagostyle #chicagoluxury  #chicagohomes #chicagodesign #chicagoblogger #windycityblogger #thatsdarling #flashesofdelight #LiveColorfully #beingboss #societygal #womeninbiz #homesforsalechicago #stagingtips

Engage

Build your community and engage with other home stagers. Do not feel threatened or in competition with another home stager. Most likely, they are not even in the same area. Engaging in each other’s posts and promoting each other will only help you both WIN in this game of Instagram.

Have any more specific Instagram questions? Let me know in the comments below?

Pin For Later