Instagram reels for your business, whats the point?
Discussion
As some of you may know i do paving and landscaping. I make a living, always got work really, generally all local recommendation.
I do use facebook to post my work on and it gets a good response, i don't get work through it as such (i have picked up the odd one) i use it more as an easily updatable website that almost every prospective customer can use, all the pictures comments and likes give them a bit more confidence to use me.
I get all that.
However, what i have noticed is that quite a lot of landscaping companies are using instagram to showcase not only their work but showcase random levels of skill.
These videos are put out with popular music, often featuring swearing and the n word. The videos can be time lapse or just short videos that sometimes dont really show anything.
A few of these people have significant followers, a couple have over 100k and a fair few in the tens of thousands.
What are they trying to achieve? it wont be getting new work surely? mr and mrs smith down at number 56 generally aren't even on instagram and even if they were then they wont like the fact you've got some rap music playing over you video
I did notice one of them the other day advertising for gousto.
Is the end game here to get a load of followers then be approached by bigger companies and be paid to advertise to you followers.
Excuse me for not getting it, im clearly a bit behind the times
I have started making some myself which already are getting an excellent response, i actually enjoy making them tbh, some nice clips, music i like, they look cool imo.
I don't know how to link to it but my user name is williams_paving_ltd (theres no swearing on my videos! )
So whats the point?
I do use facebook to post my work on and it gets a good response, i don't get work through it as such (i have picked up the odd one) i use it more as an easily updatable website that almost every prospective customer can use, all the pictures comments and likes give them a bit more confidence to use me.
I get all that.
However, what i have noticed is that quite a lot of landscaping companies are using instagram to showcase not only their work but showcase random levels of skill.
These videos are put out with popular music, often featuring swearing and the n word. The videos can be time lapse or just short videos that sometimes dont really show anything.
A few of these people have significant followers, a couple have over 100k and a fair few in the tens of thousands.
What are they trying to achieve? it wont be getting new work surely? mr and mrs smith down at number 56 generally aren't even on instagram and even if they were then they wont like the fact you've got some rap music playing over you video
I did notice one of them the other day advertising for gousto.
Is the end game here to get a load of followers then be approached by bigger companies and be paid to advertise to you followers.
Excuse me for not getting it, im clearly a bit behind the times
I have started making some myself which already are getting an excellent response, i actually enjoy making them tbh, some nice clips, music i like, they look cool imo.
I don't know how to link to it but my user name is williams_paving_ltd (theres no swearing on my videos! )
So whats the point?
Edited by m3jappa on Friday 2nd September 07:28
A friend of mine earns £60Kpa making short DIY videos for YouTube (by having many subscribers). But he's not a DIY company, he's a video company.
I think the chap you mention may be trying to move from making a living doing what he's good at to being an 'internet star', a bit like that bloke at Bamford Rose.
I think the chap you mention may be trying to move from making a living doing what he's good at to being an 'internet star', a bit like that bloke at Bamford Rose.
Could be trying to build a base to add revenue from advertising.
Also, I notice for a lot of the woodworking stuff I used to watch on Youtube, they almost all get lots of free tools/paid adverts etc,
Then after saying how great they were etc, they use them for one or two videos and then sell them on or do a giveaway etc to encourage more subscribers.
Also, I notice for a lot of the woodworking stuff I used to watch on Youtube, they almost all get lots of free tools/paid adverts etc,
Then after saying how great they were etc, they use them for one or two videos and then sell them on or do a giveaway etc to encourage more subscribers.
It’s very variable depending on industry from what little I know.
My physio can track an instagram like, through them becoming a new follower, then more likes, an enquiry or comment and finally a paying customer. He definitely benefits hugely from using it. He posts daily.
We have a villa we rent out - I’m on instagram for that, plus I’ve made a website, but the villa is actually let by managers (with links all over my website to their booking page) so tracking from my instagram through to cold hard cash is impossible, but I do get website clicks although it’s not at as high a level as via google maps. Do I actually get anybody clicking thru from instagram all the way via my website to the managers site to actual booking? Doubtful, but it’s good fun and I get to learn more about the area, restaurants etc. I’ve had 3000+ views of reels but did any viewers actually go any further with me than that? Dunno.
I follow sk tiling - they do very cool instagram large format tiling videos etc and I did see a comment enquiring about availability - they’re solidly booked for 12 months IIRC. Is that specifically from social media? Dunno.
Swearing on background tracks would put me off 100%.
I think if you can do it yourself then do it, but I’m not sure paying someone to do ‘content’ will work for every business.
My physio can track an instagram like, through them becoming a new follower, then more likes, an enquiry or comment and finally a paying customer. He definitely benefits hugely from using it. He posts daily.
We have a villa we rent out - I’m on instagram for that, plus I’ve made a website, but the villa is actually let by managers (with links all over my website to their booking page) so tracking from my instagram through to cold hard cash is impossible, but I do get website clicks although it’s not at as high a level as via google maps. Do I actually get anybody clicking thru from instagram all the way via my website to the managers site to actual booking? Doubtful, but it’s good fun and I get to learn more about the area, restaurants etc. I’ve had 3000+ views of reels but did any viewers actually go any further with me than that? Dunno.
I follow sk tiling - they do very cool instagram large format tiling videos etc and I did see a comment enquiring about availability - they’re solidly booked for 12 months IIRC. Is that specifically from social media? Dunno.
Swearing on background tracks would put me off 100%.
I think if you can do it yourself then do it, but I’m not sure paying someone to do ‘content’ will work for every business.
DSLiverpool!We use instagram as a small groundwork’s company, doesn’t seem to generate any business, but it’s a useful way for customers both prospective and existing to see what they require, so we use it as portfolio if anything. I think a lot companies in our sector use it as vanity thing - look at our kit and what we have etc.
Edited by C722 on Friday 2nd September 21:22
Thanks for the insights.
I will just plod along making these videos myself, please have a look and tell me what you think williams_paving_ltd.......
I'm not expecting to get any money or even get any work and you know what i think i might agree it is a bit of a vanity thing, who doesn't like being praised for their work?
I do agree as well that a load of free tools wouldn't go amiss, in fact anything free is good
I will also say that seeing some of these other guys pushes me to improve, pushes me to think a bit more, its not all about earning money, i actually enjoy what i do (as long as its not f
king freezing ) The biggest critics aren't customers its other tradesman so if other tradesman like what your doing then thats good.
As i say, facebook is much more serious, more likely to generate work, instagram seems to be a willy waving exercise with a chance of maybe earning something from the videos.
I am very very careful to not include swearing and especially the n word, i can imagine that suddenly not going down that well.
I will just plod along making these videos myself, please have a look and tell me what you think williams_paving_ltd.......
I'm not expecting to get any money or even get any work and you know what i think i might agree it is a bit of a vanity thing, who doesn't like being praised for their work?
I do agree as well that a load of free tools wouldn't go amiss, in fact anything free is good
I will also say that seeing some of these other guys pushes me to improve, pushes me to think a bit more, its not all about earning money, i actually enjoy what i do (as long as its not f
king freezing ) The biggest critics aren't customers its other tradesman so if other tradesman like what your doing then thats good.As i say, facebook is much more serious, more likely to generate work, instagram seems to be a willy waving exercise with a chance of maybe earning something from the videos.
I am very very careful to not include swearing and especially the n word, i can imagine that suddenly not going down that well.
The rise of the £500 a month content creators are why you’re seeing it in your sector. If you were remotely associated to the beauty industry you’d be drowning in them wanting to “transform” your business.
I like your approach of using FB as a website - makes perfect sense. Why not professionally set up your FB page to have sections / skill sets / blogs etc.
If you do this don’t get over excited with the “boost” button, it rarely brings in enquiries you wouldn’t have got anyway.
I like your approach of using FB as a website - makes perfect sense. Why not professionally set up your FB page to have sections / skill sets / blogs etc.
If you do this don’t get over excited with the “boost” button, it rarely brings in enquiries you wouldn’t have got anyway.
m3jappa said:
I have started making some myself which already are getting an excellent response
I don't have the know-how nor the time to give it a proper go, but I do try with Facebook, Insta and Twitter. I find with the more popular platforms, your industry mates can jump in on the comments. I don't mind as long as long as they're not in trade talk. Its good to get approval and recognition from others in the industry but I'm aiming to keep the existing followers current with what I'm up to, and to also showcase for any passing trade as it were. I'd really like to do some videos too, but it's getting the time to do it.
Glassman, i followed you back 
Honestly they are so easy to make. I just take little video clips here and there, or have also been setting up a time lapse. takes seconds to do.
Then go into the reels bit, add your clips, cut them down, add a transition, choose music and done. I could make one in under 5 minutes.
If thats what 'content creators' are doing for a few hundred a month i should start doing that as its bloody easy
Mine seem to be getting a good few thousand views now, i have noticed all the likes are done fairly quickly and then stop so i am guessing its where the post goes into that search page bit.
I have had no hate yet so cant be too bad
Honestly they are so easy to make. I just take little video clips here and there, or have also been setting up a time lapse. takes seconds to do.
Then go into the reels bit, add your clips, cut them down, add a transition, choose music and done. I could make one in under 5 minutes.
If thats what 'content creators' are doing for a few hundred a month i should start doing that as its bloody easy
Mine seem to be getting a good few thousand views now, i have noticed all the likes are done fairly quickly and then stop so i am guessing its where the post goes into that search page bit.
I have had no hate yet so cant be too bad
OP, I’m confused aswell.
You say you don’t see the point of these Instagram videos but are making them yourself, why? Genuine question.
Personally I think it may increase business by a small percentage, but your potential customers have to both want new paving and have Instagram.
I’m in the market for new paving but don’t have Instagram, so it wouldn’t influence me. Nor would Facebook or other socials.
Do you add them to you website as a blog? That’s where I would look.
You say you don’t see the point of these Instagram videos but are making them yourself, why? Genuine question.
Personally I think it may increase business by a small percentage, but your potential customers have to both want new paving and have Instagram.
I’m in the market for new paving but don’t have Instagram, so it wouldn’t influence me. Nor would Facebook or other socials.
Do you add them to you website as a blog? That’s where I would look.
Ham_and_Jam said:
OP, I’m confused aswell.
You say you don’t see the point of these Instagram videos but are making them yourself, why? Genuine question.
Personally I think it may increase business by a small percentage, but your potential customers have to both want new paving and have Instagram.
I’m in the market for new paving but don’t have Instagram, so it wouldn’t influence me. Nor would Facebook or other socials.
Do you add them to you website as a blog? That’s where I would look.
Im only really making them as i actually enjoy making them and tbh i quite like all the 'likes' and comments You say you don’t see the point of these Instagram videos but are making them yourself, why? Genuine question.
Personally I think it may increase business by a small percentage, but your potential customers have to both want new paving and have Instagram.
I’m in the market for new paving but don’t have Instagram, so it wouldn’t influence me. Nor would Facebook or other socials.
Do you add them to you website as a blog? That’s where I would look.
I am not sure what if anything it will achieve. I don't think i will get any work through it, luckily right now and for some time i haven't needed it.I don't do a lot with my website anymore, i am unable to update it myself, hence the use of facebook. Tbh 99% of work is word of mouth, i use facebook as an album to direct potential customers to as i believe they can access it without being a member.
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