Construction Chat  is a weekly chat on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  If you’re free, we’d love you to join us.

This week’s topic was about using Instagram to promote your contracting business.

Q1: Is your company on Instagram? What’s your handle?

A1. I have a personal one. We're not quite there yet. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A1=@darrenslaughter – That one I was able to get my full name! #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

http://twitter.com/HagerCo/status/540553009605128193

A1: We aren't on IG yet, trying to tackle one thing at a time! #constchat

— Milan Jara (@Milan_Jara) December 4, 2014

I am on IG – http://t.co/7D0hmc65N5 #ConstChat

— Burgin Construction (@BurginCo) December 4, 2014

A1. No, we are not on Instagram yet #constchat

— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) December 4, 2014

Preaching to the choir! Part of our problem is that we're a #Saas, so we don't have fun pictures of #construction sites. #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

A1: yes wer are, onpointmachining is our handle @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

Q2: How often do you post? Who posts (just you or team)?

A2. Whenever I can whip up a good pic or my daughter gives me one of her looks. 🙂 Which is often! #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

A2. We post once a day typically unless there is something special happening then more. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A2. If we launched one, I would likely own it. Plus we'd need to keep the branding consistent. #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

A2. Minimum twice a day exception is when I participated in the #5shotchallenge for #bnw images. I post. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A2: we don't post as often as we'd like to. we have one dedicated person doing our posting @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

Q3: Do you follow other companies?

A3. Absolutely! Companies and individuals both. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A3 – I follow other agencies. I follow hashtag topics…I follow people who put up good pics. Companies too. #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

A3. Companies on Instagram often have the best photos, and engagement, too. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

I follow mostlty stars, news, & Nascar #ConstChat

— Burgin Construction (@BurginCo) December 4, 2014

@WindowWorksCA Nice! Photos and videos are both key to encouraging increased levels of engagement. #constchat

— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) December 4, 2014

A3. I know I have a bad habit of following companies from both the company and my personal accounts. We're human over here – hi! #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

Q3b. Does engagement (comments) matter as much to you on IG as it does elsewhere?

A3b. Yes, engagement matters. I follow a sushi restaurant because they found my #Sushi hashtag, and we comment back & forth. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A really good one! RT @RigginsConst Good question.Q3b. Does engagement(comments)matter as much to you on IG as it does elsewhere? #constchat

— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) December 4, 2014

Q3b. Absolutely. For brand awareness, they see your name or brand vs being lumped in the stat with other likers. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A3b: I don't value engagement in one platform better than the other. @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

A3. A comment is engagement, and engagement is what makes social media "social." #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

Q4: Do you connect with those you’ve met elsewhere (Twitter, et al)?

A4. Yes, I connect with people I've met elsewhere, like on Twitter. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A4 – Great question…I find most are germane to IG. Rarely outside the platform. #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

A4. It would be a great idea to connect with ppl you meet elsewhere! #constchat

— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) December 4, 2014

A4. Yes – Just followed several architects on IG from the #ArchiTalks series I found on Twitter. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A4. Yes I do. In fact, I am going to meet a new #IG connection later at a meetup I host. Yayyy! #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A4. I meet lots of people through hashtags, esp. the crazy ones. #PeanutButterJelly #Meowmix, etc. 😀 #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A4. Cross-following is important, but companies can make it difficult. I love when they put their social front & center. #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

A4: definitely try to @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

Q5: How many hashtags do you use per post?

A5. As many as I can think of, lol! Instagram is the one place where hashtags can be over used. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A5. Personally, about a million. I hashtag until I start laughing at the ridiculosity of them. #HelloWorld #Anyonethere #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

Q5. Personally, I like to keep it relevant and then add a funny hashtag or two. Mostly because I find them fun. #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

@RigginsConst Sorry,forgot the A5! I just mentioned this, great minds! On Twitter, only 2-3/post. I imagine about the same on IG? #constchat

— Milan Jara (@Milan_Jara) December 4, 2014

@RigginsConst sorry, too excited 🙂 Q5:1-4 hashtags and relevant only #constchat

— A.H. Harris (@A_H_Harris) December 4, 2014

A5: between 3 to 7. still learning about others @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

A5. On Twitter, one or two hashtags at the most. On IG, over the top. But 30 is the limit (don't ask how I know!). #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

Q6: What’s your favorite hashtag for IG?

A6 – depends on the pic I guess??? #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

My favoraite # is #burginco & #burgin4 #ConstChat

— Burgin Construction (@BurginCo) December 4, 2014

A6. Agree with @DarrenSlaughtr depends on the photo but we use #hagercompanies and #hagerteam as standards. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A6. Every day, there are new hashtags. And I see what others are using, too. Sports ones are fun. #SFGiants #LikeThatOne #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A6. I use location-based to target users but sometimes I just go for main ones to find more peeps. I mix it. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A6. #construction, duh. Well, & when I use a hashtag that I find hilarious & a million other people used it too in the same way #ConstChat

— iSqFt® (@iSqFt) December 4, 2014

A6: just one??? hmm… #machinistlife @RigginsConst #constchat

— On-Point Machining (@OnPointMach) December 4, 2014

Q7: What’s your number 1 advice for Instagram?

Q7: Keeping it real and fun. Genuine people and situations. When reposting, give credit to source #constchat

— A.H. Harris (@A_H_Harris) December 4, 2014

A7. Make it fun. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A7. If your audience is there, use it. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A7 – easy…hashtag the crap out of each post if you are trying to get found. if you are posting for fun…slow roll your tags. #constchat

— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) December 4, 2014

A7. Instagram advice? Hashtag until you laugh out loud. It has to be fun. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

A7b. Don't use too many texts. And please not tiny texts. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

A7C. Like any SoMe platforms, make it of value to YOUR audience, not you. #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

I find photos of golf and sports are big draws within the construction industry. #constchat

— HagerCo (@HagerCo) December 4, 2014

A well-composed photo always draws my attention #constchat

— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) December 4, 2014

Bonus Tweet:

@RigginsConst Construction is sometimes a little behind the curve on these things. #constchat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) December 4, 2014

Do you have an answer you want to contribute? Feel free to add it in the comments.