Yes, Instagram has been around for a while, everyone has heard of it, and you may even have an account with photos of your cat or plates full of the finest fare. But have you considered using it as a foundation for your social media marketing and to build a visual brand for your business? According to a study by Forrester, Instagram posts generate 120 times more engagement than their social counterparts.

Think of it as telling your story through images without being tormented with ads, having to say everything in 140 characters or less, or combat new algorithms every few weeks.

As you start snapping photos, keep a few things in mind:

• Show behind the scenes, as well as products and services, to connect with followers.
• Engage people by liking their posts and following them.
• Ask questions in captions to start conversations.
• Hashtags are how people find you, so use several per image.

Lastly, create a consistent publishing schedule, so there's always fresh content on your feed, and share the fruits of your labor across all of your social media platforms. A snap and a share go a long way in social media marketing. (Manta.com)

Smartphones are everywhere and used for everything. According to the Pew Research Center, more than half of American adults have a smartphone (a number that's predicted to increase)—and, not surprisingly, this number skyrockets with younger generations. The growing dependence on these mobile wonders, coupled with an explosion of loyalty marketing apps, is great news for small businesses.

While there's nothing wrong with the old punch card, there are so many things right with a digital approach.

• Segmentation and targeting features that ensure the right offer goes to the right person based on specified behaviors or other predetermined factors.
• Push notifications designed and timed for specific audiences. (Some apps even include features that send a 'welcome' message when customers walk into your location.)
• Location tracking technology provides opportunities to ping customers when they're nearby with incentives to stop in.
• Customers' store activity can be linked to social media accounts, which benefits tracking and referral opportunities.

If you're still on the fence, think about ease of administration, and the ability to fully track purchasing behavior, identify trends and evolve your strategy in real time. Now that's smart!

Leading your business—keeping it aloft and profitable as you navigate the distance—is often a solitary responsibility. You're in the lead and only you know the direction, right? So you don't dare let anyone else guide the ship. Perhaps it's time to change course.

Human leaders might do well to take a lesson from the birds. A new study of migratory birds flying in a 'v' formation reveals that even when the going gets toughest, the birds swap the lead. The research, from an international team led by Oxford University scientists, followed 14 northern bald ibis migrating from Austria to Italy. Migration is risky, and previous research suggests up to 35 percent of juveniles can die of exhaustion during their first migration. Flying in formation, taking turns in the lead and constantly switching places conserves vital energy for the long haul.

"Our study shows that the 'building blocks' of reciprocal cooperative behavior can be very simple: Ibis often travel in pairs, with one bird leading and a 'wingman' benefiting by following in the leader's updraft," said the study's lead author, Dr. Bernhard Voelkl of Oxford University's Department of Zoology, in 2015. "We found that in these pairs, individuals take turns, precisely matching the amount of time they spend in the energy-sapping lead position and the energy-saving following position."

Being willing to let others take the lead may reduce unnecessary pressure. And while you're coasting on the efforts of your flock, you can use that energy to study the ever-shifting organizational change going on around you—and reap the benefits! (Manta.com)

You've heard it. Sitting is the new smoking. Chiropractors tell us 'text neck' is a real thing. Our wrists are adorned with smart technology that buzzes us to get up and move. Well, you can quit smoking, but in today's computer-based work world, how do you quit sitting?

Should you invest in a few treadmill desks for your office? Install stand-up work stations? Start holding walking meetings? It's worth considering say new studies that highlight the growing benefits of working out at work. And as it turns out, activity during the workday enhances mental sharpness and reduces stress.

Small budget? Try these:

• Hold a weekly walking meeting. Keep it small (two to four people), appoint a leader and use a smartphone to take notes. You might even add an incentive, like coffee at a local coffee shop.
• Bite the bullet and admit that an office ping-pong table might just be good for the body and productivity.
• Encourage office group exercise, such as workplace walking groups.

Adding movement into a sedentary day is good for the brain and good for business, and can make a big difference in your team's ability to be productive, creative and innovative. (Manta.com)

Crowded places tend to be loud, confusing and chaotic—often causing people to scurry to a more orderly area. Websites are no different. If a site is overflowing with images, colors and giant blocks of unnecessary text, it obstructs customers' views of whatever it is you really want them to pay attention to, and they end up lost in the frenzy. This creates uneasiness and stifles the desire to be there at all.

Bad design is bad functionality, and that equals lost customers. Websites should be uncluttered, easy to navigate and have a clear call to action. (Yes, less can really be more.) Good design is a well-balanced combination of images, copy and whitespace. Concise content and some breathing room between images and text create a welcoming online experience that invites action (a purchase, an email sign-up, etc.).

With just mere seconds to grab their attention, be thoughtful about your approach and make it count.

1. Limit the color scheme.
2. Use few fonts.
3. Stay away from flashing graphics.
4. Embrace whitespace.

Even if you feel your site is in decent shape, have friends or family (or even customers) take a look with a fresh lens. Is it functional? Is it intuitive? Review similar sites in your industry and take note of trends. This will inevitably reveal shortcomings and inspire tweaks, and that's okay. Whether it's a couple of changes or the catalyst for further investigation about the value of a more robust overhaul, your business will benefit. (Manta.com)