Instagram is making explosive moves in the world of social media – and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Millions of users are joining the platform each year as the popularity of connecting with people sharing their lives and stories in an array of colourful filter lead images and live videos is a huge hit.
From a business perspective Instagram is going to be massive in 2017 and it really shouldn’t be ignored. Owned by Facebook, Instagram will be doing all it can to develop itself as the market leader by increasing users and showcasing its technology.
Instagram’s core audience is aged between 18-35 and it clocks up 3.5 billion likes every day while on average 80 million photos are shared.
With the right strategy Instagram is a marketeers’ paradise. Almost 50% of brands are on Instagram and in 2017 that is expected to rise to around 70% which is pretty staggering. What is most interesting is that engagement with brands on Instagram is ten times higher than on Facebook.
If your business is already on Instagram you might be thinking “what can I do more of in order to engage with my followers and attract new users?” Well, below are a few reasons why Instagram could be right for your business.
Visual content
Today’s social media community is all about the visual content. When users scroll through their feeds they instantly connect with images and video which catch their attention. You can’t get that interaction with a text post, and its why Instagram will continue to grow at a rapid rate and at some point may well overtake Facebook as the go to social platform.
It looks great
Another reason that Instagram is leading the way is that it looks beautiful and is uncomplicated. While other networks like Facebook and Twitter allow some companies to spam links inside their posts, Instagram users can enjoy a clean look and feel without the need for the constant harassment of unwanted links. The only link that you should have on Instagram is the one which sits inside your bio.
Instagram shopping
While we’re on the subject of links, it may soon be possible for users to click on an image and be taken direct to a product page where they can make a purchase. According to Instagram, “each post will have a tap to view icon at the bottom left of a photo. When tapped, a tag will appear on various products in the post—showcasing up to five products and their prices. Once a tag is selected a new detailed view of the product will open.” This in itself is a reason to get very excited!
The rise of stories
Snapchat has been and still is (just about) the leader when it comes to stories, giving users the chance to post about their experiences while adding in an array of colourful stickers. At the back end of 2016 Instagram launched their own version of stories which would last for 24 hours before disappearing. These stories gave company brands another way to influence the buying decisions of their followers, and that, for any eCommerce business is very important.
Developing for the future
At this point Instagram can only be used on mobile and tablets. You can login to Instagram via a desktop but the experience is extremely basic. By keeping the platform mobile it means users are always reacting to events which happen in real time, adding to the interactive experience. Technology will continue to develop and blend in with society which is why if you’re not on Instagram then these reasons above should be enough to convince you that you should be!
If you want to learn more about Instagram or need help with a digital marketing strategy then contact the team at J&PR today.
