Laura B
When most companies talk about social media, the “Big 3” come to mind: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. But, why is nobody paying attention to Instagram?
Instagram is the fastest growing social media platform to date. Monthly active users increased by 100 million in just nine months. While this growth comes mainly from the younger crowd, Instagram is expected to be the most used social media platform among millennials within the next five years.
You can’t afford to ignore Instagram if you want to stay relevant in the ever-changing social media world. Here are the top five reasons why you need to incorporate Instagram with your marketing platform:
1. Users spend more time on Instagram than any other social media platform. Not only is Instagram the most time consuming platform, it’s the most mobile. A study showed that 90% of Instagram use happens on mobile phones, making it more mobile than Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
As customers of every industry are spending more time on the go and doing the majority of internet searches from their mobile devices, this statistic is key. Salesforce found that only 34 percent of marketers use Instagram in their campaigns. However, of those 34 percent, 67 percent of them find Instagram to be highly effective.
2. Demand for visual content is increasing. Most consumers won’t pay attention to marketing efforts if they aren’t visually appealing. Instagram is the best tool to showcase products in a creative way and create a visual brand identity.
The good news is, most marketers are aware of Instagram’s power. Creating original visual assets is the number one area that most marketers want to learn more about.
3. Instagram can drive sales. If you think Instagram is all about selfies, think again. Posting on Instagram is a form of word-of-mouth marketing. According to a McKinsey Study, this unique marketing drives more than twice the sales of paid advertising.
Not only does it increase sales, customers who find a brand or product through Instagram have a 37 percent higher retention rate. This is because consumers think Instagram is more personal than traditional social media platforms. Posting visuals and engaging content will still drive marketing efforts without coming across as too “salesy” for the consumer.
4. Customer engagement is better on Instagram than any other platform. Yes, customers and potential customers can retweet and ask questions on Twitter, but posting a visual brings familiarity to the table. Starbucks does an excellent job of Instagram engagement with their #whereintheworld campaign.
Because of the ever growing amount of monthly active users, Instagram has more potential to engage than other platforms. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom says, “Instagram can help continue to engage generations of people that may not be on Facebook yet.”
Instagram is the biggest megaphone for the voice of the customer. Companies need to look beyond followers when it comes to choosing influencers. Influencers need to have a strong voice in the target market. The most common influencer on Instagram is bloggers.
Twenty percent of women on social media are more motivated to purchase products from influencer marketing then organic marketing. Whether it’s a partnership or a giveaway, let your most loyal and influential customers do your marketing for you.
As consumers are becoming more mobile, Instagram marketing is a proven strategy to increase revenue while engaging with customers. How will you use Instagram to boost your business?
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