Do You Use Instagram In Your Business?

Instagram, a free online photo sharing and social networking platform has provided small business owners looking for new ways to engage and grow their prospect base through social media.

So what exactly is Instagram?

Instagram allows members to upload, edit and share photos with other members through the Instagram website, email, and social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr (recently purchased by Yahoo), Foursquare and Flickr. On Instagram, you are allowed to follow photo streams created by other users, be followed back by those same users, and find friends by name or who have connected to you on other social networks. It is as much of a social site as it is a photo sharing app (which is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play store).

Let's look at some eye opening numbers!

Okay, how popular has Instagram become since its founding in 2010? Here are 7 statistics that tell the story and likely the reason why Instagram was acquired by Facebook in 2012.

1. Instagram has 100 million monthly active users. (Instagram)
2. 40 million photos are posted per day. (Instagram)
3. 28 percent of U.S. Internet users between the ages of 18 and 29 use Instagram. (Pew)
4. 98 percent of Instagram photos posted by top brands are now shared to Facebook. (Simply Measured)
5. 59 percent of Interbrand's top 100 brands are on Instagram. (SimplyMeasured)
6. There are 8,500 likes per second on Instagram. (Instagram)
7. 1,000 comments are made per second. (Instagram)

How can your business use Instagram?

Small business is finding that connecting with their customers on a visceral level is most effective with a tool like Instagram. Knowing that what is interesting to the brand and to the core target customer are where they must be. Smart business will use Instagram as a window inside their world. By sharing, small business owners put a face on their business, and begin to enhance their relationships with customers.

Private Picassos, a children's art studio in New York City, found that by using Instagram to document their student's progress, has contributed to parents commenting and sharing the photos, increasing their business. "I don't do any paid advertising, so it's a way to encourage your client to do the marketing for you", director Valeen Parubchenko says.

As is with any other form of marketing, social media marketing is most successful when approached strategically.  This way, one doesn't fall victim to too many hours spent online with too little to show for it.  We can help with creating a  social media marketing plan that makes sense for your business and resources. For more information on the benefits of social media marketing, click here, then request your free social media evaluation to help you get started.

Wishing you much success with all your social media marketing efforts,

Birgit