When it comes to marketing your business or organization on social media, many people think that only means “Facebook” and “Twitter.”
While these two social media giants are important, there are several other platforms that you shouldn’t overlook. Instagram is one of those.
If you’re not familiar with Instagram, it’s a social media site that allows users to share videos and photos. There are “filters” that you can apply to your images and videos that can help them stand out and make them more memorable.
For example, Adidas shoes posted a video of a new “retro” shoe that people used to wear in the 1980s. They added a VHS filter to their video which triggered waves of nostalgia in the brains of those of us old enough to remember both VHS and Adidas shoes.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore the top five reasons why marketing your business or organization on Instagram in 2019 is the smart thing to do.
Instagram Audience Growth
According to internet statistics website
Statista.com, Instagram had around 1 billion monthly users in June of 2018. That’s a vast pool of potential customers and clients who are eager for videos and photos to entertain and educate.
If you click on the link above, you will see a chart that shows strong year-over-year Instagram user growth. It’s safe to assume that the trend will only continue throughout 2019. If your business or organization isn’t on Instagram already, this statistic alone should cause you to consider adding a new marketing channel to your stack.
Live Video
People love watching live video. Instagram offers a robust set of tools, filters, and other means of creating professional-looking videos without having to spend a fortune on expensive video equipment. Nowadays, a relatively new smartphone is all that’s needed to produce an internet-worthy video.
Businesses can take advantage of live video in a wide variety of ways. For example, if you’re a plumber, you can do a live video that shows how to unclog a kitchen sink or other easy home repair.
You can also do a live Q&A -- with your audience being able to type questions into the box in real time. The possibilities to market your business or organization with live video are endless.
Analytics (Instagram Insights)
In 2012, Facebook purchased Instagram for 1 billion dollars. This was a massive vote of confidence because it showed that Facebook thought that the future of social media was in user-posted pictures and videos.
Instagram users have access to the same powerful analytics technology that Facebook users do. All you need to do to get started is to create a free business profile on Instagram. You can then log into Instagram Insights which will give you a wealth of user data at your fingertips and allow you to make intelligent marketing decisions.
Facebook Ad Technology
The benefits conveyed by Facebook’s purchase of Instagram don’t stop at their robust analytics platform. Users can also take advantage of the powerful Canvas ad format included in Instagram Stories.
The full-screen ads load seamlessly and give marketers a wealth of tools and information which helps streamline the advertising process.
Simply put, it will help marketers leverage their content across every single Facebook-owned property. This, in turn, allows them to get their messages out to a much wider audience than Instagram alone.
Shoppable Posts
eCommerce brands can now link out to their products on Stories and in posts. Around 72% of Instagram users have reported that they’ve purchased a post they saw.
You don’t have to be a fully-fledged eCommerce site to take advantage of this. It’s simple to get a WordPress website and
shopping cart up and running, and you can sell (or upsell) services as well as physical products.
Marketing Success
Marketing your business or organization on Instagram is no longer a form of guerilla marketing. Instagram saw the potential of their social media channel and have included many tools such as business profiles, robust analytics, and wide-reaching paid advertising options.
This will help companies reach new customers, find new fans, and more effectively promote their brand through this behemoth of a social media channel.
Social Media Marketing in Raleigh
If your business or organization hasn’t yet taken advantage of
social media marketing, or you’re finding that your efforts are falling flat, give AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh a call. We’re not only printing experts, but we also specialize in marketing as well.
Our knowledgeable staff can help you figure out why your social media campaigns aren’t performing as well as they should, or get you started on the road to developing a huge online fan base that will drive new views, sales, and conversions.
To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh can produce and design your next project, you may
email us or
request a quote or call us at
(919) 832-2828.