I first starting using Instagram, the insanely popular photo app, because I wanted my pictures to look cool. Instagram provides you with over a dozen filters to choose from to give your photos an awesome, vintage glow. Instantly, you become a talented photographer.
Eventually, the filters can get a little tired, but the way you can connect with friends, colleagues and random celebrities by sharing moments throughout your day never loses its magic. When you take a picture and apply the perfect style, it immediately uploads to a stream where people can “like” pics and make comments. It creates a vibrant community of amateur photographers that all have a story to tell.
Brands from Burberry to NPR have seen the power of this community and are getting involved. And you should be too. Here are a few reasons why Instagram can be a great marketing tool for your company:
1. It’s where your customers are. Instagram has over 4 million active users and growing rapidly. 10 pictures are being posted every second. If you are looking to get some quality face time with your customer, Instagram is a great place to market your brand. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, an avid Instagrammer, posts personal pictures from his daily life in addition to promoting his TV show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. With almost 24,000 followers that’s a lot of exposure at no cost.
2. Be a resource: Many companies use Twitter or Facebook to not only highlight their company, but also keep their customers up-to-date on new products or trends in the industry. Instagram is another medium for spreading news, but instead of short posts, its pictures and maybe a one-line caption. It’s a pretty handy way to share information when you are trying to speak to an audience with a very short attention span.
3. Show the behind-the-scenes: With information becoming easily accessible, the wall between a brand and customer is becoming more and more transparent. If you’re going to compete in this market, you have to show a little personality. Instagram is a great medium to show what goes on within a company that a customer might not typically see. Maybe a scene in the office, an employees pet, or like Burberry, a snapshot taken before an editorial photoshoot. By showing a more personal side, you reach the customer on a more meaningful level.
4. Tell a story: With a little bit of creativity, photos can tell a narrative that can be more compelling than words. For example, General Electric is using the app to show the company’s historical past. They capture some of the century old inventions from the original factory, using the filters to convey an aged quality. While its easy to write off GE as an impersonal corporate conglomerate, its Instagram feed portrays an innovative company steeped in a rich history.
5. Talk to your audience directly: If you can wrangle enough followers, Instagram can become a great way to communicate with customers. When you post a picture you get direct feedback through comments and you can easily respond. It’s a perfect, personal way to stay connected and keep up the conversation.
If you want to learn more about Instagram, check out this recent article from the New York Times on its growing popularity.
Click here to download the app . (Unfortunately it is only available for iPhone at the moment!)
