Instagram – a powerhouse global tool for marketers

Instagram, the social media app that has attracted a younger, hip crowd on smartphones, is killing it! They recently announced a brand new and amazing feature, Instagram TV (IGTV), which allows users to post long form videos and is in direct competition with YouTube, Snapchat and their very own Facebook.

The new push from Instagram is an acknowledgment of the changing nature of online video viewing. IGTV will feature videos shot vertically to fill the screens of smartphones versus the landscape orientation of televisions and computer monitors. Instagram is reaching out to the celebrities and influencers of today’s digital video world — social media stars building large audiences that return for new content. Perfect for marketers!

The stats below indicate just how powerful Instagram has become and will continue to with the addition of IGTV.  Mobile revenue alone was just $2 billion in 2016 and now nearly $7 billion!

15 Instagram Facts & Stats:

1. On June 20, 2018 Instagram reached 1 billion monthly users
2. An estimated 71% of businesses use Instagram
3. 80% of users say they follow at least one business
4. At least 30% of users have purchased a product they first discovered on Instagram
5. Top brands post on average, at least 4.9 times per week
6. Over 300 million users use Instagram stories daily
7. 80% of influencers prefer Instagram for brand collaboration
8. 65% of top performing posts feature products
9. Photos with faces get 38% more “likes”
10. Photos from a person rather than a brand, have a 4.5% higher chance for conversion
11. Posts with location get 79% more engagement
12. Instagram users engage more on weekdays; Thursday having the highest engagement
13. 7 out of 10 hashtags are branded
14. Instagram posts with at least one hashtag have 12.6% more engagement than without
15. Research suggests that the optimum number of hashtags is 11

Here are a few ways you can use IGTV:

Product launch
Increase brand awareness
Educational/Instructional videos
Demonstrate company culture
Customer engagement and loyalty
Drive sales
Connect with influencers
Events
Recruiting
Fundraising

If you are on IGTV, that’s good.  If not, now is the time to add it into your social media marketing. Please contact us if your need any help, or drop me a note at [email protected]