It’s funny, if I were to peg any social media platform as being beneficial for businesses, Instagram would certainly be a top contender. Visuals can enhance a message to a great extent. Adoption of this platform may be halted due to the overwhelming number of platforms that already cluster company’s digital portfolios. It may also be due to the fact that there are definitely some downsides to the platform such as the inability to share posts and restrictions as to how many comments one can see. This hasn’t stopped some of the world’s largest brands from joining the instagram frenzy however, as household names such as Nike, Starbucks and Apple all utilize the platform to propel their brand. They acknowledge the numerous benefits the app has to businesses such as:
1. Videos: In a modern world of constant visual stimuli, text can often go unnoticed by consumers. Instagram not only gives the ability to post photos, but also allows brands to post videos. Some brands have been known to use this to show consumers how their product is made. Alternatively, it can be a great tool to remedy bad press by releasing short statements or to announce a new product.
2. Hashtags are actually useful!: Unlike other social media platforms such as twitter where hashtags can overwhelm a consumer, Instagram statistics have shown that multiple hashtags actually increase the amount of likes a post will get. This is largely due to the explore function on Instagram.
3. Connectivity: Instagram connects with most other platforms, and very easily I might add. When posting all you need to do is tap the Facebook or Twitter icon and instantly your post is now shared across all platforms. This can be especially useful for small business owners who may not have the time to constantly be updating and monitoring their social media accounts.
4. 24/7: Instagram users are on the app all the time. It is easy to browse on the bus or waiting in line and therefore consumers are constantly liking, viewing and commenting on posts. This offers great versatility to businesses as it means they don’t need to follow the traditionally strict social media timing that other platforms seem to follow.
Well there you have it, I’d say the Pros outweigh the Cons on this one. Instagram can be a great tool to really enhance a brand’s image!
Sources Used: http://bit.ly/1h863Z6
