Once upon a time, Instagram was a popular online hangout for photo-sharing friends. But, as with virtually all other high-traffic destinations, sooner or later marketers will ease their foot through the door. True to form, brand markers have marched boldly through the Instagram doorway. And thanks to a warm reception from audiences worldwide, they’re claiming miles of digital territory as they post generous amounts of product-specific photos and the occasional video.
Only a ‘small’ group of pioneering brands were supposed to be part of the first wave of photo-sharers. But based on the number of participating companies, the word small apparently has been given a very liberal definition.
Fortunately for marketers, the incursion of brands definitely is paying off in a big way. Here are some key results of their foray into photo land:
- Photos equal followers. And the more of the former, the more of the latter. Among the top brand marketers, 57% post one photo a week. Over a third of this group has reeled in 10,000 followers, and 19% have in excess of 100,000 of these loyal Instagrammers.
- Automotive brands are among the most successful Instagram participants – particularly the luxury variety. The latest stats reveal that Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi score particularly high on the consumer engagement scale. Overall, brand engagement in general has soared by 350% in one year.
- Videos are taking a back seat to photos, with pics pulling in considerably more likes and comments than vids. As it stands now, photos do a 26% better job of engaging viewers than videos. Oh well, there’s always YouTube.
If you have any questions or comments about using Instagram to promote your brand, or about any brand-related topic, feel free to send them our way. You can connect with the Young Company team at 949-376-8404 #4033 or bart@youngcompany.com. And be sure to follow us for the latest brand marketing news and tips.