Instagram was started in San Francisco by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, who initially tried creating a platform similar to Foursquare but then turned their attention exclusively to photo sharing. The word Instagram is an amalgam of “instant camera” and “telegram.”
The IOS app was released through the iTunes App Store on Oct. 6, 2010, and the Android app was released on April 3, 2012. The platform’s popularity skyrocketed, with the company reporting more than 40 million active users just two years after launch.
What is Instagram?
Instagram is a free, online photo-sharing application and social network platform that was acquired by Facebook in 2012.
It allows users to edit and upload photos and short videos through a mobile app. Users can add a caption to each of their posts and use hashtags and location-based geotags to index these posts and make them searchable by other users within the app.
Each post by a user appears on their followers’ Instagram feeds and can also be viewed by the public when tagged using hashtags. Users also have the option of making their profile private so that only their followers can view their posts.
As with other social networking platforms, Instagram users can like, comment on and bookmark others’ posts, as well as send private messages to their friends via the Instagram Direct feature. Photos can be shared on one or several other social media sites — including Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr — with a single click.
How to set up and use Instagram
The Instagram app is available for download on Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and other iOS devices through the App Store, and on Android devices through Google Play.
Once installed, users will be prompted to sign up for free and are given the option to either input their email address, which entails creating a username and password, or to log in using their Facebook account. New users can find people to follow on Instagram by having the app look through their Facebook friends and people on their contact list.
From the Home tab, the first screen that appears when the app is opened, Instagram users can view photos from accounts they follow in a format similar to that of Facebook’s newsfeed. Instagram Stories posted by users you’re following — are displayed at the top of the Home feed in the form of circular profile photos. Users can access Direct at the top right corner of their home feed.
The Explore tab of the Instagram app allows members to search for user accounts to follow or find user photos by searching hashtags or geotags. The Explore tab also presents curated content and recommendations based on the user’s activity and accounts they follow, as well as trending hashtags and popular posts.
The Activity tab displays recent engagement on posts in the form of likes and comments, and also recent activity from those the user is following.
The Profile tab presents all of the user’s photo and video posts in one place and a short bio. To post a photo or video, click the Camera tab, which will give the option of taking a photo or video from within the app or choosing a photo or video from the device’s library.
Importance of Instagram in Digital Marketing
Instagram business marketing is now one of the most important social channels, and any marketer who isn’t using it is missing out on a huge opportunity. It is primarily used by businesses that rely on the general public to sell their products and services.
You can use Instagram marketing ideas to manage the social media of a large corporation, a small business, or promote your own personal brand. In today’s digital age, branding is heavily reliant on visual media such as videos and images because they are more appealing to audiences than plain text and can elicit emotions that lead to actions.
According to one study, using Instagram for marketing increases the likelihood of interaction with comments and likes by about 40% compared to text-only posts.
1. Increased Engagement with Photos & Content
When it comes to increasing engagement on Instagram, having interesting posts is critical. This is because people will follow a page with interesting educational or entertaining content. An Instagram post must catch and captivate people scrolling through their news feeds while also giving them an incentive to follow, whether it is an interesting article or a detailed info-graphic.
2. The Role of Hashtags [#]
Properly utilizing hashtags is highly beneficial to your page, as hashtags will help you increase your exposure and your engagement. This is because your posts will appear more frequently on the Instagram explore page, but the selective and proper use of hashtags will increase the reach of your posts.
Furthermore, each hashtag should be relevant to the given post as well as your company. If you want to attract users interested in your business, your hashtags should be related to your niche and industry. So, please don’t underestimate the power of hashtags because they will help you grow organically!
3. Digital Marketing is Easy with Instagram
Instagram is clearly no longer just for personal use. It is now a global platform where brands can humanize their content, recruit new talent, showcase their products, and inspire their audience. It can also assist you in increasing brand awareness and introducing new products. 130 million Instagram users interact with shopping content each month.
It enables you to promote your brand and product in a friendly, authentic manner, without hard-selling to your customers. This is the importance of Instagram in digital marketing, making it a go-to platform for many businesses.
4. The storytelling concepts
People enjoy hearing stories. We grew up with fairy tales and happily ever after, we become engrossed in the twists and turns of celebrity news, and we are drawn to people who have a natural gift for recounting dramatic or humorous events.
Storytelling is simply a part of the human condition. And, from a business standpoint, telling an engaging story is an excellent way to establish an emotional connection with your audience. This is the most basic hack to improve your follower count.
5. Get detailed Insights & Feedback.
As a savvy marketer, you most likely already monitor social media conversations about your brand and products. You keep track of where your name has been mentioned on forums, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. But do you know what people on Instagram are saying about your brand?
Whether or not your brand is present on the platform, people will use it to discuss your products and services, just as they do on other social media platforms. They’re already posting photos of products they’ve purchased from you, making videos, and commenting on each other’s content about your brand.
Why is Instagram a must in Digital Marketing?
Simply because you have a free platform that helps you communicate with your audience with constant engagement. You can measure your performance with Instagram Business Insights. Also, it is easier to boost the engagement rate with hashtags. So, collectively, it is straightforward to learn and execute. What you need is a zest to make it work.
It can help you gain a more extensive reach quickly and without much investment. So, understand the importance of Instagram in digital marketing to the fullest and utilize its potential.
