This is unbelievable. It appears that there are currently 200 million Instagram users. This is bonkers!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know that it is a social media networking platform that allows users to take pictures and videos, and share them on other sites. Actors, athletes, musicians, bloggers, politicians, and ordinary folks; these are the people who are perusing the feed, and using the platform to connect with people around the world.
Because of this huge market, most businesses (both big and small) are joining the bandwagon. All companies have the same goal: to build a brand personality. Do you own a business? Do you want to make it big? If your answer is yes, then you should consider registering an account. Because, it’d be really silly of you to not leverage it.
“Whether you’re looking to drive online sales or get people to come into your store or visit your city, Instagram offers a great way to give a sneak peek of new products, go behind the scenes and offer inspiration that fits the ‘brand’s’ aesthetic.” — Brooke Neal of FSC Interactive, an online marketing agency based in New Orleans.
According to Forbes, Instagram generates an average of 1.6 billion likes a day. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to realise that it is one of the most popular and youngest social media platforms. If you’d like to get more traction, consider using popular tags such as #instagood, #tagsforlikes, and #photooftheday. However, be careful not to overstuff them as too many hashtags can be a huge turn-off.
Also, work on your photography skills! After all, everyone loves a well-taken picture. If you’re still feeling lost, get a load of these top-branded companies who have grasped the use of Instagram.
Nike, Inc.
To quote from the official website, Nike is “the world’s leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories.” Founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1964, the company was originally named Blue Ribbon Sports during its infancy stage. It then became Nike in 1971. The top brand is widely known for its fashionable comfort and the “Just Do it” logo.
No. of followers: 4 million
Why it’s working: Nike is one of the top shoe brands in the world and often seen on famous (and influential) athletes. Plus, this is one of the best sports photography Instagram accounts around. If you love Nike, you’ll love this.
Starbucks
Starbucks is an American global coffee company based in Seattle, Washington. According to Business Insider, the average Starbucks customer visits the store 6 times per month, while loyal 20% of customers go to the stores 16 times per month. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world.
No. of followers: 2 million
Why it’s working: Starbucks encourage customers to tag their coffee photos with #starbucks. If they like what they see, they repost it. This exchange publicity is a win-win. Take illustrator Kristina Webb, for instance. When she posted her Starbucks cup artwork on Instagram, it spawned many likes and prompted her followers to tag the global coffee company. And I bet she got many new followers during that period, too.
Also read: We took a look at 3 celebrity Instagram accounts, and this is what we found
BMW
BMW is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. The company has a proven track record, making it one of the most reliable and quality assured car brand in the history.
No. of followers: 1 million
Why it’s working: Just like Starbucks, the BMW Instagram team takes pride in using hashtags (#BMW, #SheerDrivingPleasure). Since it’s one of the best-selling luxury automakers in the world, it’s really not a bombshell that it has 1 million followers. Who doesn’t like cars? Even an iconic character like James Bond is a fan of it.
Free People
Founded in 1984, Free People is a popular clothing brand featuring state-of-the-art trends and vintage collections for women. There’s a high demand in the vintage fashion market, so it’s no surprise that Free People has over 1 million Instagram followers. Their gorgeous feed is an awareness of the beauty of everyday.
No. of followers: 1 million
Why it’s working: Beautiful photography. It’s about the best things in life, and let’s be serious here for one moment. Who here thinks fashion, art, music, and travel are frivolous?
Vogue Magazine
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine. It is widely considered as “the world’s most influential fashion magazine”. The magazine is the brain child of Arthur Baldwin Turnure. Vogue was born in 1892 and it has never looked back since.
No. of followers: 1 million
Why it’s working: Queen Bee Beyoncé, Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, English model Cara Delevingne. These stunning ladies have been on the cover of Vogue several times. An Instagram account packed with social media giants? Hardcore fans do not want to miss on the good stuff. This exposure will unquestionably market Vogue’s business.
And it looks like the number of followers is likely to increase; it’s been recently reported that buyers can now shop on Vogue’s Instagram feed!
Also read: 10 Totally #Instagram-worthy Photo Spots in Singapore