Instagram users are a dedicated bunch
Facebook may have the most users and engagement when it comes to social media, but Instagram is catching up. eMarketer estimates that Instagram will have more 100 million US users by 2018. In September 2014, Pew Market Research found that 53 percent of young adults from 18-29 years old were using Instagram, and roughly half of Instagram users are on the site daily.
In a recent survey of Instagram use, Yesmail found that only 23 percent of US brands have an Instagram account. This is quite low compared to other social networks, Twitter -82 percent, Facebook -80 percent, YouTube -60 percent, and Google+ -37 percent. However, Instagram is growing at a rate that marketers can’t afford to ignore.
Instagrammers love food and faraway places
According to the Yesmail survey, 31.1 percent of restaurants have an Instagram presence, followed by hotels at 30.8 percent. It makes sense that these two industries are taking advantage of Instagram.
Who doesn’t enjoy looking at pictures of delicious food and faraway places? IGers are extremely engaged in the site, as indicated by a comScore report. However, L2 Think Tank makes the point that Instagram users want quality over quantity.
How to better connect with your audience
Instagram recently released their own guide, offering information about connecting with users on their site. Building your Instagram following is not much different than using Facebook or Twitter, but it does use a different platform. You have to consider the audience that you want to reach.
While it may seem like a good idea to get more followers, having one million followers means nothing if it doesn’t convert to sales for your business. Know your goals before you get started on Instagram.
Other ways that are suggested to be successful include:
- Be real to your brand. Authenticity counts. So does creativity.
- Learn to use hashtags. You will see trends in Instagram and know what interests your own followers by watching what they use.
- Connect with your users. Find the people who are passionate about what you stand for. Don’t be afraid to comment on photos that you find inspiring.
We’ve shared ways to get more likes as well as more comments, but let this serve as a reminder that the platform is more than just picking a filter.
