media update's Talisa Jansen van Rensburg is going to take you on an Instagram adventure to ensure that you will never leave Instagram on the sidelines again.
Instagram is one of those social media platforms that a lot of companies overlook. When people talk about important social media platforms, you will always hear about LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. So, why do we think 'youth' when we talk Instagram?
Let's go back a little ... In February 2004, Facebook was launched, and almost every person created an account. However, in 2010, the youth moved over to Instagram because they felt that they couldn't post without their grandparents responding.
However, Instagram does not solely cater to the youngsters and grandparents (
not that companies are particularly worried about their grandparents). It can be a great platform for brands and businesses alike, as it allows them to showcase a bit more of their 'creative' side.
Need a bit more convincing? Here are four reasons why Instagram is not just for the youth:
1. Instagram is all visual — that's why it sells
It doesn't matter what age you are, admit it: we all love looking at something beautiful or entertaining. Therefore, more and more companies are creating Instagram accounts to showcase their products and services in a visual manner.
And the proof really
is in the pudding. Take
@bulletproof and
@etsy, for instance. These companies don't focus on the youth, and they are busy
slaying it on the 'gram.
Bulletproof has accumulated a large following on Instagram —- 308 000 followers to be exact.
"Bulletproof has three main elements that make its feed so effective — simple images, a minimalistic but striking color scheme and uniform quote tiles to break up its feed," says
Emma Noris who writes for Canva.
Etsy is a hit on Instagram because it "curates its feed by using images with mostly neutral colours as the background; it has an overall eclectic aesthetic with lots of natural light throughout the feed," says
Kira Hyde, founder of KH a brand strategy and design studio.
2. Instagram has over a billion active users every month
That's right! Instagram has
over a billion active users on the platform each month. This means that if you want to reach your specific target audience, you will definitely find them somewhere on Instagram.
Although a large amount of the users are 'youths', 34% of adults use Instagram according to
Statista.
By making use of hashtags and relevant keywords, you will start building up a following of the customers that you
want to sell to.
3. Instagram is the place to show off your fun side
Your customers want to see what's going on inside the company, and they
love being updated. And that's why Instagram is the perfect platform to show them what’s happening.
You can show your audience visuals of Monday meetings, and mention that the team is hard at work creating the best products and services – just for them!
However, it's important to remember that even though Instagram still allows you to be a professional, you need to let your fun side shine through!
So the next time your company is doing a 'quirky' or 'fun' team-building exercise, why not showcase it on Instagram? Take a few goofy photos or Boomerangs and show your audience that you know how to work
and play.
4. If you want to be part of something, you need to take part
Your target market might be over their 'teen' phase, but they'll still enjoy the trends taking place — such as #WellnessWednesdays or #FeelGoodFridays.
Make use of the trends and get onboard to ensure that you engage with your followers on Instagram. Most people making use of Instagram wouldn't necessarily go search for your business, therefore, you need to post content to show up in their feed.
You can do a post about Green Tea and explain the benefits of drinking it on a Wednesday and end it with a relevant hashtag such as #WellnessWednesdays.
Do you think that Instagram should be a part of every brand's social media strategy? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments section below.
*Image courtesy of Pexels