Instgram has gained immense popularity since its launch in 2010. While it might have started off as a platform for sharing personal pictures, it quickly evolved into a highly effective branding tool. Some of the advantages of using Instagram that adds to business opportunities include; brand awareness and engagement, as well as boosting sales.

Below are some recent and interesting stats. for marketers to keep in mind when considering Instagram as a marketing tool:

  1. Instagram is a major channel for engaging with millennials — over 60% of 18-34 year olds are active users, and, on average, these users spend over 300 minutes per month on the platform (Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers).
  2. One survey found that 90% of brands who have an influencer strategy are partnering with influencers on Instagram (Digiday).
  3. There are roughly 600 million monthly active users on Instagram (expandedramblings).
  4. Most Instagram users are between 18-29 years old, about six-in-ten online adults (pewinternet).
  5. Instagram earns $595 million in mobile ad revenue per year, a rapidly increasing number ( Stephens Light House).
  6. Pizza is the most widely instagrammed food, directly ahead of steak and sushi (telegraph).
  7. 32% of teenagers consider Instagram to be the most important social network (Pew Research).
  8. Female internet users are more likely to use Instagram than men, at 38% vs. 26% (Pew Research).

Below are some Instagram marketing tactics to help guide your approach to driving sales via this channel.

What to Post

  1. Post only high-quality photos and videos.
  2. Focus on high-contrast or colorful images that are artfully framed and visually appealing.
  3. Sharing helpful tips or encouragement is always a bonus.
  4. Be sure to stay on target with your focus and provide value to your followers. Quality always trumps quantity.

When to Post

  1. Start by posting 1-2 times a day.
  2. Instagram isn’t as fast-moving as other social media like Twitter and less can be more in this instance.
  3. In general, most Instagram content lives around 3 days, but 90% of a post’s likes and comments happen in the first 13 hours.

Hashtag Strategy

  1. The general rule of thumb is to use 3 – 10 hashtags per post.
  2. Be sure to research the hashtags before using it.
  3. Be sure not to use any hashtags that represent values opposite to that of your brand.

Reach Your Audience

  1. Identify the Instagram communities that are relevant to your brand.
  2. Get an intimate understanding of what they pay attention to and how participants post.
  3. Tailor your content according to this.
  4. Always try to participate authentically in a community. They can always tell if you’re faking it, and engagement with your account will reflect that.

If you follow a few simple rules, it’s not hard to find success for your brand on Instagram. Remember these tips, always plan and always test.