Totally Social - Instagram Alert

The social world is moving at the speed of light, well maybe not that quickly, but pretty fast. With constant updates, new apps and ideas, it can be hard to keep up. You may be on Facebook & Twitter, how about the fastest growing social platform? Allow us to inform and guide you ...

We are well and truly in the age of the ‘Hashtag’ – with the ‘Selfie’ making its way into the Oxford dictionary there’s no going back now. It’s common practice to snap and share a picture of your delicious meal with a filter that brings out the colours, before you even eat it.

While Instagram is bombarded with pictures of #instafood #tbt and countless celebrities, the craze reaches out to a mass audience of over 130 million users, but have you ever thought about the business benefits?

Released in 2012 Instagram is THE online photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a variety of social networking services.

Think of all the things your business does from day to day? Think of all your products. Not to say that it is suited to every profession, after all, we aren’t expecting or requesting to see Doctor’s posting snaps mid surgery, despite how pretty the filters may be, however if you are well adverse in the realm of social media, Instagram is a platform that amplifies brand awareness, promotional and fun content.

 Since its conception several internationally renowned brands have taken to Instagram to promote their business and products.

“UK brands that have used Instagram include Burberry, which has posted live pictures of its fashion shows including London Fashion Week. The fashion retailer has grown its Instagram following organically to over one million. Red Bull has documented a cliff-diving competition in Wales through Instagram. And Jaguar has published a series of short films as part of an Instagram video campaign to promote its F-Type Coupe launch” –The Guardian

In January 2011 Instagram added the ‘#hashtag’ making the user search experience far more specific. Shortly after the beginning of 2012, Instagram was made available to Android phones, and more recently for Windows as well.

With the added benefit of Video, Instagram has become a useful platform for promotional campaigns for several companies. Now recognised as one of the fastest growing social networks, a variety of brands have jumped on the bandwagon. From ‘Nike’ to ‘Victoria Beckham’ there are different ways to utilise this tool to your advantage.

Why not give it a try? Build your social profile and brand awareness – the possibilities are endless.