Social media is hugely popular around the globe, with a total of 3.78 billion worldwide. This number is expected to grow to almost 4.5 billion in 2025, which is why you should be looking at these networks if you want to reach more people in your target audience and boost conversions.
It’s easier than ever to connect instantly with your leads, building connections with people who are likely to support your brand and business. While each social media network has their benefits for brands, there’s one that stands out— Instagram.
Instagram has been around since October 2010 and has solidified its position as one of the most popular social media networks of all time. With over 1 billion monthly active users, there’s no debating that Instagram is a highly addictive platform, and incredibly valuable to brands.
One of the reasons why Instagram has become so pivotal for brands and businesses is their wide array of content formats as well as their features that help businesses to expand their leads and drive conversions.
With content formats like Instagram stories, reels, IGTV, in-feed photos and videos, carousel posts, Instagram live, and more, the opportunities are endless.
Why Do Brands Prefer Instagram Over Other Social Media Platforms?
Here are some of the most impactful social media statistics that demonstrate just how powerful Instagram is:
- Instagram has over 1.15 billion monthly active users
- 90% of all Instagram users follow at least one business profile
- 50% of Instagram users are more interested in a brand after seeing ads on Instagram
- Over 130 million Instagram users click on shoppable posts every month
- Instagram users share about 95 million photos and videos on the platform daily
- Instagram has the power to reach 20% of the global population over 13
- Half of users surveyed by Instagram use the platform to shop weekly
- 2 in 3 people surveyed by Instagram say that the platform helps connect them with brands
- On a daily basis, 500 million users access Instagram stories
These are just some of the standout statistics that show how big Instagram is and how much influence it can have over your potential customers. It’s no surprise, then, that Instagram is set to earn an astounding $18.6 billion in ad revenue this year.
It’s clear that Instagram is the preferred platform for brands and businesses to promote their products and services. It’s incredibly easy to connect with your target audience and reach out to new leads, building a massive following of loyal customers.
Still wondering what all the fuss is about? Check out the following 6 reasons why brands prefer Instagram over other social media platforms— if you don’t already, you may begin to!
1. Mobile Usage
It’s no secret that people are spending more time on their phones these days. There are currently 6.4 billion smartphone users around the world, which may be one of the reasons why so many platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and all other social networks are mainly based on mobile usage.
Why?
According to Statista, 54.8% of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. This trend is likely to increase as it has for the most part over the course of the last 6 years.
Another report from TechCrunch shows that users spend an average of 4.2 hours on mobile apps every day on a global scale. This just further solidifies the fact that people are mainly using mobile devices to access the content and apps that they care about.
A handful of other studies has shown that people spend time on social media via mobile, proving that mobile social media use is extremely important in the current day and age.
Instagram is one of the social media platforms out there that is mainly geared towards mobile use from the start. While you can access Instagram via desktop, you cannot post from desktop, and many of the features aren’t optimized for use in a web browser.
Because Instagram is a mobile-reliant social media network, it will continue to work well with this trend of increasing mobile usage. Instagram is the second-most popular platform with a whopping 84% engagement.
It would be a shame to overlook such a smartphone-based social media platform with so many people surfing the web via mobile.
2. Brand Reach
Instagram is also a very innovative platform, consistently rolling out new features and formats for brands and businesses to take advantage of. This is another reason why brands prefer Instagram over other social media platforms— the freedom to create optimal content for better results.
You may be wondering, though: why should I care about Instagram when platforms like Facebook and YouTube have over 2 billion monthly active users?
While that may be true, the intention of the users on those platforms may not be the same. Yes, Facebook and YouTube offer ads and marketing opportunities, but Instagram has such a natural and organic way of including that content right within the user’s feed.
Not only that, Facebook updates to their news feed algorithm has made it more difficult for brands and advertisers to get their content out to the right audience on a consistent basis.
When compared to Facebook, Instagram has a lot less advertisers— 2 million in comparison with Facebook’s 10 million, meaning you have a better chance of being seen by your target audience because there is less competition overall.
Not only that, with the effectiveness of influencer marketing on Instagram, you have many different options in terms of how you want to advertise in order to increase your brand’s reach. With new features being added all the time, like Instagram reels, you have the opportunity to go viral, which could make you the next Instagram sensation.
3. Better Exposure for Visual Content
The visual nature of Instagram is a big reason why it’s become as popular as it has. We all know the expression, right? “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Many marketers prefer using visuals in order to capture the attention of others and get their message across, which is why so many people prefer Instagram. Because it’s a platform that focuses on vivid images and videos, it’s very beneficial for brands and businesses.
The news feed on Instagram is chock full of interactive visuals. You can use an Instagram scheduling tool as well to create a content plan and preview it before it goes live, making sure that your aesthetic is consistent and that your content goes out on time.
Based on a study from BuzzSumo, when images are posted to Facebook via Instagram, they get more engagement over images that are uploaded directly to Facebook. Predictions indicate that Instagram will help you in the long-term, gaining more engagements on content like video and carousel posts.
It’s also important to have a comprehensive Instagram strategy, using hashtags to get your content more discoverability in feeds. You can gain up to 3x more visibility when you add hashtags to your content.
4. Instagram Stories Popularity
Instagram stories was launched in August of 2016 to square up against the increasingly popular Snapchat app. Instagram previously didn’t offer anything quite like Instagram stories, and it turned out to be a revolutionary feature.
Half of Instagram’s total user base, 500 million users, are active on Instagram stories every day. The feature is an incredible way to connect on a more intimate level with your followers and build relationships through engaging content according to Instagram stories statistics.
Instagram stories have increased the time spent on Instagram by 7 to 10 minutes by the average user every day. Some users view Instagram stories only exclusively, so if you’re not using the feature, you’re missing out on some valuable users in your target audience.
Offering brands and businesses many new opportunities, you can use geo-location tagging, text, hashtags, links, shoppable features, interactive stickers, and even run ads though Instagram stories. 36% of businesses use IG stories to promote their products/services.
Instagram videos account for one of the most popular content types, and with the new release of Instagram reels in 2020, it looks like they’re only on the rise. Establish authenticity and connection with your target audience through your Instagram community.
5. High Engagement Rates
Instagram generates some of the most engagement of any social media platform, and that means that when you gain more leads, they’re likely to be vocal and responsive. This is one aspect of Instagram that has captivated brands and businesses.
Micro-influencers have confirmed this, and 59% believe that it’s the most effective platform for engaging audiences according to a survey by Bloglovin.
Mediakix has also identified Instagram posts and Instagram stories as the most effective content types for influencer marketing, and this remains consistent among many of the brands and businesses that use the strategy.
When choosing an influencer for your campaign, it’s vital to consider engagement. After all, if the influencer doesn’t have engaged followers, what are the chances that any of them will check out your brand or convert into customers?
Definitely take a look at the follower-to-engagement ratio of any accounts you’re considering a partnership with. That will let you know if the influencer has genuine followers that care about the influencer, or if they’ve simply fortified their follower count.
For example, if an influencer has 85k followers, that looks very attractive at first glance. You head over to their posts to check out their engagement, and they’ve got about 100 likes and 4 comments. That’s a very low follower-to-engagement ratio, so they’re probably not being completely genuine with their follower count, others are resorting to other tactics for example they buy Twitter likes to boost their engagement rate.
Hubspot has also confirmed that Instagram goes heavy on engagement— even though Facebook has over 2x the amount of active users as Instagram, Instagram still receives 23% more engagement than Facebook. This means it’s a suitable go-to option for marketers looking to engage their audience.
6. Higher Conversion Rates
Conversion is a key part in any business, no matter which niche or industry you find yourself in. You can use Instagram to boost conversions, bringing you tons of referral traffic, leads, and recommendations.
According to Facebook, 83% of consumers claim that they use Instagram to discover new products or services. In addition, 81% use it to research products or services, and 80% decide whether to buy a product or service thanks to Instagram.
This is really important and goes to show just how powerful Instagram can be in boosting conversions. You can see some other user behavior after seeing a product or service on Instagram in the below graphic.
Shopify recently conducted a study that revealed the conversion rate of ecommerce businesses on Instagram is 1.08%. In addition, referral traffic from Instagram leads to an average order value of $65.
When compared to other platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, Instagram shines in both of these areas. It’s very interesting to note that Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links in all areas of their platform, which makes their lead a bit surprising.
Instagram is able to deliver outstanding returns for businesses even though you can’t put a clickable link directly into your post. How do they do it?
Instagram introduced the addition of shoppable posts just a few years back. The feature began testing in 2016 and has been expanded ever since, helping brands and businesses immensely in generating interest and revenue through Instagram.
You can use Instagram shoppable posts that allow users to buy your products from directly within the app, eliminating the need to visit an external website. This has increased convenience, created a better sales funnel, and ultimately leads to higher conversion.
Instagram shoppable posts are available in photo posts, carousel posts, video posts, and Instagram stories. You’ll also have a central shop where users can go and browse your products right from your Instagram profile.
The addition of these features has made the shopping experience for Instagram users seamless, less spammy, and easier. Through an Instagram survey, it was established that half of the survey participants use Instagram to shop weekly.
Instagram live also allows the shoppable feature, so you can discuss and showcase products to your audience in real-time, giving them the chance to buy from right within the broadcast. Instagram is a clear winner when it comes to generating sales and increasing conversion rates.
Final Thoughts: Benefits of Instagram
Now that you have some insight into why Instagram is an extremely beneficial platform, how are you going to make sure that you’re always one step ahead of the competition? One of the best things to do is build your followers using an organic Instagram growth service like Growthoid.
You’ll be in constant contact with real, relevant Instagram users, helping to build your follower count and engagement rates to stand out from the crowd. When you have more followers and engagement, your social proof is higher, giving you a stronger reputation and catching the eye of new users consistently.
Using an Instagram growth tool like Growthoid will help you to generate more leads, connect with your target audience, boost exposure, and generate interest in your endeavor. It will also save you tons of time, allowing you to focus on what really matters— creating the best content out there.
Get started with Growthoid today to begin building a long-term platform for your brand or business!
FAQs
Here are some of the common questions asked related to the Instagram platform and what it may mean for your brand or business.
Is Instagram Good for Small Businesses?
Yes; in fact, Instagram is one of the best platforms you can utilize for your small business. It’s a great tool to create buzz around your business and you can expand your reach to new leads and increase your conversion rates.
You can post multiple times on Instagram to capture the attention of people who may be interested in your products and services, building up a strong community of people who are likely to support your endeavor.
There are other features available on Instagram, including product tags and shoppable feeds, making it even easier for you to harness Instagram to deliver real-world business results and revenue through the platform.
Not only that, you can run Instagram ads, increasing your reach and getting the attention of more users who are likely to become clients one day.
What is the Best Time to Post on Instagram?
You may be curious about the best time to post on Instagram because it can help you to reach your target audience at the right time, boosting engagement on your posts as soon as they’re live. It can be difficult to nail down, but there are some suggestions about the best posting times.
It varies across different niches, so that can also affect your posting times. You can see some recommendations for Instagram posting times in different industries on the Growthoid blog.
In general, the most popular times to post on Instagram for best results are 6am – 9am, 12pm – 2pm, and 5pm – 7pm.
You can also take advantage of an Instagram scheduler tool, such as Later or Sprout Social; tools like these will help you to get a visual of your entire content plan, how it will look once your content is live, and will also recommend the best times for your specific account to publish.
Instagram insights also tells you the times that your audience is most active on the platform, so using this information can also guide you in making the best posting decisions.
How is Instagram a Marketing Tool?
Instagram is an extremely effective marketing tool that is used by millions of brands and businesses all around the world. It can be used to promote products and services to a global audience, using organic and evergreen content to advertise naturally.
There are plenty of Instagram marketing tools that can help you to create the best content possible and increase your revenue on Instagram, so take a look at them and start building a winning strategy.
What Are the Best Instagram Marketing Tools?
There are many different Instagram marketing tools available from third parties because it’s such a popular platform for all types of marketing, including influencer marketing.
Some of the most popular Instagram marketing tools include:
- Growthoid: Increase your organic reach and build your followers + engagement
- Canva: Create incredible content through thousands of graphic design templates, images, and more
- Later: Schedule your Instagram content in advance and post at the optimal times
- Iconosquare: Take your understanding of your Instagram analytics to a deeper level through custom reports, visual graphics, and actionable insights
- Task Ant: Devise the perfect hashtag strategy and find the right ones to use so that your content gets discovered by more users in your target audience
There are plenty of other tools out there, so you have many possibilities when you’re looking to supplement your Instagram strategy through marketing tools and apps. Check out the Growthoid blog to find our list of the 40 best Instagram marketing tools.
