Instagram Advertising: The New Frontier
Since Facebook bought Instagram in 2012, Facebook advertisers have recently regarded Instagram as the new holy grail of advertising potential. But it wasn’t until late this year, September 2015 to be exact, that Instagram opened its filter-filled gates to advertisers, providing them with the opportunity to reach both Facebook and Instagram users, and leverage the data consumers share with those platforms.
Social Media App
Instagram has become the go-to social media app for millennials and GenZ. As well as the place for brands to reach those millennials and GenZ users. Facebook and Instagram marriage has brought a new level of advertising ability to Instagram. Ranging from static ads to video advertisements. To reach their growing user base, the image-heavy platform encourages brands to make their advertisements look like user posts – blurring the lines between advertisements and organic posts.
Carousel Ad Format
With the Carousel ad format becoming Facebook’s preferred format, Instagram has also integrated this format into its platform. For example, for one ad placement, Instagram advertisers can show users multiple products or product views with a simple swipe. Also, this increases user engagement and the value of each ad placement without exorbitant cost increases.
Video Advertisements
Video advertisements are also at a tipping point across all social channels and are quickly becoming a leader on Instagram. In addition, these advertisements on Instagram are basically a 15-second or, recently announced, 30-second spot for advertisers to reach Instagram’s 400M users. TV advertising does not get that targeted coverage unless spending millions on one spot during the Olympics or Super Bowl.
Instagram Advertising Reaching Decision Makers
Instagram advertising is making reaching large, targeted audiences feasible for brands and apps that don’t have 100 million dollar advertising budgets. And, even those that do are integrating these new opportunities into their advertising strategy. Especially to reach these ever-connected generations that are quickly becoming the leading purchase decision-makers.
