Instagram is the picture and video sharing service that Facebook so wisely acquired just a few years ago. In 2012 the Instagram community grew to 80 million users, with the number of users growing substantially each year. As of January 2014 the service now has over 150 million active users. With over 55 million photos posted daily, Instagram is considered one of the most dominating social media services and has one of the most popular websites in the world.
It seems like the days of hipsters using Instagram to tweak their pictures with cool filters and tweens taking selfies are over. Brands are now using the service to reach more visitors using things like sponsored photos and videos. Researchers are using it to find the happiest city in the UK; celebrities use it to post every aspect of their lives, including crazy antics from award shows. Instagram is even being used to get people excited about the upcoming NFC Championship game.
Not only has Instagram grown in popularity, with the ability for each image to be shared on various social networks, but it has also introduced Instagram Direct, which acts much like the app, SnapChat. This tells us that Instagram will continue to grow and get stronger. So, what brands are using Instagram and how are they using it?
The 10 Most Popular Brands on Instagram
- Nike
- Starbucks
- NBA
- Adidas Originals
- TopShop
- Forever 21
- Vans
- NFL
- Michael Kors
- GoPRO
As you can see, these brands are all over the map, from clothing and sports to a point of view camera company called GoPro. But, who is actually getting shared on Instagram Video?
The 10 Most Shared Brands on Instagram Video
- MTV – 134,110
- NBA – 68,463
- Peanuts – 43,227
- GoPro – 35,097
- Miami Heat – 28,465
- Wendy’s – 23,833
- TopShop – 23,347
- Starbucks – 22,035
- ABC – 21,782
- HBO’s Girls – 21,769
Again, you can see that these brands are all over the spectrum. In the top 10 are a couple TV networks, a TV show, a fast food restaurant, and several other random brands. With that said what brands have the most account followers?
The Top 10 Brands with the Most Account Followers
- National Geographic – 3,726,303
- Victoria’s Secret – 3,640,340
- The Ellen Show – 3,483,363
- Nike – 3,166,010
- Forever 21 – 2,446,839
- Louboutin – 2,062,447
- 9GAG – 2,024,096
- Starbucks – 1,919,068
- MTV – 1,916,114
- NBA – 1,777,980
If this tells us anything, the users on Instagram are very diverse and every brand has an opportunity to take advantage of the massive audience that is out there. The fact is that over 90% of Instagram users are under the age of 35 and 28% are in the 18-29 year old bracket. Not only that, but 23% of teens claim Instagram is their favorite social media network.
Will Instagram sell your products for you? Most likely not! However, if you manage your Instagram account the right way, the service can be a great asset to building and maintaining a strong brand leading to a high level of brand awareness for your company.
Sources:
- http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/important-instagram-stats/#.UtU874uzKph
- http://blog.bufferapp.com/instagram-stats-instagram-tips
- http://instagram.com/press/
- http://blog.inkifi.com/post/38294624460/7-facts-that-you-didnt-know-about-instagram
- http://www.quora.com/Instagram/What-is-the-genesis-of-Instagram
- http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/technology/startups/instagram_burbn/
- http://www.businessinsider.com/a-primer-on-social-media-demographics-2013-10
- http://www.roomoffun.com/some-fun-facts-about-instagram_1607.html
