This is a topic that I know very little about. First, I want to give my few thoughts on Instagram and business. After those thoughts, I am providing insight and examples of other people.
Instagram is something that can be very useful. The business success stories that I have witnessed with Instagram all involve fashion in some sort. Why? Fashion items are easy to take pictures of. You can put it on a hanger, a person, a pet, or a nice backdrop, and the picture does the talking for itself. People see what they are getting with the item, and if they like the way it looks, then generally that is enough to buy it, or at least like it.
Coach, the famous purse company has 48 thousand Instagram followers. They generally post about one picture a day, and leave it at that. The consistency of their posting has made them an Instagram success. On a smaller scale, a local start-up in the Carolinas called Good Ole Boys has done a great job of taking pictures of their gear and creating a comfort appeal around the brand. They may not have the largest fan base, but they post consistently, interact with followers, and show their items in ways that make people interested in the product.
After doing research, I have realized that my assumptions are pretty much true. With digital photography being a great way to show advertisements, many fashion companies use Instagram successfully. Taking a picture of a dress or pair of shoes and attaching a link to an online shopping cart is an easy way to increase sales. MyHauteCloset is an example of a fashion blogger who was given many items to model and ended up making a nice fashion business just through Instagram.
The other industry that appears to have done this is sports teams. Teams like the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Braves have succeeded on Instagram because they are sports and entertainment focused. A lot of people enjoy looking at photos of their favorite athletes as they play the game they love or goof around in the clubhouse. Sports teams also use it to recap and post photos of promotional events; for example the Atlanta Braves recently had a Star Wars night, and their Instagram shows some photos of fans in Star Wars apparel.
Instagram really has become almost a hybrid of Twitter and Pinterest. You post pictures that appeal to you and you make them look pretty through filters. Then you can comment under them in a short text or post them at somebody. While Instagram will never overpass a Twitter with text or a Facebook with profiles, it is a handy, mobile application that can connect people on a smaller level. Maybe it will get much bigger. Maybe the boom of the Instagram bomb will continue to spread outward, but for now, Instagram is not a do or die social medium for the business world. If you are in the fashion industry, I definitely think that it would be beneficial to have it. Otherwise, do with it as you please. As for me, if I ever get more than 1,000 Instagram followers (@justinsthomason), I will run a 5K in a Batman suit.
Instagram is something that can be very useful. The business success stories that I have witnessed with Instagram all involve fashion in some sort. Why? Fashion items are easy to take pictures of. You can put it on a hanger, a person, a pet, or a nice backdrop, and the picture does the talking for itself. People see what they are getting with the item, and if they like the way it looks, then generally that is enough to buy it, or at least like it.
Coach, the famous purse company has 48 thousand Instagram followers. They generally post about one picture a day, and leave it at that. The consistency of their posting has made them an Instagram success. On a smaller scale, a local start-up in the Carolinas called Good Ole Boys has done a great job of taking pictures of their gear and creating a comfort appeal around the brand. They may not have the largest fan base, but they post consistently, interact with followers, and show their items in ways that make people interested in the product.
After doing research, I have realized that my assumptions are pretty much true. With digital photography being a great way to show advertisements, many fashion companies use Instagram successfully. Taking a picture of a dress or pair of shoes and attaching a link to an online shopping cart is an easy way to increase sales. MyHauteCloset is an example of a fashion blogger who was given many items to model and ended up making a nice fashion business just through Instagram.
The other industry that appears to have done this is sports teams. Teams like the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Braves have succeeded on Instagram because they are sports and entertainment focused. A lot of people enjoy looking at photos of their favorite athletes as they play the game they love or goof around in the clubhouse. Sports teams also use it to recap and post photos of promotional events; for example the Atlanta Braves recently had a Star Wars night, and their Instagram shows some photos of fans in Star Wars apparel.
Instagram really has become almost a hybrid of Twitter and Pinterest. You post pictures that appeal to you and you make them look pretty through filters. Then you can comment under them in a short text or post them at somebody. While Instagram will never overpass a Twitter with text or a Facebook with profiles, it is a handy, mobile application that can connect people on a smaller level. Maybe it will get much bigger. Maybe the boom of the Instagram bomb will continue to spread outward, but for now, Instagram is not a do or die social medium for the business world. If you are in the fashion industry, I definitely think that it would be beneficial to have it. Otherwise, do with it as you please. As for me, if I ever get more than 1,000 Instagram followers (@justinsthomason), I will run a 5K in a Batman suit.
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