Instagram marketing: You’re just one of many if you think you’re new to Instagram marketing. Today, a successful Instagram marketing strategy is a requirement for any social media strategy. The website that was initially Facebook’s younger sister has become a global phenomenon. Instagram has grown to be the second-most popular visual-first social platform with over 800 million active monthly users and 500 million daily Stories.
Instagram overview
| Launch date | 6 October 2010 |
| HQ | Menlo Park, California |
| People | Adam Mosseri (CEO), Kevin Systrom (co-founder), Mike Krieger (co-founder) |
| Business type | Subsidiary |
| Owner | |
Instagram revenue
Instagram’s revenue has increased rapidly in the past two years, as the pandemic drew more users and brands onto the platform. It made an estimated $47.6 billion in revenue in 2021.
Instagram quarterly revenue 2015 to 2022
| Year | Revenue ($bn) |
| 2015 | 0.5 |
| 2016 | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 10.3 |
| 2019 | 19.4 |
| 2020 | 26.8 |
| 2021 | 47.6 |
Note: Facebook does not disclose Instagram revenue, all values are estimated. Source: Instagram Report
Percentage of Meta Platforms revenue from Instagram
Instagram was responsible for 44% of Meta Platforms revenue in 2021 and is expected to surpass Facebook as Meta’s main revenue source in 2024.
Facebook revenue from Instagram 2015 to 2021 (%)
| Year | Percentage of revenue |
| 2015 | 3.4 |
| 2016 | 5.6 |
| 2017 | 8.5 |
| 2018 | 15.6 |
| 2019 | 27.2 |
| 2020 | 33.8 |
| 2021 | 44 |
Sources: Bloomberg, Facebook
Instagram users
Instagram reached two billion active users in Q3 2021 and has continued to grow at a steady pace. It is on track to reach 2.5 billion by 2023.
Instagram quarterly users 2013 to 2022
Instagram annual users 2013 to 2021
| Date | Users (mm) |
| 2013 | 110 |
| 2014 | 200 |
| 2015 | 370 |
| 2016 | 500 |
| 2017 | 700 |
| 2018 | 1000 |
| 2019 | 1210 |
| 2020 | 1520 |
| 2021 | 1890 |
1. Create an Instagram account and improve your bio:
Making sure it is optimized for your company and target market is the first step in building a brand profile. Your brand story should be reflected in your profile.
Don’t be overly formal; keep things informal.
Your Instagram bio is another essential component of Instagram marketing. You must simultaneously convey your brand in an engaging and educational manner. You must persuade Instagram users that following you would increase the quality and relevance of their feeds and grow their Instagram following.
Additionally, the only area on Instagram where you can post a clickable link is in your bio, so don’t forget to add one.
2. Tag your location to be found:
Both online and offline channels must lead to your business. The location identifier will be useful in this situation to assist you to locate your precise address. Your account gains credibility as a result of people knowing where to locate you.
3. Make an Instagram account that showcases your company’s style:
Making a visually appealing profile is challenging, but it’s crucial. Instagram, a visual-first platform, makes a significant contribution to online buying, with product photos being a key driver of user attraction. Include the voice and personality of your brand in the feeds. Play with the look of your brand while enhancing its value. Most importantly, act with humanity and truth
4. Use imaginative captions for Instagram marketing:
A crucial component of user attraction is content. The secret to drawing in clients is to use creative subtitles, but it might be challenging to get them right every time. You may get the job done by using a carousel post coupled with a brief, intriguing caption.
5. Target the intended audience:
Then, reflect it in your Instagram feed by learning what it is about your business or product that appeals to your target demographic. Don’t compromise the quality of your postings and messages, and take advantage of this platform to engage your audience in a dialogue about your shared beliefs and objectives.
6. Look into the tactics of your rivals:
Keep an eye out for what your rivals are doing. Learn about their strategy and the products they are marketing on Instagram. Do they produce new content specifically for their feed, or do they rely on user-generated content for their goods and services? What kind of material do they post on Instagram? How often? What hashtag approach do they employ?
Learn what your rivals are doing so you can enhance your Instagram marketing plan.
7. Use intelligent hashtags for Instagram marketing:
An intriguing component of your plan is hashtags. They are employed to monitor the user-requested content. To increase the number of users who can find your posts when they search, you must strategically employ hashtags that you have carefully chosen.
Here’s how to properly utilize hashtags:
- Add 2 to 8 hashtags to your post.
- Choose the most popular hashtags.
- Include hashtags for Instagram marketing that are only pertinent to the people that make up your designated target market.
- Create hashtags for your brand.
- Choose location-based hashtags to promote your brand locally.
- Learn whether it is preferable to use hashtags in the initial comment or the caption.
8. additional carousel posts:
Carousel postings increased the number of impressions on Instagram, according to a study on the growth of Instagram engagement. They are an excellent approach to highlighting a product, a fresh brand feature, a team post, etc. You can use up to ten images or videos in a carousel post, so make sure you utilize them all to highlight your brand’s message.
9. Make fantastic Instagram Stories:
Every day, 500 million individuals use Instagram Stories. If you incorporate narrative into your brand identity, it will help your audience relate to you on an emotional level and give your material more depth.
Using stories helps you and your audience connect on a deeper level for Instagram marketing. Experiment with GIFs, use hashtags, tag people, add music to your Stories, and other features. One of the brand-new Stories elements that might assist in bridging the gap between you and your audience is the poll tool. By conducting a poll of your audience to learn more about their wants and interests, you may significantly improve your products and services. Your audience will feel more personally involved with your company as a result.
10. Recognize your most interesting Instagram posts:
To find out what kind of content is performing well with your audience, always review your analytics and stats. Finding the most popular post using Instagram analytics is a simple approach to seeing what your followers are interested in. Use Instagram’s emphasis on interaction to your advantage and take positive steps.
Instagram FAQ
How many times has Instagram been downloaded?
Instagram has been downloaded approximately 3.8 billion times. It was the fourth most downloaded app in the 2010s
How many people use Instagram Stories?
There are 500 million daily active users, approximately 1/3 of Instagram’s total audience
Who is the most followed account on Instagram?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed user on Instagram, with 347 million followers as of September 2021
What is the most followed brand on Instagram?
Instagram is the most-followed brand at 424 million users, followed by National Geographic with 186 million
What is the most interacted with the industry?
Fashion accounts were responsible for 25% of all brand interactions on Instagram (Socialbakers)
What percentage of teenagers in the US use Instagram?
84% of US teenagers use Instagram, with 25% saying it’s their favorite social media platform (Marketing Charts)
Conclusion: Each social media platform’s news feed algorithm is constantly evolving. What worked for you last month is probably not going to work for you this month. You must be current with fashion. A few things need your attention, including hot themes, high-quality images, user-generated material, and postings that are pleasant and engaging. Talk to us if you still haven’t set up your Instagram marketing strategy or improved your profile to engage your followers. Social media marketing is a low-cost, easily-accessible outsourced service provided by Shergroup. Our devoted staff of social media specialists puts in a lot of effort to assist you in managing your social media platforms so that you can reach clients all over the world.
