Right now it appears that there is an emerging trend away from Facebook. Up until this point, Facebook was the go-to social media platform for business. That may change by 2019.
But according to a new Pew Research Center survey, YouTube and Instagram are dominating the total space (remember My Space?). The figures behind this seem to stem from a cultural shift away from text/words to images that tell a story.
Right now, considering we just finished the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown, calling this horse race would be YouTube in the lead, followed by Instagram and Snapchat in third. Facebook would be a few lengths behind, followed by Twitter.
Instagram functions as cross-integration of text-email-video-camera. You can snap a shot of you right from your phone camera and post this to your account, or shoot a 15-second video that goes beyond the idea of telling someone to showing them exactly what is the hook (value) to where you are and how it gives them something that means something to them.
Once you are satisfied with the look, tap next to add a caption, tag users, add a location, or share your creation via Facebook, email, Flickr, Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare. This makes Instagram the total platform for all of your platforms.
Instagram is especially powerful when it comes to branding. The Top 5 Most Popular Brands on Instagram are Nike, Starbucks, NBA, Adidas, and Forever.
The basic strength and use of people and brands on Instagram is to inspire people. According to Hubspot, “Instagram is a highly creative social platform that encourages users to unleash their inner-photographer and get creative.”
Instagram provides to its users filters to adjust the look-and-feel of their photos, which potentially will evoke a specific response that is relevant and compelling to the poster and the viewer. The endgame is to cause your audience to come back for more.
Instagram makes great use of the hashtag. Utilizing hashtags is a great way to increase traction on your Instagram posts. The objective is to get your audience to publish photos with your hashtag. When they do, they will appear in your “Photos of You” tab on your profile. That is when you respond back to your posts to express your appreciation for their engagement!
The hashtag strategy also encourages your friends and followers to share photos that relate to your post and theme. The Hubspot report stated, “Adidas has managed to double their follower count in a three-month period… The study continues to explain that by averaging a steady 5-6 posts per week, Adidas was able to increase their engagement by sharing these Instagrams across their other social platforms.”