Instagram Joins the Social Media Ad Club
It was only a matter of time. This week, Instagram launched a new ad service exclusively to UK which features sponsored photos. Starbucks, Cadbury, Channel 4, Rimmel, Estee Lauder and Waitrose where amongst the first brands to incorporate Instagram ads into their social media marketing strategy with plans to introduce ads to Instagram users in the US, and eventually Canada and Australia.
Instagram – which was famously acquired for $1 billion by Facebook in 2012 – has gone from strength to strength among social media users worldwide, with over 200 million users worldwide since its launch only 4 years ago, increasing its active user base by 23% in the last six months alone.
Having previously never generated any revenue – one of the main reasons why the founders jumped at the offer Zuckerburg put on the table – it was only a matter of time before Instagram was going to implement paid social media ads into their business plan. As a result, sponsored photos and videos now appear in the newsfeed of users, highlighted with a sponsored label in the top right hand corner.
Similar to Facebook ads, users can maintain control over the ads that are visible to them, with the option of being able to hide ads that they might feel isn’t of relevance to them.
Starbucks vice-president of marketing, Ian Cranna said, “We remain committed to being at the forefront of digital innovation, so it’s great to partner with Instagram on this launch, enabling us to reach more of our customers in genuine ways and via such a relevant platform.”
Below are some examples of brands and their recent Instagram Ads:
Having previously never generated any revenue – one of the main reasons why the founders jumped at the offer Zuckerburg put on the table – it was only a matter of time before Instagram was going to implement paid social media ads into their business plan. As a result, sponsored photos and videos now appear in the newsfeed of users, highlighted with a sponsored label in the top right hand corner.
Similar to Facebook ads, users can maintain control over the ads that are visible to them, with the option of being able to hide ads that they might feel isn’t of relevance to them.
Starbucks vice-president of marketing, Ian Cranna said, “We remain committed to being at the forefront of digital innovation, so it’s great to partner with Instagram on this launch, enabling us to reach more of our customers in genuine ways and via such a relevant platform.”
Below are some examples of brands and their recent Instagram Ads:
Channel 4 promoting their new programme #EducatingTheEastEnd…
Starbucks social media marketing pioneer, shows why girls don’t just like taking photos of their coffee…
Olly Murs’ is obviously pretty desperate for promotion if his marketing team are the first in the queue to use Instagram ads…
