Picture via Instagram[/caption]

Just under 5 years ago, in October of 2010, Instagram launched. It now boasts over 300 million active monthly followers who share roughly 70 million photos a day.

Instagram has achieved massive popularity for a few simple reasons:

1. People love pictures and their brains process them quicker.

2. People also love interacting in real time. In the "Explore" features, Instagram users can see the latest pictures posted from Disney World, a sporting event, concert or just about anywhere else.

3. The platform is less invasive and lists less personal information than Facebook.

4. It's mobile - and the combination of visual content on a mobile platform in real-time is a social media experience many people prefer now.

How can your business use Instagram as a marketing tool?

Although Instagram only allows paid advertisements to a few select brands, this hasn't stopped thousands of small businesses from using the platform. Simply create a profile with your business name and post away - just like you would if you were creating a personal account.

Regardless of whether your brand is a restaurant, clothing boutique, law firm, chamber of commerce or just about anything else - Instagram provides a place for you to tell your story visually with high-quality photos and videos.

It's an easy way for brands to create awareness, interact in real-time and gain additional followers through the use of trending hashtags. For many, it's provided them with quicker fan growth than any other social media platform, including Facebook.

Reach a younger audience, grow that audience quickly, and have fun visually telling your company's story and interacting with the community around you on Instagram. Thoughtwire is now providing Instagram marketing services. Ask us about adding the platform to your social media package: 800-367-2570