Instagram, the social photo sharing app has seen amazing growth in 2011, achieving 14m registered users and 50 uploads a second over Thanksgiving.
As consumers’ start to flock to the social sharing network we look at some examples of how brands are sharing their visual stories through Instagram.
In the main this channel is very immature with major brands meerely dabbling with infrequnt postings and little diversion from publishing approved images. This immaturity is mirrored in the low volumes of followers and engagement metrics, however brands active now will be gaining learnings for 2012.
1. British Airways
This was the first brand to catch my eye, not neccesarily the first brand active on Twitter. Their simple presence takes random and infrequent snapshots of brand related images.
2. (Red)
Mainly logo shots interspered with some wonderful images of what the donations actually fund.
3. Starbucks
Mainly pack shots and this nice little Christmas update.
4. Pepsi Max
More product shots and a few ‘behind the scenes’ images.
5. Levi’s Brazil
6. Playboy
Pretty girls and photos. (SFW)
Other Brands using Instagram
Ford – combining Instagram with Facebook, Ford have run a competition to engage customers and interaction,
Ford have just partnered with instagram to launch a new photography competition called Fiestagram. The contest challenges Instagram photography enthusiasts across Europe to upload photos in a several categories inspired by the technologies and features of the Ford Fiesta. In each of the next six weeks, a new category (#Starting, #Hidden, #Listening, #Entry, #Music and #Shapes) will provide contestants with an opportunity to win a range of prizes, with the overall winner receiving a new Fiesta. Participants can interpret the categories in any way they wish and use any of the filters and effects available on Instagram to enhance the mood and feel of their images.
Running on the Ford Fiesta Facebook page (Facebook.com/FordFiesta)
, contestants can enter simply by uploading photos with the hashtag #Fiestagram to Instagram. (source: BlueHive agency, London)
A number of brands have been mentioned as using Instagram yet they don’t appear on keyword searches within the Instagram app. These have included:
- CNN have actively set up three accounts to solicit citizen journalism with CNN reports, plus The Situation Room and CNN PR.
- National Geographic have a branded (logo) presence but no content.
- Kate Spade are using Instagram to power their Tumblr but don’t have an officially branded account.
