By Harley Kowalsky
Social media is growing at a rapid speed and is changing much of today’s culture. The word “followers” no longer refers to those who share the same beliefs as figures like Jesus Christ or Gandhi. An average person can acquire thousands of followers who can view their daily activity due to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook; social media apps that allow users to post pictures or text to update their followers on what’s going on in their life.
Recently, social media apps, especially Instagram, have become a huge platform for advertising. Since social media is so popular, companies have begun to take advantage of it as business opportunities. Companies who use Instagram for advertising range from small businesses where people are promoting products they make right at home to big name brands like Nike and Target. Nike, for example, totals in over 5 million followers and posts multiple photos a week featuring the hundreds of products their brand has to offer.
Social media is growing at a rapid speed and is changing much of today’s culture. The word “followers” no longer refers to those who share the same beliefs as figures like Jesus Christ or Gandhi. An average person can acquire thousands of followers who can view their daily activity due to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook; social media apps that allow users to post pictures or text to update their followers on what’s going on in their life.
Recently, social media apps, especially Instagram, have become a huge platform for advertising. Since social media is so popular, companies have begun to take advantage of it as business opportunities. Companies who use Instagram for advertising range from small businesses where people are promoting products they make right at home to big name brands like Nike and Target. Nike, for example, totals in over 5 million followers and posts multiple photos a week featuring the hundreds of products their brand has to offer.
Harry Epstein, an 18 year old from Westport, Connecticut, recently launched his own street wear clothing company labeled Gracious Mfg. The line features graphic tee shirts and tank tops in hopes of integrating urban and suburban wardrobes.
Epstein continues to build his brand by maintaining an Instagram account dedicated to promoting his company. Epstein started advertising for his company by word of mouth “however,” he explained, “Instagram was most effective as it provided a way for me to visibly display my merchandise to people who I was not really acquainted with.”
Epstein’s brand’s Instagram account proved successful because of the additional customers it rang in. Epstein also credits Instagram for allowing him to post photos in a “more natural way.” It makes sense that this form of advertisement is so natural because Instagram is so easily accessible. It can be downloaded for free on the app store and people can either use it on their smart phone or laptop.
Instagram was launched in 2010 and according to Digital Marketing Ramblings, the app currently has 200 million monthly users.
Epstein continues to build his brand by maintaining an Instagram account dedicated to promoting his company. Epstein started advertising for his company by word of mouth “however,” he explained, “Instagram was most effective as it provided a way for me to visibly display my merchandise to people who I was not really acquainted with.”
Epstein’s brand’s Instagram account proved successful because of the additional customers it rang in. Epstein also credits Instagram for allowing him to post photos in a “more natural way.” It makes sense that this form of advertisement is so natural because Instagram is so easily accessible. It can be downloaded for free on the app store and people can either use it on their smart phone or laptop.
Instagram was launched in 2010 and according to Digital Marketing Ramblings, the app currently has 200 million monthly users.
17-year-old Sara Melnick of Westchester, New York also takes advantage of Instagram to advertise for her business, Kicks by Sara. Melnick has her customers give her a pair of clean sneakers and she then personalizes them with permanent marker.
Melnick first advertised for her shoes by posting a photo to her personal Instagram account of a pair she made for herself. That led to Melnick’s friends requesting their own pair and from there, Melnick created a separate Instagram account dedicated to promoting her shoes.
Melnick acknowledges her “business is built around social media” and specifically, she said, “The majority of my business is built around my Instagram account.”
Because of Facebook’s purchase of Instagram in 2012, users can now pay to have their advertisements shown on Instagram’s newsfeed. This means even more exposure for companies who are willing to pay for it.
Melnick first advertised for her shoes by posting a photo to her personal Instagram account of a pair she made for herself. That led to Melnick’s friends requesting their own pair and from there, Melnick created a separate Instagram account dedicated to promoting her shoes.
Melnick acknowledges her “business is built around social media” and specifically, she said, “The majority of my business is built around my Instagram account.”
Because of Facebook’s purchase of Instagram in 2012, users can now pay to have their advertisements shown on Instagram’s newsfeed. This means even more exposure for companies who are willing to pay for it.