Let’s be honest… stepping into a new social media platform may seem intimidating, especially since we are apprehensive of the ‘what ifs’ confronting the decision! ‘What if the comment is taken out of context .. What if the privacy filters don’t work.. & so on. But bored outta my mind with just viral videos doing the rounds on Facebook, I couldn’t resist exploring Instagram a while ago.
With it’s advent in 2011, this photo and video sharing app had closet photographers showcase their hidden talent! From filters that made the drabbest click look artsy, to the selfie that became a phenomenon everybody succumbed to… age, race, community no bar. Every click, every pic uploaded, is a masterpiece in it’s own right! Internet celebs like The Kardashians have optimised this platform for branding and self promotion whereas others share their perspectives of the world around them.
Signing into Instagram, the world truly seemed like an oyster! Following celebs was fun, with most of them sharing elements of their personality that we wouldn’t ordinarily know! Food selfies too kept us getting hungry, more often than not, with extraordinary deserts and savoury dishes tempting us with every scroll. Instagram also opened up a treasure trove of scenic places that we just needed to explore.
For me though, this platform was a gateway to exhibiting my mood based clicks. Every photograph, either good or bad brought in likes from across the world… All that was necessary for the shout out, was the right hashtag. #FoodPorn #TBT #NaturePorn #TravelPorn #Foodgasm made way into everyday vocabulary, shocking some of us old schoolers along the way!
Anyways, nothing beats the sense of accomplishment that a simple ‘like’ makes us feel, even from a stranger for that matter! Ironically, the likes to these uploads are seemingly proportional to our self esteem. So its no surprise that introspection gets underway, when a certain number of likes is not reached. Conscious much.. Right!
What is exciting for brands and corporates on this platform though, is the introduction of Instagram advertising. Of course, like Facebook advertising, there are technical and design specifications that have to be adhered to, with an option to add the critical Call to Action button that will lead your prospects to the next step of the marketing process. So from images, website promotions and app installs, to your 30 second videos, Instagram can help you reach out to the right target audience and develop further leads and conversions.
But, like every other social media platform, Instagram too, is not free from trolls! For every 100 people who may love what you’ve posted, there will be one who feels the need to share an unnecessary critique. If you are lucky, others will jump in to defend you. If not, its okay to leave that one sour grape without a response. It’s impractical, if not impossible, to try and please all the people all the time! And if you are a little faint hearted, or hate confrontations, just keep your profile private and only let the known ones in. After all, not everyone deserves to know the real you!
So, whats the hold up? Click a pic.. Could be the next plate of food you dive into or the gorgeous place you are visiting .. Hashtag it and Get Instagramming right away! And if you have any queries on how to get it right, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at askus@codelattice.com.
