Instagram has launched a partner platform to boost business customers with professionals to help them grow on the photo-sharing platform. The company hopes to entice businesses with not only its 400 million monthly active users, but with resources that will assist them in getting their message across on the visual service.
Instagram said its partners will “help solve a wide variety of business challenges — whether it’s driving more installs for a new mobile gaming app, or driving in-store foot-traffic during the holidays.” these partners include companies like Adobe, Adaptly, Hootsuite, Marin Software, Percolate, Sprinklr, Unified, Tongal, and Salesforce’s Marketing Cloud.
Companies that are part of the program are vetted to ensure they satisfy certain touchstone, including if they excel in one of Instagram’s specialties in at least one major country and if they have the resources to stay current with constant technology changes, a transparent business model, a track record of advertisers success, and understanding of Instagram’s value proposition.
The San Francisco tech player had a busy second half of the year , opening its API this summer and adding new tools for optimizing ads this fall. The app recently surpassed 400 million users, and the lineup of companies around the world will help boost brands' presence on the platform. This move made by instagram would be similar to that of its parent company Facebook took some years ago
Jim Squires, director of marketing operations at Instagram, said his platform's machinations are a "natural evolution," stating that many businesses have lagged behind the shift to mobile. (The company said Facebook and Instagram combined now account for one in every five minutes spent on a mobile device.
One partner, Brand Networks, said it claims to have seen a 330 percent increase in its Instagram business since June. “We don’t expect the rush to slow down anytime soon — especially as retail and ecommerce businesses gear up for the holiday shopping season,” said Jamie Tedford, the company’s chief executive and founder. “More brands will add Instagram to their holiday marketing mix, and with this new Instagram Partners Program, it will be easier than ever for brands to team with strategic partners…who can help them increase awareness and convert customers on this rapidly growing platform.” according to VentureBeat.
Instagram has been working on more advertising options over the past few months, which is aimed at getting more advertisers on the platform. Among these include longer video ads. It also did away with tradition (sort of) by no longer constraining content creators to the iconic square photo or video, instead enabling users to upload landscape and portrait photos. App install ads on Instagram appear to be resonating with advertisers and developers as well.
This is a good move from Instagram and we look forward to see the results.
