Instagram launches business tools to help users buy and sell
The three tools are designed to help businesses find new customers on the Facebook-owned app
By Sarah Griffiths
Instagram has launched three new tools to help its 200,000 advertisers stand out, with business profiles, analytics and the ability to promote posts in the UK all being introduced.
It's hoped the toolkit will help users of the Facebook-owned social network turn their passions into livelihoods and small businesses find new customers.
More than 300 million people search for inspiration on Instagram every day, so it's no surprise businesses are looking for new ways to make sales via network.
Amy Cole, head of brand development EMEA said small business make up the majority of the 200,000 businesses advertising on the platform and tend to be the most creative and innovative in the community.
Why hiding likes won't make Instagram a happier place to be
By Laurie Clarke
"Business Profiles" allow companies to more easily show they are a business on Instagram and use a 'connect' button so would-be customers can get in touch, either by phone, text or email.
This free feature evolved after Instagram interviewed hundred of businesses and found it easier for them to answer questions from customers via email or on the phone, than sifting through comments on the app.
Another tool, dubbed Insights, lets businesses see whether their posts are working on the social platform. It shows companies information about how people have connected with their business in a simple format.
"By learning more about the behaviour and demographics of your audience, you can create more relevant and timely content," the company said in a blog post.
The feature is designed not to overwhelm companies with analytics that are hard to apply to marketing.
Finally, "Promote" gives businesses the ability to promote a well-performing post as an advert in order to reach customers. Companies can choose a target audience or let Instagram to do it for them before deciding how long they wish to promote their advert.
The tools will roll out in the US, Australia and New Zealand in the coming months and will be available globally by the end of the year.
They are the latest features to be rolled out by Instagram, which had had a busy two years, in which it has launches a host of spin-off apps, redesigned its logo and boosted its video offering.
Official figures released in June revealed the photo-sharing app now has half a billion registered users and more than 300 million people use the service every day. This means that in the past two years, Instagram's monthly user base has more than doubled in size, adding its last 100 million active users much faster than the previous 100 million.
How to use Instagram and Facebook's new time limit tools
By Richard Priday
On the blockchain, anyone can be an art dealer
By Ed Vaizey
Facebook is riddled with hacker groups sharing tools and tech
Far Cry 5 Arcade could be the Minecraft of action games