As of November 2017, more than 25 million registered businesses are using Instagram. Which isn’t surprising, considering it’s one of the easiest and most relevant avenues to tell your brand story and build a deeper relationship with your customers. But do they consider you one of their favorite Instagram accounts to follow?
Standing out in a forever-long feed of photos and videos can be tough without the right approach. The key is to keep your content simple, creative and engaging. We’ve compiled a list of accounts that have the right idea, all to help provide you with new ways to excite your followers and engage them with your brand.
BarkBox
We promise our obsession with dogs is not the (only) reason this one made the cut. BarkBox does a really good job of entertaining their Instagram followers first and promoting their products second. Think: more videos of dogs doing trust falls and dancing to Gloria Estefan, less of what’s actually inside a BarkBox. As long as humor makes sense for your brand, making people LOL can help them remember you and even trust you more.
Nike
With over 75 million followers, Nike is one of – if not the – most popular brand on Instagram. They don’t post product-only shots on blank backgrounds, but rather a motivational mix of admirable athletes and short videos intended to make you laugh or change your lifestyle. Nike was also one of the first big brands to use the Instagram Stories function, sharing experiences and deepening the connection with their followers.
BuzzFeed’s Tasty
DIY tips are a great way to engage your customers. Who doesn’t love the feeling of making something on their own? BuzzFeed’s Tasty (literally) dishes out DIY tips to their followers in the form of instructional overhead food videos. In less than 60 seconds, they show every step and ingredient for making waffle breakfast burgers, crème brûlée crepes and other kinds of food porn.
Airbnb
They highlight some of the most unique lodgings and little-known locations across the world, but it’s not just their stunning photography that earns Airbnb a spot on our list. They’re especially good at keeping their followers engaged, which they accomplish by asking questions and telling stories about people and things you likely wouldn’t meet or experience by staying at a mainstream hotel. Best of all, they allow you to book directly from their Instagram feed, giving you the opportunity to experience exactly what you see in their photos for yourself.
Girlfriend Collective
If your brand were a person, who would it be? The activewear brand Girlfriend Collective successfully answers this question with its Instagram content. A few scrolls and you’ll easily pinpoint who their target customer is: a fun, sporty young woman who prefers basic, high-quality activewear over the kind with trendy prints and patterns. The brand also does well to communicate their use of recycled fabrics and their love for the environment. You go, girls.
Bonfire5
Shameless self-promotion. But can you blame us? We’re known to only post cool stuff…like what we’re working on, sipping on and the local brands we’re crushing on. Follow @bonfirefive to keep up with all of our “ad” ventures here in KC.
