Instagram has been that dormant volcano in event marketing that nobody expected to erupt. When the platform was launched in 2010, businesses and event planners and marketers alike, viewed it as just a quaint image sharing platform.
Eight years later and…
BOOOOM!
Instagram is the powerhouse of social platforms and the best way for businesses and event planners to develop a personality and to boost their brand presence and awareness.
In 2012 Facebook bought Instagram and that gave Instagram privy to the audience targeting algorithms that Facebook uses. That, coupled with Instagram stories, business pages, full-screen adverts and ‘shop now’ options have created a field of marketing opportunities for brands and businesses.
Still not convinced that Instagram is the platform for event planners to market on?
Let the stats do the talking.
Here are 10 Instagram Stats that all Event Planners should know:
1. Instagram has over 800 million monthly active users
That is double the amount of Twitter users and more than three times as many as Snapchat. 100 million new users join Instagram every month which makes it the fastest growing social network. That is a massive amount of people that you can reach out to, to attend your event.
2. Over 70% of businesses use Instagram
This is a number that is snowballing as well. Of the 8 million companies that are on Instagram, only a quarter use Facebook ads.
3. 59% of people aged between 18 and 29 use Instagram
If millennials and generation Z are the target audience for your event, then Instagram is your milieu. Millennials are also the experience generation and like to spend their money on experiences and memories, and your event should be designed with that in mind. Learn how to craft the ultimate event experience that appeals to the millennials here.
4. Instagram video views increased by 80% from 2017
Instagram users are creating four times more videos than they did last year. Learning from the live stream from other social platforms, Instagram has introduced live stories as well. Event planners can use videos to show their attendees behind the scene footage and sneak peeks of what they can expect from the event.
5. Instagram stories have over 300 million active users, daily
For event marketing and event brands, Instagram stories are the perfect way to engage your audience. Did you know that one in five organic stories that a business posts, gets a direct message from a user?
6. Over one-third of Instagram users have made a mobile purchase
The Instagram generation is technologically savvy, and that is excellent news for businesses and event marketers alike. 75% of Instagram users take action after viewing an advert on Instagram. That action may be a click to the website, or even better, a click to buy a product or ticket to your event.
7. 30% of Instagram users have purchased a brand they first heard about on Instagram
Even if users don’t click right on to your Instagram page to your event’s ticket page, Instagram is still a critical touch point and also part of the user experience. It’s a step in the buyer’s journey where the consumer starts to develop a curiosity about the event or product before deciding on buying it.
8. 77% of people value user-generated photos more than commercial photos when making a purchasing decision
It’s true that people will be more susceptible to purchasing something from a business if they can relate to the people that they represent and this stat proves just that!
9. 70% of the hashtags on Instagram were made by a business
More than making your caption cute, the hashtag is used to organise posts into topical feeds and increase the trajectory of your reach. Did you know that posts with at least one hashtag average a 12.6% higher engagement rate? When planning an event, remember to create a hashtag and carry that hashtag throughout the event and on all platforms and memorabilia.
10. Posts that feature faces get 38% more likes than those that don’t
Everybody likes to see something or more specifically someone that they can relate to, right?
Now that you have something quantifiable to go by, why not try out Instagram to market your next event?
And while you’re on there, give us a follow @UmthunziHotel?
Do you use Instagram for your marketing? Drop us a comment to let us know how the platform has worked for you.
