If you’re an entrepreneur and have a startup, you probably should to be paying attention to Instagram.
Just in the last year, Instagram Growth has, in fact, surpassed Twitter in the number of monthly users it gets.
Since this, Instagram has been working harder than ever to make the app more user-friendly, as well as soaking up the attention it’s getting from businesses by making it more business-friendly, too.
There’s a lot to be said for Instagram and business – and there are many success stories out there. Let’s take a look at some of these and the reasons why you need to be using Instagram for your startup.
The Success of Instagram
So, just what exactly is Instagram, then? Instagram is a video and photo sharing social media platform that is owned by Facebook.
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger originally launched the Instagram app for IOS in 2010. After it was officially launched in 2010, Instagram began to gain in popularity rapidly. This social media giant garnered one million monthly users in just two months.
By the end of the year, it had 10 million monthly users, and as of late 2017, it had 800 million. Needless to say, Instagram is a booming social media giant that is not only great for sharing photos with your friends, but also for giving you an entrepreneurial leg up.
Instagram has 25 million business accounts currently live and operating worldwide. Up to date data and analytics allow Instagram business entrepreneurs to have more information about their target demographic at their fingertips than they’ve ever had access to before.
There’s no doubt that Instagram growth is an integral part of any entrepreneurs journey to the finish line. Marketing online through social media websites like Instagram has never been more affordable, and it takes less time than you think to build up a following.
Let’s take a look at three successful entrepreneurs and how Instagram was essential for this.
Anish Bhatt: @watchanish
Anish Bhatt was out of a job and out of ideas when he launched @watchanish, the world’s first digital-only watch, and lifestyle publication.
Combining his passion for design and photography, along with his extensive knowledge and passion for fine watches, Anish built a successful company through his Instagram business page, without having to spend any of his budget on traditional marketing.
Anish worked hard on his posts and publications, amassing an impressive 1.6 million Instagram followers organically through his stunning photography and design.
When he first started out, he was active on the social media giant, liking and commenting on other influencer’s photos and making sure that he was being seen. It wasn’t a chore, and it didn’t cost him anything – but it inevitably grew his account to what it is today.
This gung-ho entrepreneur now has a powerhouse of a brand that continually catches the attention of watch brands that are looking to collaborate and expand their own digital footprint.
Instagram has been the primary reason that Anish was so successful with his company.
Sean Perelstein: @spjeweler
Sean Perelstein’s journey to where he is today is wrought with frustration and struggle – yet it’s thanks to Instagram that he eventually found success.
Sean is the CEO of Sing HD, a luxury jewelry brand that works with exotic materials which include alligator, python and stingray leather, along with searching for the best precious metal and jewels.
However, this young, hungry entrepreneur wasn’t finding the success that he was looking for. Seven years after finishing a college degree he was still toiling with designs and wondering how to get his brand noticed.
When Instagram was at its earliest stages, Perelstein was introduced through a friend. He began to take photos of the pieces that he’d made and posted them on Instagram. His natural talents that lay in design and photography allowed him to create ideal lifestyle settings that were great displays for his pieces.
It didn’t take long for these posts to garner the attention of Instagrammers around the world. In fact, they came in droves – and he landed his first sale through the social media giant.
These days, Sean is negotiating deals with some of the finest names in the business, from Saks Fifth Avenue to Cartier. All because he decided to launch an Instagram business page.
Jason Stone: @millionaire_mentor
Jason Stone has used his Instagram business page to build himself up to be a successful entrepreneur who now has a mighty empire of motivation and inspiration.
These factors have helped to fuel an incredibly impressive passive income, and it’s all through his Millionaire Mentor feed. The affiliated marketing opportunities that he’s landed through Instagram has seen him get paid more than $100,000 a month, without having to pay a single cent on traditional marketing techniques.
Jason currently has over 2 million Instagram followers, who have watched him create another business under the same umbrella: Door Coupons.
Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Door Coupons allows a low-cost entry into the local marketplace for advertising. It allows existing franchisees to potentially earn thousands of dollars a month with next to no upfront investment.
This is a company that has used online digital marketing to reach consumers directly. There’s no better way to connect with potential customers than where they’re guaranteed to be – in the world of Instagram.
Stone’s success is a testament to the fact that Instagram is now a highly lucrative marketing model, and if you use it in the right way, you could also become the website’s next millionaire entrepreneur.
Final Thoughts
With all this opportunity and none of the expense, it’s a no-brainer that every entrepreneur should have their startup out there in the world of Instagram.
While it’s not the easiest road, it’s undoubtedly one of the most lucrative at the end of it all. Instagram, among other social media platforms with the increase in the use of Instagram growth services has taken the reigns of traditional marketing and turned it completely on its head.
When it comes to using Instagram for business, the only way is up. It’s no wonder that people opt for Instagram to build their brand for them.
