We’ve recently filled you in on exciting new changes at Instagram including a revamped desktop site, improved hashtag marketing opportunities and multi-image, aesthetically-pleasing sponsored advertisements. While all of the changes have been exciting, the popular social media giant has not finished sharing the news. The latest marketing news is that Instagram has switched on its application programming interface for advertisements (API).
API Explained
Without getting unnecessarily technical, what this means is that Instagram will no longer be the sole source for advertising on the network. It will now be possible to buy ad space on Instagram via third-party sources who are officially affiliated with the social platform. This means buying ad space will be quicker, easier and astoundingly less expensive. Prior to switching on API, marketers who were interested in advertising had to reach out to official, exclusive sales representatives from the company to negotiate deals to be sure they’re images were completely in line with the Instagram aesthetic. These advertising deals also started from $200,000.
Instagram’s Expansion
All of the exciting changes we’ve announced at Instagram are not where the fun stops. It is now possible to schedule Instagram posts in advance via third-party applications after longtime requests from marketers and even everyday users themselves. Now that just about any marketer may advertise on the app, Instagram is adding new technology to ensure that users stay pleased. Similar to Facebook, it will have the hide post feature and similar functions so that users may streamline their feeds to show more of what they want to see and less of what they don’t. Instagram also has access to a vast supply of data and advertising technology thanks to its parent company, Facebook.
To highlight the significance of this opportunity, it is estimated that Instagram’s $595 million per year mobile advertising revenue will more than quadruple in just two years’ time. If this prediction comes to fruition, it means advertising revenue would surpass even those of such giants as Google.
Why Advertise on Instagram?
Instagram is an important social media platform to get involved with for organic social media marketing, hashtag marketing and now advertising. It is currently projected to be the second largest social platform in the U.S. (Facebook is number one) and while other networks are slowing down with regards to growth (including Facebook), Instagram continues to outdo itself and the competition by leaps and bounds.
