TOP 10 Instagram Marketing Trends in 2022
Before Instagram introduced the ability to publish stories, marketing within the social network was limited to sponsored posts and content. Stories on Instagram have become an additional channel for brand promotion. In addition, new methods are constantly being developed on the platform through IGTV vertical videos, Reels, and more. In this article, we will look at the current trends on Instagram that you can use to promote your brand.
TOP 10 Trends on Instagram
Marketing on Instagram is dynamic, so predicting the near future of the social network is not easy. Based on the main trends, you can determine what will be popular on Instagram in the coming period.
1. Increase purchases on Instagram
Online selling on Instagram is not new. The social network is actively developing Social commerce. The platform provides a huge number of tools for instantly going to the site using a link, placing an order, sending a message, and other actions that lead to a purchase. Many brands choose Instagram as their main platform for online sales and promotion. Thanks to a simple principle, Instagram allows you to communicate with your audience. And with the help of the visual style of the platform, transfer to display goods, services. So, on a social network platform, you can use:
- Links in Instagram Stories
The feature first became available in 2017. Since then, brands have been using this tool. A direct link leads directly to the desired product, which increases the conversion. Therefore, the popularity of Stories on Instagram and the tendency to buy links will only increase. In addition, disappearing stories can be saved in the “Actual” section. Therefore, there is no need to update the information daily. You can leave directing users to a folder with saved links.
- The presence of online stores on Instagram
A large number of offline stores have been forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual online stores have become an alternative way. On the page, you can visually arrange a photo with goods for a more real and detailed demonstration. To reach the target audience that is interested in your products, you should use the appropriate hashtags.
2. Stories on Instagram
In continuation to the previous point, it is worth noting the popularity of the stories themselves. For the first time, short 15-second and “live” stories appeared in 2016. Since then, it has been an important marketing tool on Instagram. Brands use the function to realize creative possibilities and will continue to do so. Instagram Stories are versatile, so you should use the tool in your Instagram marketing strategy. With the help of filters, stickers, and other effects, you can create original offers that are beneficial for users.
Stories features:
- Advertising and promotions
Short stories are more entertaining but addictive. Therefore, they are an effective means of advertising campaigns and promotion. Instagram Stories are great for promotions like giveaways, contests, short video ads, product launch announcements. Instagram Stories are short-lived, which develops a sense of urgency in the user.
Polls in stories help you get to know your target audience, find out consumer preferences for your brand or product. Surveys also help to get an idea of what customers want or expect in the future and increase brand loyalty. Holding a competition and awarding the winners is an additional reason for interaction.
3. Vertical video
More often, users access the application from a smartphone. Therefore, the emergence of the vertical video was inevitable. Instagram Live, Stories, and IGTV, Reels support the vertical format. If you rely on trends then video content in 2022 will become the leader in popularity. Video product reviews allow you to better understand the product and make a buying decision faster.
4. Influencer Marketing (Influencer Marketing)
A well-known trend on Instagram, which also does not slow down. In the new year 2022, brands will focus on micro-influencers (up to 100K followers). Collaboration with influencers will be the basis of marketing strategies. Brands use influencers to create posts, link back to their own website, increase engagement, and even drive sales. Social media influencers help in promoting the product as well as creating quality content.
The advantage of Influencer Marketing is the low cost of services.
Several effective ways of cooperation:
- Influencers Network
Buying ads from several influencers at once. Where brands used to pick one or two influencers and send them free products to review, now is the era of massive influencer marketing.
- Hashtags for advertising campaigns
The idea involves creating a specific hashtag for a specific ad campaign and promoting it, including all formats: stories, page posts, influencer recommendations.
- Influencer Invitation Events
As part of an advertising campaign, you can organize an event, for example, in honor of the opening of an offline store, a themed evening, during which opinion leaders mark the brand page, leave a link to the online store, or express their own opinion. The influencer reaches a large number of followers and attracts the attention of the audience. This increases brand awareness and helps promote the product.
5. New features – additional features
Instagram regularly adds useful features and auxiliary tools. Now it is not just a chronological visual news feed, it is an opportunity to interact with potential customers 24/7 and communicate with them in real-time. Competition is growing, which forces social networks to develop to get more subscribers and customers.
Also Read: Mobile Marketing TOP 10 Trends for 2022
Instagram is known to be testing an improved analytics platform that will help businesses grow once it’s launched. There’s also news of a new feature called Promoted Stories that will help promote selected stories for maximum reach.
6. Tweets and memes
Instagram has increased the amount of humorous content. Users publish screenshots of funny tweets in the form of posts, Instagram stories, tag friends and acquaintances. On the social network site, there are Instagram accounts designed specifically for publishing such content. #mememarketing
Marketers are using this trend to their advantage. People like the humor on the platform, so they are more likely to perceive branded content as native. At the same time, it is not necessary to create memes and tweets, you can just exchange fresh jokes.
7. Instagram Live
Instagram Live was first launched in 2016. Live and streaming videos have a number of advantages. Firstly, the feature allows you to interact with the target audience in real-time and provides two-way communication. Users can comment and ask questions, get instant answers.
Live broadcasts attract an audience to your business. You can use live videos to conduct a Q&A section. This is an opportunity to understand the pains of clients, to get information about their needs. Instagram Live allows you to interview an expert or influencer, highlight current topics from a niche. This is a good way to not only attract but also benefit the audience. Live videos are attractive and interactive and arouse interest.
8. Interactive on Instagram
Instagram offers a large number of interactive tools to engage and interest the audience. Many brands and marketers are experimenting with interactive content.
Examples might be:
- Ask a question in a Story or in a post asking for a comment;
- Create a multiple-choice survey;
- Conduct a quiz
- Set a countdown to the publication of a post, the launch of a collection, or another important event;
- Use other stickers in Stories, of which there is a huge number on Instagram.
Feel free to experiment. The audience of the social network perceives such interactive activities well and participates in them with pleasure.
9. Instagram Stories Ads
Instagram Stories ads appear between stories in the feed, so the ad fits seamlessly into the content. This is the reason why story ads “work” better than other types where you need to highlight a sponsored or branded product. Marketers are investing more in Instagram Stories ads, realizing the benefits of the current trend.
There are three types of Stories ads available on Instagram: images, videos, and carousels (3 images or videos in one ad).
There are a few rules to keep in mind before buying Instagram Stories ads:
- add a call to action to your Instagram Stories ad, as that is what will drive traffic to the site.
- advertising should be simple and understandable, since the video or image is shown for only a few seconds, you need to quickly convey the idea to the user.
- minimal text with added visuals to grab the attention of the audience right away.
- correct placement of text that detracts from the word “sponsored” at the top.
- Highlight offers or discounts in an ad.
- use a quality image to get more clicks.
- you can add a price.
Instagram Stories ads help you promote your brand, products, and services, and get more conversions.
10. Tab “Search and Interesting”
The feature allows you to see the content you post on Instagram and find more accounts to follow. This is a personalized selection of content collected on the basis of the likes left and the viewing history. The option works on the basis of machine learning and includes built-in algorithms. The social network filters information by categories: best, accounts, tags, places. Marketers additionally use SEO for Instagram search, optimizing the profile and content for keywords, hashtags for a specific niche. Using the right hashtags will help you appear as high on the Search & Explore tab as possible in the feed.
Conclusion
Instagram is actively developing, and current trends will determine the future of marketing in the social network. To stay competitive and stand out from the crowd of Instagram accounts, you need to be aware of current trends. The top 10 Instagram trends you need to use to succeed in the marketing game.
