5 reasons why people are drawn to Instagram
By Felicia Guthrie
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, in fact, Sprout Social reported that it is the third most popular platform with 1 billion monthly active users, but what is it about the platform that draws us in? If you’re not yet on Instagram, if you are an aspiring marketer, or if you are just curious, here are five reasons we are drawn to Instagram.
#1: IT’S LIKE A DRUG
Dopamine, a chemical produced by our brains is released when something gratifying happens -like eating tasty food, after working out or having sex, and yes, apparently after positive social media interactions! Have you noticed that receiving likes and positive comments makes you feel good? That’s dopamine being released and, just like drugs, it’s addictive. Feeling the positive effects of dopamine makes us want to experience them again and again, and so we keep posting.
#2: IT’S VISUAL
Instagram is a visually based, image and video sharing app. So, why is that important? Well, 91% of people prefer visual content rather than written content. Our attention spans have also decreased to less than a goldfish, so being able to quickly scroll through images rather than read text, is much more appealing, comfortable and convenient.
#3: IT’S MOBILE-FRIENDLY
We all know that phones play a major role in our lives today, from calling and texting to social media, web surfing and more, we spend so much time on our phones. In the United States alone, it is estimated that people spend nearly 3 hours a day on their smartphones. When you consider how much time we spend on our phones, it makes sense that we prefer to use websites and apps that are mobile-friendly.
#4: IT CONNECTS US
Another reason why we are drawn to Instagram is that it connects us. Through Instagram, we're able to connect to our friends and family. We’re able to connect with strangers with similar interests and we’re able to connect with influencers, celebrities, and companies. It presents an easy way for us to see what’s going on in the lives of others, making them more accessible and relatable.
#5: IT IS SUPER EASY TO USE
One of the reasons that Instagram is so popular is that it’s so easy to use. You can upload and even edit a picture in seconds. There are even easy to use, third party apps such as Snapseed that allow you to edit your photos to take them to the next level. Not only is it super easy to share your own photos but it’s also easy to use the app’s many features. Looking for something specific? No problem. Instagram’s search feature makes finding people, places, and interests (through hashtags) a breeze. Up-to-date posts from accounts that you follow are featured right in the ‘Home’ section, suggestions are a click away, and it’s super simple to find your interactions and engagements (likes, comments, etc). If you’re a business or blogger hoping to utilize Instagram, it’s also easy to monitor your success. Instagram provides you with a handy Insights section that shows helpful information such as the number of interactions (visits and clicks, for example) you’ve received over a week, your growth, and the demographics of your audience. Oh, and if you’re not sure what the insight lingo means, don’t worry, they feature a little info sign that, when clicked, tells you exactly what the term used means! So easy!
If you’re already on Instagram, let us know how you feel about the app. What is your favourite thing about Instagram? Or, if you don’t have an account yet, what interests you most about the image sharing app? Is it seeing posts by your friends and family? Having a sneak peek at the lives of the rich and famous? Is it the opportunity to build your business?We want to know!If you’re hoping to build or strengthen your business on Instagram, read more of our Instagram focused blogs, or reach out to us via email at hello@songbirdmarketing.com.