Instagram, the popular ‘fast, beautiful and fun’ free photo-sharing iPhone app, was launched in October 2010 and quickly become the darling of photo-loving fashion trendies, tech savvies and photography geeks as an easy way to share snaps with their social network friends. With just a few clicks even the most amateur photographer can turn fairly simple photos into pieces of art. The app recently surpassed seven million users worldwide that are now sharing 1.3 million photos every day, so if you haven’t tried it yet now is the time.

As with all social sharing platforms brands are always interested in how they can use it to reach existing and new audiences and Instagram is no exception. The easy-to-use interface makes it possible to generate highly visual content with just a few clicks that invites fans to look behind-the-scenes, as well as give brands the power of communicating with followers through images.

Unsurprisingly many of the early adopters included fashion brands due to Instragram’s visual nature but there is also great scope for travel, beauty, food and lifestyle brands to join the Instragram community.

We’re certain to see more brands sign up as time passes, but for now here are five brands that are using Instragram very well:

Burberry

The British fashion powerhouse was an early adopter and is doing a fantastic job and as a result has over 86,000 followers to date. The photos the brand shares are a mix of professionally campaign shots, snaps of London scenery, and behind-the-scenes pictures from the world of Burberry.

Mango

This international retailer recently launched its Instragram channel and is happily snapping away, sharing new looks and shop window displays. They only have shared 18 photos so far but we expect them to increase rapidly.

ASOS

A fashion forward company there is no surprise that ASOS is an Instragram user. Having gathered almost 2,300 followers so far the online fashion retailer has linked its Instragram with a Facebook app for more convenient browsing. We’re sure ASOS’ one million Facebook fans don’t mind. In their own words ASOS uses Instragram to provide “inside access to all things fashion.” The daily photo update features behind-the-scenes pics at magazine and beauty shoots, as well as snap shots of what’s inspiring them and the hottest, newest products coming to ASOS. What’s not to like!

Starbucks

The coffee giant isn’t afraid to test the latest in social media and its “freshly brewed Instragrams” share coffees from all over the world along with other (sometimes non-coffee related) snippets from Camp Starbucks.

bmibaby.com

The low-cost airline launched its Instragram with a competition to promote its destinations, inviting people to submit photos using hashtag #bmibabygram that showcase the beauty, culture, traditions, landscape, people and cuisine of the country or city to be in with a chance to win a pair of flight tickets.

2 Responses to “Instagram and five brands that are getting snap happy”

1. Week in digital #1: A @Burberry #Tweetwalk, Facebook hosts 4% of ALL digital images, WIWT | Sutro Digital says:

   September 20, 2011 at 12:59 pm

   [...] how digitally minded Burberry is. The label was also one of the first to use photo sharing service Instagram to interact with [...]

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2. Step aside Google+, Twitter & Facebook there’s new social media in town… « Sonar: a Limelight PR blog says:

   February 6, 2012 at 11:37 am

   [...] which uses an Instagram gallery to allow followers to share their photos. Other brands such as Burberry, Mango, Starbucks & ASOS have used it as a way of creating content that their followers regularly engage with and talk [...]

   Reply