Despite all the hype, Instagram is still not the most-used social platform. It ranks fifth on the list of most popular social networks with 1.2 billion active users across the globe. Other social networks, for example, Facebook (2.74 billion active users) and YouTube (2.29 billion active users) are twice as big as Instagram based on the number of active users and offer more reach. Not only that, Instagram's user base is dominated by teens and the young crowd. 33% of Instagrammers are 25 to 34 years old and another 30% are 18 to 24 years old. This means that businesses that target an older or mixed audience can not reach most of their target customers on Instagram.
Infographics by GO-Globe Web Design Bahrain
Advertising costs are also higher on Instagram compared to other social networks. Yet, 20.3% of businesses say they get more sales from Instagram as compared to 79.7% of businesses that get more sales from Facebook. Instagram is not the most popular choice among marketers and B2B buyers. In addition, most internet users still prefer e-commerce giants, Amazon, and search engines for their online shopping inspirations.
The visibility of business ads and posts heavily depends on Instagram's algorithm which means businesses have to stay on their toes to remain relevant, visible, and competitive in their market. Not only that, Instagram does not provide businesses access to customer data that can be used for future marketing, building long-term customer loyalty, or encouraging repeat purchases.
