Photo sharing app Instagram has just released further details about its forthcoming tools for businesses.
With a growing number of businesses turning to Instagram to promote and boost their company, the app is increasing the number of business tools, based on feedback from hundreds of brands.
The features include new business profiles for companies, deeper insights into posts & the ability to promote certain images.
Business profiles
The business profiles let companies create a new profile that is different from normal accounts.
The free feature allows businesses to let customers contact them directly, either by call, text or email, by clicking a contact button, as well as giving them store directions.
And those with business profiles can also unlock access to the two other features – insights and promote.
In February, London dating app TrueView revealed a set of campaigns on Instagram drove a 62% increase in app installs.
And with the results of the campaign, the startup said it plans to invest 400% more in spending on Instagram for the future.
New Instagram insights
The new insights tools let businesses get actionable information about their followers and their most popular posts, all available in the mobile app.
Earlier this week, the photo-sharing giant revealed it had reached the milestone of 500m users, with a massive 300m using the app every day.
Brands can promote posts
The final new tool is promote, which allows brands to turn well-performing posts into ads.
Companies just choose an Instagram post, click to add a button encouraging people to take action, and select a target audience.
Speaking about the new set of tools, Instagram said: “With these new business tools on Instagram, the furniture store in San Francisco can receive emails from customers saving valuable time responding.
“The retailer in Austin can better understand its audience, tailor its content and refine its marketing strategy–even beyond digital. And the do-it-yourself craft shop in New York City can quickly fill a seat, move a product or get people into its store with ads on mobile.”
The three features are currently rolling out in the US, Australia and New Zealand, and will be available across the globe by the end of 2016.
Find out more here.