With nearly 300 million users, Instagram is not a new concept. It’s a household name. My mom has an Instagram if that clarifies it. However, companies have proven that Instagram isn’t just for moms, selfies or cat pics. For example, 123 of 300 Fortune 500 companies utilize a company Instagram account, making it a great tool for public relations professionals. Typically, brands will post photos of their products or encourage influential Instagram users to do the same.
LIKEtoKNOW.It is changing this game.
Technology called LIKEtoKNOW.It is a shopping service that Instagram users can subscribe to if they want to learn more about products pictured. Instagram users that become LIKEtoKNOW.It marketers post a recognizable link, beginning with www.liketk.it, in a post’s caption, then, LIKEtoKNOW.It users simply “like” the Instagram post to receive information via email of the ready-to-shop items featured. The service was created to form technological and commercial relationships between third-party retailers, advertisers and other businesses.
LIKEtoKNOW.It boasts that it has driven up to $25 million in sales. This achievement has led to the recent inclusion of 30 global retailers, suggesting widespread growth. Used mainly by bloggers, LIKEtoKNOW.It’s success comes from the organic look of each post. Consumers are quick to trust bloggers, because they seem more like a friend than spokesperson. Even an Instagram post using LIKEtoKNOW.It appears less sales-like to users than a company’s pitch via their own Instagram account. In other words, it will make sense for companies to promote products by encouraging LIKEtoKNOW.It marketers to post photos featuring their products.
Essentially, LIKEtoKNOW.It is a win-win for all parties involved. Instagram gets more content. LIKEtoKNOW.It users easily get the information they want as consumers. Companies know whom to target for organic posts that generate results, and LIKEtoKNOW.It marketers get benefits like promotional products. PR professionals should definitely be aware of how LIKEtoKNOW.It might change how they utilize Instagram.
– Amy Alexander, Intern, Team Joanna
