Instagram is releasing a host of new tools for businesses after polling corporate users on what they needed to be more active on the service. Among the changes: a new business-specific profile, launching ads directly from posts in the mobile app, and better analytics.
- As Tech Crunch points out, this update was long rumored and mirror much of what had been predicted earlier (TechCrunch)
- Perhaps the biggest enhancement, per Instagram’s blog, is the ability to contact companies through the app (text, call, or email) (Instagram)
- Instagram is rolling out the service to US, Australia and New Zealdan immediately and plans to have it globally available by end of 2016 (The Next Web)
- While the tools sound great, Recode sounds the alarm that this could be a step towards pay-for-play exposure, just like Instagram-parent Facebook (Recode)
No word yet on how Instagram will alert businesses to the availability of the switch to this profile suite, but assume it will happen in app.
