Instagram is a picture and video-sharing social networking service founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Now a must-have social media application, Facebook purchased the service in April 2012 for around $1 billion in cash and shares.

A SWOT analysis is an indispensable tool. It helps us get a clear, all-rounded picture of a company’s position. But before we delve into the SWOT analysis of Instagram, let’s first get to know the company a little better.

 

About Instagram

Instagram is a social media platform where users can explore trending material and browse other users’ content by tags and places. The app was first published for iOS in October 2010, and it quickly grew in popularity, with one million registered users in two months, ten million in a year, and one billion as of June 2018. The Android version was launched in April 2012, with a desktop interface published in November 2012, a Fire OS app published in June 2014, and a Windows 10 app launched in October 2016. Over 40 billion images have been uploaded as of October 2015.

 

Today, we’ll look at Instagram’s swot analysis and its competitors. Let’s get right into it.

 

SWOT Analysis of Instagram 

SWOT analysis of Instagram gives insights into the company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors that the company has some control over and can change. Opportunities and threats are external factors that the company has no control over. The corporation can act on opportunities and defend against challenges, but it cannot change them.

 

Let’s examine each of these in the coming section. 

1. Strengths of Instagram 

 

The features that provide a company with a competitive advantage are called strengths. Here are some of the strengths of Instagram. 

• Influencer Community

Instagram’s greatest strength is its influencer network and value proposition. Instagram has risen to be the first choice for firms to sell their products, including retail, fashion, beauty, and many more. Companies are using the strength of the Instagram community to enhance brand exposure, enhance interaction with their audience, showcase their goods or services and business culture, and enhance website traffic.

• Massive Outreach

More than 800 million people use Instagram and they all use it in their own ways.

Some individuals use it to create a collage of family images. Many individuals utilize it for commercial purposes, displaying the behind-the-scenes of their products. Others utilize it to generate money through product sponsorships. All of this implies that whatever your aim is, it is most certainly achievable on Instagram.

• Usage of Hashtags

Hashtags offer an opportunity to reach a mass audience. 7 out of 10 posts contain hashtags, and posts with at least one hashtag receive 12.6 per cent more interaction than those without.

• High Engagement Levels

As of 2021, the android version is the most engaging platform for brands, with 2-7% per cent of users interacting with each post.

• First Multimedia Platform

Instagram was the first social networking platform for sharing photos and videos, and it was extremely creative and unique back in 2010.

 

 

2. Weaknesses of Instagram

Weaknesses are the obstacles faced by the company that might hinder its progress if not attended to. Let’s look at some of the weaknesses of Instagram in brief. 

 

• Privacy Issues 

Facebook has faced several issues regarding its user’s privacy and leakage of personal data. This makes people feel unsafe and they now question the security of this platform as Facebook is Instagram’s parent company.

• The Issue in Paid Promotions

For the people and businesses who use paid advertising and promotional tools, the platform does not guarantee that its users will leave the platform and visit that particular website.

 

 

3. Opportunities for Instagram

Opportunities are another way of identifying the brand’s strengths and weaknesses. They are aspects in the external environment that have the potential to generate value in the future. So, let’s discuss some of the opportunities for Instagram. 

 

• Video Ads

Many advertising companies provide ad and narrative development services. Instagram should think about including a built-in one-minute short video ad production option so that small businesses may generate it without employing a third party.

• Sponsorships

Businesses and companies pay celebrities and influencers to market their product and create awareness. Some people’s livelihoods are based on sponsorships and the promotion of the company’s products. Instagram can make the most of this. 

 

4. Threats to Instagram

Threats are the major obstructions to the company’s success. In order to stay ahead of the competition, improving and rectifying these is crucial.

 

• Limited Visibility

With more than 800 million people using Instagram, it has become difficult for ordinary people to become known and visible. Only a few people get attention.

• Scheduled Posting

Many tools have come up which allow people to schedule their posts without the user having to log in to the platform. This decreases the number of active users.

•  Question of Self Esteem

Young men and women appear to be flocking to cosmetic surgeons as a result of social media platforms and “selfie culture.” To achieve the bodies they see on the platform, more people are going for surgeries like Botox, fillers, and Brazilian butt lifts. These bodies, of course, are frequently altered or the result of phone filters. However, a person’s self-esteem might be harmed after a while. 

 

 

Conclusion

Instagram is the World’s leading videos/photos-sharing social media platform. Its greatest strengths are its influencer community and massive outreach. A lot of people earn through promoting other brands’ products on Instagram. The key difficulties are lower visibility and the scheduled posting. The presence of digital media has expanded dramatically during the last several decades and Instagram has been at the forefront, leading and coming out at the top.

Thank you for reading our blog. We hope you found what you were looking for. If you did, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Check out IIDE’s Free Masterclass on Digital Marketing to step foot into this sphere.