Instagram is a formidable presence in the marketing world and is arguably one of the most important networks currently on the market. Any marketer that is not utilizing the platform is missing out on incredible opportunities to grow a business. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small local business, utilizing Instagram as a part of your marketing strategy is essential.

Not sure how this social media platform fits in with your brand? Here are eight reasons why your brand absolutely needs Instagram.

1. Boosts brand visibility & enhance your branding

Instagram allows your brand to reach potential customers that were otherwise inaccessible prior to its existence. This is especially helpful for small businesses and online shops as it provides a fair opportunity for all brands to increase their visibility, regardless of their marketing budget.

2. Instagram gives you the unique opportunity to provide visual content

Storefronts and business cards can easily communicate the most important information about your business to potential customers. This, however, doesn’t provide much opportunity for your target audience to really get to know your brand. Visual content allows you to take charge of not only how your brand is seen, but also how potential customers can fully understand the mood and direction of your brand as well.

3. Track your analytics

Rather than posting a picture and hoping that your audience will jump to action, you can easily use analytics to inform your posting habits. With tools like Iconosquare, you can see what your audience responds to and which posts lead to the highest conversion rates. With Instagram, it is easier than ever to know definitively which strategies work and which do not.

4. Instagram results in higher sales

According to Shopify, a computer software platform for online stores, Instagram drives higher sales than any other social network, except Polyvore, another social e-commerce platform. The average order value through Instagram referrals is $65, according to Shopify. The next highest revenue through social referrals is through YouTube, which lags behind at a meek average of $37.63.

5. Easily engage with your community

Instagram has the highest engagement rate of all the social media networks, including both Facebook and Twitter. It seems that users are much more open to branded content on Instagram than they are virtually anywhere else. It is also easier to engage with your community as your content is more discoverable, thanks to hashtags. Likewise, many marketing tools such as Growr are able to help your brand reach out to more users per minute than you would be able to anywhere else on the Internet. By utilizing tools such as Growr, you can gain a significant number of followers, engage with potential customers more easily, and create a larger community to share your content.

6. Instagram Videos are great for getting shares on Facebook

Instagram videos are more shareable than any other videos online because they are short, direct, and easily found. According to Unruly, a video ad tech company, 90 percent of Instagram video shares are shared on Facebook. For marketers trying to harness some of that social momentum on Instagram, this is an easy way to increase traffic between both the two platforms.

7. Great for keeping an eye on your competitors

Your competitors already have something that you want: customers! Instagram gives you the unique advantage of being able to spy on them and observe their tactics. You can easily learn what works, what doesn’t, and ensure that you can create the best strategy for your brand.

8. Instagram has the highest conversion rates for social networking platforms

It would be naive to say that direct sales are the main purpose of Instagram marketing as there is a lot more activity on Instagram than there is purchasing. Instagram does, however, increase the average conversion rates for brands utilizing the platform. According to Shopify, brands can expect a one-percent conversion rate for their users. This means that for every 100 visitors they have on their site, one of them will make a purchase. This doesn’t seem very high but it is among the highest rates among all social networking sites.

There you have it, eight reasons why your brand should be using Instagram as a marketing platform. Every business will have a different experience, but all businesses can benefit from this social media platform.

Marquis is a writer, social media manager and SEO content marketer. She currently lives on the coast of Ecuador, working remotely as a freelancer. Her primary focus is on building online visibility of new, up and coming brand, particularly brands that promote health and wellness. She lives a nomadic lifestyle, though is originally from California.