Rise of rich media: Instagram, Pinterest introduce new ad-services for brands

Instagram is making it easier for brands to tell and sell their story through imagery. The photo-sharing platform announced on its blog on Wednesday that it has introduced a new format called ‘carousel ads’ where marketers can upload and share multiple images in one post. This in turn allows people on their ad to swipe left to view more images as well as click on a link of the product or brand for additional information.

‘One way to look at it is carousel ads bring the potential of multi-page print campaigns to mobile phones – with the added benefit of taking people to a website to learn more. For instance, a fashion company could use the carousel to deconstruct the individual products in a ‘look.’ A car company might share an array of different features of a vehicle and provide a link to learn more about the new model. Or, an advertiser could showcase how multiple ingredients come together to make a delicious meal,’ the post read.

This move marks a shift towards web searches for the platform which has till now been only known for its photo-sharing capacity.

Meanwhile, Pinterest is also revising its ad-targeting services, allowing advertisers a more precise way to reach intended audiences. Marketing Week noted that although ‘Pinterest’s ad services are not currently available in the UK, brands can use the service to create tailored ‘boards’ with brand content.’

These developments tie in well and reinstates the topic of our recent white paper on how visual media or the so called- rich media platforms are the future of content marketing.

The white paper titled Show & Tell: How to Use Visual Social Media Networks for PR demonstrates how visual media has proved to offer people a better experience in an era of portable digital media. Moreover, the rise of rich media platforms throws light on the evolving social networking landscape,  now enhanced by video, audio and images.

Download now to find out how you make the most of visual social media: Show & Tell: How to Use Visual Social Media Networks for PR