Online Shopping: 5 Retail Brands to Follow on Instagram

E-commerce has evolved over the years and has moved on to bigger and better things, namely social media, which has breathed new life into the concept. E-commerce, the way we remember it, no longer remains the same.

Today, the entire world is on social media, therefore, it has become the easiest platform for marketers to tap into their target customers on a global scale and with the introduction of Online Video Shopping, even more so. With platforms like Facebook and Instagram bringing this concept to the fore, brands have been adapting very unique and innovative ways to engage with their target audience.

When we talk about Video Shopping Platforms, Instagram certainly deserves a mention. This photo-sharing app has become the favourite of a billion users and brands – be it a well-established one or a new entrant – are making their presence known through the medium. Every brand has its own signature content. From witty humour to heart-touching emotional content, they are trying everything to woo their customers.

At a time when visual content remains a crucial part of any business' marketing strategy, Instagram marketing presents a unique opportunity to visually represent your brand, celebrate its personality, and keep it top-of-mind for all those users who scroll through their Instagram feeds every single day.

Although they're few and far between, there are some brands out there – in every industry, and with every type of target customer – that are doing really, really well on Instagram. We’ve curated a list of 5 such brands which have inspired small businesses too.

Lego

Boasting of over 3.8 million followers, Lego has really made its Instagram mark. If you’re not following Lego, you’re missing out on some seriously entertaining content that isn’t just product plugs for kids. The famous plastic building block brand’s Instagram feed is full to the brim with fun takes on pop culture references which many people appreciate.

Vans

Vans is known for its stylish shoes, but the brand's use of social media is just as stylish. Its Instagram business account is no exception. The account of the classic checkered slip on maker has quite the flamboyant feed. It features both standalone product shots as well as action photographs of people expressing themselves in their favourite Vans gear. The account’s most unique quality is probably the amount of skateboarding content it has. The brand doesn’t just appeal to teenage skaters anymore but shows its loyalty to that lifestyle in an engaging way.

Shiseido

Shiseido started with a mission to ‘inspire a life of beauty and culture’ – something they portray beautifully through their Instagram content. They post three images at a time so the posts appear in a row pattern on their larger feed – a very clever and original way to present content.

Sephora Collections

Sephora Collections' brand personality is playful, colourful, and feminine and it does a wonderful job of characterizing that personality in its Instagram content. Their use of bright colours, patterns, and fun captions is highly engaging. This branded Sephora account also diversifies its feed with a lot of fun video content that gives off the same quirky vibes.

IKEA

The Instagram account of this Swedish furniture company shows off products, teaches users how to assemble them, and invites followers to shop IKEA’s photos, therefore letting them know where to buy the product they’ve liked. Moreover, the link in their Instagram bio leads to a landing page with all Instagram photos, each linking to the product page on the website. It allows the brand to streamline the buying process by giving the audience an option to know exactly where they can buy the product in the pictures. Ideas to steal, anyone?

With so many users and brands slaying the content game on Instagram, it’s super challenging to stand out from the crowd with your content. But impossible is nothing for those creative and ready to experiment for future success. And now that Instagram has the live video shopping feature, you can get even more creative with your content and reach out to a wider audience.

A digital marketer & content creator with an extensive experience of 7 years working with my passion.