You probably don’t want to jump into Instagram advertising on your own. Hiring an agency will almost certainly lead to faster, more effective results. With the right agency in your corner, your brand awareness and conversion rate can get a serious boost. Not sure which agency is the best for your needs? Here are five Instagram agencies with a lot to offer:
Voy Media
This is a boutique agency founded in 2015 by Kevin Urrutia and Wilson Lin. They offer the personal touch of a boutique agency but also deliver the data-driven results of a much larger firm. They’re able to develop a complete online marketing campaign involving Instagram, Facebook Advertising, and other popular platforms.
Hiring one agency to coordinate all of your social media is often the most effective and cost-efficient way to advertise online. Voy Media will identify your target audience for each individual platform, and then develop targeted ad campaigns. With Instagram specifically, they’ll use photos and videos to tell a story related to your brand. All decisions are backed by data and scientific research.
Voy Media offers clients a scaling pricing system based on ads purchased each month. By avoiding a flat fee, you’ll get more return for your marketing investment. For example, if you buy $5,000 worth of ads, Voy Media will only charge you $1000. That’s a pretty good deal for content creation, copywriting and implementation.
Pros:
- Personal service with a dedicated account manager
- No set-up fees. Costs are a proportion of ad buys.
- Able to conduct simultaneous Instagram and Facebook ad campaigns
- Ad campaigns are both creative and data-driven
- Available to also do Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Twitter Ads and Pinterest Ads
Cons:
- Customer reports only available bi-weekly
- Small staff can be busy
Viral Nation
With offices in both Ontario and New York, Viral Nation focuses on visual social media platforms including Instagram, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat. Like a traditional advertising agency, they create campaigns for brands interested in generating awareness and buzz.
However, Viral Nation also represents a variety of influential social media stars. This means any company who hires Viral Nation has potential connections to established Instagram influencers among others. If you’re interested in establishing your brand as an authority in your industry, and you have a product which works well visually, Viral Nation is worth consideration.
Pros:
- Focus on visual social media platforms including Instagram
- Client list includes GoPro, Coca-Cola and Disney
- Extensive background in creating social media influencers
Cons:
- Smaller clients might not get as much attention as larger ones
- Not heavily focused on Facebook and other non-visual platforms
True North Social
If you’re primarily interested in creating ad to sell particular products, True North Social has a lot to offer. They’re able to create photos, videos and Instagram stories as part of a full campaign. Ideal for situations where you want to promote a specific product or service.
True North Social places a lot of emphasis on Instagram marketing. They even offer a full range of professional photography to highlight your products, services and brand. By using Instagram stories, they’re able to develop a long-term campaign designed to increase brand awareness among new customers.
Pros:
- Heavy focus on Instagram marketing
- Experienced photographers on staff
- Emphasis on increasing brand awareness
Cons:
- Also offers SEO and website, which may not be needed
- Two-person organization
Influencer Marketing Agency (IMA)
Looking for a way to tell your brand’s story on Instagram? IMA is a digital advertising agency known for placing an emphasis on beautiful photos and big events. They’re a go-to agency for sponsored events, product launches and other large-scale but one-time actions.
Unlike the other agencies we’ve mentioned, IMA is located outside of the U.S. Headquartered in Amsterdam, their extensive client list includes a variety of European-based companies including Diesel, L’Oréal and Farfetch. Overall, IMA is a great choice if you’re looking to increase the cool factor of your brand.
Pros:
- Strong background in image-based social media marketing
- Able to connect real-world events to brand’s social media channels
- Hip, fashionable mindset well-suited for younger brands
Cons:
- European-based company can be difficult to reach during U.S. business hours
- Emphasis on fashion and cutting-edge brands
Infinite
Based in Dallas, Infinite Marketing is a bit older than most of the agencies on the list. But older doesn’t mean out-of-touch. Originally an agency which focused on TV and radio ads, they’ve expanded over the years to include a variety of digital marketing including Instagram.
But they remain true to their roots, and that’s a big benefit for clients. They’re able to combine Instagram marketing with old-school methods such as live events and traditional ad buys. For instance, they recently completed a huge campaign for Dallas which combined live events and an Instagram art show.
Pros:
- Experienced agency comfortable with both digital and traditional advertising campaigns
- Able to involve real-world events
- Highly original, creative campaigns
Cons:
- Live events only possible in Dallas area
- Traditional marketing might not be necessary for your brand
Digital marketing plays a vital role in brand awareness and customer engagement for all types of businesses. Unfortunately, too often the idea of “digital marketing” is used to simply mean “Facebook marketing.” While Facebook is an important part of any marketing campaign, it’s not the only social media game in town.
Instagram can be a powerful marketing tool, capable of creating worldwide brand awareness and reaching an entirely new audience of potential customers. But promoting your company on Instagram is a process filled with many unique challenges. You’ll get the best results by hiring an agency dedicated specifically to Instagram marketing.
Not sure how to find the best Instagram advertising agency? We’re here to help. Our complete guide covers the benefits of Instagram advertising and what factors to consider when researching different agencies. Plus, we’ve created five mini-reviews for Instagram agencies we think you’ll love:
Choosing an Instagram Advertising Agency
What Type of Advertising Campaign Are You Interested In?
There’s no one Instagram advertising agency which is the clear best choice for everyone. Instead, you’ll want to find an agency which specializes in the type of advertising best suited for your situation.
Generally, Instagram ads have two separate purposes. First, you can create a large campaign to promote your brand. This means you’re not pushing any specific products. Instead, your Instagram presence is designed to increase brand awareness. Instagram Stories use a series of pictures and videos to create a larger ad campaign.
The other type of advertising is more traditional. Here the ad agency will create ads designed to promote specific products or services. Because Instagram is primarily an image-based platform, ads will typically focus on photos and illustrations with relatively minimal text.
Not sure which type of Instagram advertising is best for your brand? A consultation with an agency will help you figure out the best course of action. Just make sure the agency you choose has experience with the type of campaign you want to be conducted.
Does Agency Location Matter?
Because Instagram is available worldwide, you’re not limited to an agency located in your same city. While the ability to meet face-to-face can be nice, there aren’t any particular benefits in the long run. Instead, make sure the agency you choose is easy to reach by phone and email.
You’ll have a lot more options available when agency location isn’t a priority. This lets you focus instead on finding an agency with the specialized skills you need. As long as the agency maintains consistent communication, you shouldn’t have any problems, even if their office is located halfway around the world.
Watch Out for Red Flags
All agencies will promote their benefits, experience and general positive attributes. After all, they’re experts in advertising. But you want to look beyond the hype and consider any negative attributes.
Consider this the “glass half empty” approach. Instead of focusing on the benefits of an agency, consider all the potential negatives. By avoiding agencies with multiple red flags, you’ll be left with only quality agencies to consider.
So, what issues should set off alarm bells? Generally, avoid agencies which promise guaranteed results. Marketing and advertising are often an inexact science. It’s impossible to predict how effective any individual campaign will be, so avoid any agency which promises a specific outcome.
Also, avoid “one size fits all” marketing packages. These pre-made plans seldom consider the specifics of your brand. Instead, choose an agency which develops a custom plan based on your needs.
How Much Should Instagram Advertising Cost?
There’s no set answer here. Costs will vary based on the number of ads, their quality, their frequency and more. However, just because prices will vary doesn’t mean they should be a surprise.
Before any work begins, you should ask for a quote and a prospectus. All prices should be easy to understand. Many agencies offer the option of starting with a small campaign and then expanding it over time. This allows you to control costs and only pay for more work after the previous marketing efforts have shown some results.
Instagram Advertising 101
When Instagram first launched in 2010, many social media experts were slow to see its potential. The general idea was that this new service was too similar to Facebook. But Instagram’s image-heavy platform quickly grew in popularity among users, even if marketing pros were slow to notice.
Today, Instagram has over 800 million users, with over 500 active daily users. And the Instagram audience is significantly different than the people on Facebook. Teens have cut back on their Facebook use significantly, leaving Instagram as one of the most popular platforms for people under the age of 30.
Plus, Instagram often seems more “real” to users. Celebrities, brands and other influencers can use Instagram to connect with an audience in ways which feel authentic. This is why Instagram is often effective at generating buzz and awareness for a brand.
Why Choose an Instagram Ad Agency?
Instagram’s authenticity is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, a brand which appears authentic can attract a lot of positive attention. But Instagram users are also very quick to turn on a brand which comes across as insincere.
This is why an Instagram Agency is usually so helpful. They know how to create a message which Instagram users will respond to. Plus, an agency is able to draw on in-house data to make impactful decisions.
Agencies track a variety of data across their entire client roster. This helps them identify various trends and techniques which effectively reach potential customers. The bigger the agency, the more data is available to help achieve your brand’s specific needs. Of course, large agencies can sometimes feel more impersonal than smaller ones, so you want to find an agency with an appropriate balance.
Conclusion
Instagram is often easily dismissed by marketing pros, but with the right agency in your corner this image-based platform can be instrumental in building your brand. However, Instagram can be tricky to navigate, which is why you want experienced marketing professionals in your corner.
The best Instagram agency understands how to reach and connect with Instagram users, who are different than the users of all other social media platforms. Fortunately, the five companies above offer high-quality Instagram advertising services at affordable rates.
