UPDATED 23:28 EDT / AUGUST 15 2016

NEWS

Instagram just became a lot more business-friendly

The Instagram photo-sharing app is home to more than 200,000 advertisers of every persuasion, and they’re just dying to connect with you. And now, with the launch of Instagram’s new “Business Profiles” feature, they may very well do just that.

Instagram first announced the new features about two months ago. In a blog post, the company detailed new features such as business profiles, insights and the ability to promote certain posts, similar to how the sponsored posts on its parent site Facebook work. Now, those features are ready to go live.

Business profiles allows companies to set up a profile with a “contact” button that allows interested parties to call or message the business in question without leaving the app. Are you salivating over the delicious-looking dessert? Simply place a call and reserve a table at the restaurant. Saw a pair of shoes you’d die for? Just email and find out if they have your size in stock.

As for the new Insights feature, Instagram says this provides businesses with “actionable information about who their followers are and [whose] posts resonate better than others”. The idea is simple enough – by understanding the behavior and demographics of their followers, businesses can create more relevant and timely content for their audience.

Lastly, the promoted posts feature works by transforming “well-performing posts into ads right within the app”. Businesses just select an existing post of theirs, add an action button, select a targeted audience, then decide how long they’d like the ad to run.

According to Wired.com, Instagram is rolling out its business tools in Europe first of all, with Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. to follow in the “coming months”. By the end of this year the tools will be available globally, the company said.

Image credit: Freestocks via pixabay

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