Since a picture is worth a thousand words, these creative Instagram marketing ideas are a fantastic way for brands to share stories with consumers, especially as sharing on social media becomes more oriented towards strong visuals over text.
Even though attention spans are short, Instagram by nature is a fast way to grab someone's attention, whether it's in photo or video format. Some of these creative uses of Instagram include taking advantage of the grid view on a mobile device to create collages, flipbook-style animations, app-based shops, auctions or even an elaborate interactive choose-your-own-adventure experience. There's quite a range in how easy or complex it would be to put together these campaigns, but with a little creative thinking, there are plenty of ways to promote a product or service on any budget, which is part of the beauty of social media—plus, there's always the chance that a campaign could go absolutely viral.
46 Instagram Marketing Ideas
From Interactive Mobile Catalogs to Insta-Photo Timelines:
Laura McQuarrie — Jul 19, 2014 — Marketing
45
Puppy-Injected Selfies
This Dallas Pets Alive! Campaign Has Dogs Interrupt Selfies on Instagram
44
Social Media-Sourced Models
These Unconventional Diesel Models Were Spotted on Social Media
43
Instagram-Casted Fashion Ads
The Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2014 Campaign Stars Fresh Faces
42
Insta-Wreckage Auto Ads
Toyota's 'Don't Shoot and Drive' Instagram Ad Puts Filters on Wrecks
41
Hashtag Currency Shops
The Daisy Marc Jacobs Pop Up Shop Will Accept Tweets as Payment
40
Paper Doll Lookbooks
Tanya Taylor's Resort Collection Lookbook Features Paper Doll Models
39
Social Media-Sourced Ads
The Land of Nod's May Cover Stars the Adorable and Viral Theo and Beau
38
Social Media-Reserving Car Purchases
The BMW M5 Instagram Promotion Provides Real-Time Buyers Info
37
Hashtag Currency Restaurants
The Picture House by Bird's Eye Lets You Pay with a Hashtag
36
Pop Star Cosmetic Campaigns
Katy Perry's New COVERGIRL Collection is 'InstaGLAM'
35
Unappealing Food Share Campaigns
The #MealForShare Instagram Food Campaign Serves Up Better Eats
34
Selfie-Friendly Hotels
Australia's 1888 Hotel is Instagram-Friendly
33
Social Media-Inspired Shops
The Online Startup 'Keep' Lets You Buy Items You See on Instagram
32
Social Media Coolness Scales
AXE Measures Your Social Media Activity to Tell If You're a Try-Hard
31
Interactive Mobile Catalogs
IKEA PS 2014 on the Move Was Presented in Full on Instagram
30
Instagram-Based TV Premieres
Adult Swim's 'Rick and Morty' Was Launched in Full on Instagram
29
Creative Menu Collages
Pizzeria Libretto Shares Pizza Photos in Bite Sized Pieces on Instagram
28
Social Gambling Apps
This Unibet App Lets You Bet with Social Currency Versus Real Money
27
Perma-Loading Prankvertisements
MTS' Instagram Stunt Highlights the Perks of 4G Mobile Internet
26
Social Media Cooking Shows
This Instagram Cooking Show Teaches People How to Cook in 15 Seconds
25
Social Media Retail Stores
The Paytagz Website Makes a Full Retail Experience Out of Instagram
24
Interactive Social Adventure Games
This Instagram Hosts an Interactive Choose Your Own Adventure
23
Social Media-Based Shops
The Kellogg's Social Media Shop Exchanges Cereal for Instagram Photos
22
Romantic Lock Box Contests
Heineken's Mysterious Date in a Box is Unlocked with an Instagram Photo
21
Crowdsourced Album Art
2 Chainz Put Out a Call on Instagram for Graphic Designers
20
Insta-Photo Timelines
The Toronto Silent Film Festival Turned Its Instagram into a Timeline
19
Photo App-Based Auctions
The Instaheart Charity Auction Takes Place Entirely on Instagram
18
Instagram-Like Food Studios
Mweb’s Dinnercam Takes Your Food Shots to the Next Level
17
Social Road Trip Campaigns
Mazda Canada's 'Long Drive Home' Had a Terrific Journey & Destination
16
Endearing Car Q&A Campaigns
Mini Cooper is Letting Fans to Ask the New Mini Space Questions
15
Photo-Fueled Car Competitions
The Mercedes-Benz' 'Take the Wheel' is a Competition for Instagram
14
Feline Fashion Campaigns
Generation GLAMOUR Unveils Cat Concept Store to Celebrate Feline Fashion
13
Hunger Awareness Campaigns
Unicef's Food Photos Save Lives Campaign Shares on Food Shortages
12
Social Media Movies
Director Thomas Jullien Created a Stop Motion Movie Using Instagram
11
Lipstick Kiss-Collecting Campaigns
This Lush Emotional Brilliance Campaign Aims to Set a Record
10
Social Media Fragrance Campaigns
The Oscar De La Renta Something Blue Tool Promotes Its Perfume
9
Mobile Burger Collages
Burger King France Displays One of the Creative Uses of Instagram
8
Crowdsourced Social Media Songs
This Massive Instagram Campaign Advertises the Nissan Juke
7
Virtual Red Carpet Campaigns
L'Oreal Paris India Helps Girls Everywhere Walk the Carpet at Cannes
6
Instagram Denim Campaigns
The 'InstaShoot SS13' by Paper Denim & Cloth Relaunched the Brand
5
Ice Cream Instagram Ads
The Ben & Jerry's Capture Euphoria Campaign Relies on Social Media
4
Photo-Based Retail Services
Hashbag's Marketplace Service Identifies Items for Sale on Instagram
3
Instagram Movie Promotions
The Social Media -Savvy 'J’Espère Que Tu Vas Bien' Poster Ca
2
Crowdsourced Car-Capturing Videos
This Lexus Ad Campaign Stitched Together People's Instagram Pics
1
Amusing Auto Safety Campaigns
Instabomb by C4 Lounge Shows How to Avoid the Unexpected
Related Ideas
AI-Powered Social Personality Quizzes
My Insta Personality Playfully Analyzes Instagram Profiles
Social App-Connected Smartglasses
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Can Now Post onto Instagram
AI Dish Recreation Tools
WeChef Uses AI To Transform Instagram Posts To Step-by-Step Recipes
AI-Powered Digital Avatars
Instagram Now Allows Users to Create Their Own AI Avatars
AI Banner Creation Tools
BannerBot Creates Customizable AI Banners and Videos for Promotions
Gen Z IRL Campaigns
Hinge's Phonebook Encourages Gen Z to Connect IRL for Global Day of Unplugging
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Advanced Social Advertising Tools
Invoca is Now Integrated with Pinterest, Snapchat, & TikTok
AI Food Photography Apps
MenuSnap Helps Restaurants Capture, Edit & Optimize Images
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
AI-Enhanced Digital Marketing Tools
Alison.ai Offers a Modern Solution for Marketing Professionals
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
AI Social media Management
Social360 Offers a Streamlined Solution to Stay Ahead of the Curve
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Social Commerce Platforms
21 Buttons is a Social Fashion Shopping Network
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Personalized Ecommerce Updates
Google Shopping Introduces a 'For You' Feed for its Ecommerce App
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
Creative Text-to-Infographic Tools
Infography Converts Blog Posts to Artistic Infographics
Social Commerce Apps
GIST is an App-Based Social Platform for Sharing Purchases with Friends
Social Video Reaction Apps
The 'Seen' App Lets Users Capture Footage of Themselves Viewing Content
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Gen Z-Focused Coachella Campaigns
Pinterest Partners With Coachella to Connect With Gen Z
Authenticity-Promoting Social Media Apps
The Viberse App Emphasizes Authenticity and Spontaneity
Marketing Creation Design Tools
Adobe Presents the New Express for Enterprise Tool
eCommerce AI Photos
PhotoHero Provides Free Images and Editing Abilities
Social Media Analytics Tool
Track and Improve Social Media Growth with Hivehubai’s Analytics Tools
Recommedation Algorithm Resets
The Instagram Reset Feature Manually Refreshes Content Preferences
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
In-Game Advertising Services
StackAdapt Offers Engaging Game Advertising for its Clients
AI-Powered Creative Digital Assistants
Adobe Express Presents a New Creative Assistant Tool
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
AI Advertisement Additions
Meta Introduces a New Suite of AI-Powered Advertising Tools
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Micro-Influencer Marketing Services
SCREENSHOT Micro Boost Refines the Brand-Creator Experience
Streaming Service Expansions
Spotify Launched an In-house Creative Agency, Spotify Creative Lab
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Social Media Notes Expansions
TikTok Notes Puts Text and Images to the Forefront of Social Sharing
Programmable QR Code Tags
Openscreen's Cloud Tags Help Users Digitize Their Lives
Social Shopping Apps
Locker Helps Users Organize, Share, and Earn from Online Wishlists.
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
AI-Powered Advertising Tools
Amazon Ads Now Offers a Beta for its New AI Tools for Advertisers
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
AI-Powered Digital Marketing Support
Boostrbot Transforms Likes Into Leads
Email Marketing Tracking Platforms
'Mailboard' Helps Marketers Track Competitors and More
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Image-Based Alternative Social Medias
'Noteit' is a Snapchat-Inspired App for Gen Alpha Users
Visualized Social Media Data
InstaGraph Visualizes Social Media Data Through Unique Graphs
AI Storytelling Platforms
Story.com Combines AI with Creativity for Limitless Possibilities
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Social Media Political-Content Limitations
Meta is Reducing Political Content Recommendations
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
Interactive Influencer Features
YouTube's New 'Hype' Feature Allows Viewers to Share in Success
Social Marketplace Updates
Instagram Launches a Marketplace to Better Connect Brands and Creators
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Interactive AR Experiences
The Sendit App Engaged Gen Alpha on Valentine's Day
Brand Photography Marketplaces
VSCO Unveils a New Marketplace for Photographers to Find Work
AI-Powered Design Apps
Adobe Launches an AI-Powered Mobile App Called Adobe Express
Travel Influencer Initiatives
Klook Unveils a New Travel Influencer Program for Micro-Influencers
Professional Short-Form Video Feeds
LinkedIn is Testing a TikTok-Like System on its Platform
Social Shopping Networks
Stage TEN Empowers Creators to Build Their Own Live Shopping Channel
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Louis Vuitton Delivers Resort 2024 with an Interactive Experience
Social Shopping Features
YouTube Introduces a New 'Shopping Collections' Feature for Creators
Social Media Impact Studies
Instagram Allows COS to Conduct Mental Health Research
Timeless Photo Books
Photos by Artkive Uses an App to Turn Cluttered Camera Rolls into Photo Books
AI-Powered Marketing Solutions
BrandPilot AI Unveils a New Marketing Campaign Management App
Short-Form Foodie Feeds
Uber Eats is Testing Out a New Vertical Feed Like TikTok and Instagram
Scannable Skincare Murals
The Ordinary's Interactive Augmented Reality Mural Promotes Bodycare
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Social Camera Fitness Apps
SnapFit Lets Users Document Their Journey with Photos
Aesthetic Stock Platforms
Dupe Photos Offers Social Media-Style Imagery for Modern Brands
Resourceful Digital Platform Events
Meta will Host an Immersive Instagram Family Pop-Up in NYC
Photo-Collecting QR Codes
GuestSnap Uses a QR Code to Collect Guest Photos at Events
AI Image Generators
Create Custom Social Media Visuals Easily with Imitate AI's Powerful Features
Teen-Protecting Social Media Features
Meta Expanded its 'Limit' and 'Restrict' Instagram Tools
Mobile Content Creator Apps
Microsoft Brought its 'Designer' Copilot App to Android
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Custom Photo Puzzles
Make Your Puzzles Enhances Customer Experience of Its Services
AI Social Caption Generators
Submagic Can Create Compelling Captions in Minutes
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Mood-Reflective Sonic Sounds
Instagram Presents Sonic Identity for Reels as a Single Sound
AI-Fuelled Mobile Design Apps
Adobe Launches its Express Mobile App for Design On-the-Go
Short Story Platforms
Drabble Offers a Platform to Showcase 100-Word Stories
Digital Social Sharing Spaces
The Shilo App Invites Users to Share and Curate What They Love
Social Vlogging Apps
Shortake Let's Users Capture a Few Moments Every Day
Mobile Ad-Supported Checkouts
Sam's Club is Launching Display Ads in its Mobile App
Interactive Image Mapping
Image Mapping Lets Businesses Create Designs Seamlessly
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
Unskippable Instagram Ad Updates
Instagram Tests Ads That Can't Be Skipped
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
AI Map-Making Tools
MapStory is Perfect for Bloggers or Adventurers to Create Interactive Maps
Brand-Aligned Graphics
Bento Highlights Lets Users Craft Polished, Professional-Looking Graphics
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
AI-Powered Creative Services
WePost Saga Helps Businesses Enhance Their Online Social Presence
Engaging Customer Conversion Tools
FacePop Humanizes Customer Interactions Through Video
SaaS Influencer Marketing Tools
Beeing Social Launches 'Buzz Bee Buzz' for Influencer Marketing
AI Sticker Makers
This Tool Generates Stickers with the Power of AI for WhatsApp
Secondary Social Media Features
Instagram is Rolling out the Flipside Feature On User Profiles
Visual Email Newsletters
PencilBooth is a Newsletter That Prioritizes Images Over Text
Influencer Marketing Agencies
NYMA Embraces Influencer Marketing as a Part of its Core Offerings
Time-Lapse Content Apps
Timelapse Provides a Unique Approach to Recording Engaging Content
Dynamic Interest Social Platforms
Palette Let's People Curate Their Likes However They Please
Social Sticker Features
Instagram Unveils the New Sticker Features for Stories and Other Content
Artist-Empowering Streaming Insights
Spotify Campaign Kit Provides Unmatched Streaming Insights
Artistic QR Codes
QR Artwork Directory Creates QR Codes That Boost User Engagement
Beginner Artistic Inspiration
Drawing Prompts Helps Artists Develop a Consistent Practice
Blog Post Generators
Hubrank Helps Create Posts for Niche Topics with an Emphasis on Strong SEO
Entrepreneur Brand-Building Tools
IndieLogs Helps Founders Stand Out Through Personalized Profiles
Secondary Social Profile Features
Instagram Previews a New Flipside Feature for Private Posting
Interactive Mapping Solutions
Mapplic Turns Static Images Into Engaging Maps
Social App Feature Updates
Instagram is Moving the Status Update Notes to Profiles
Video Testimonials Tools
Feedspace to Boost your Business's Credibility in the Market
Social Media Dating Profiles
LikeLike Scans Your Instagram to Find Romantic Matches
Intellectually Stimulating Social Media
Maven Goes Back to Basics with Traditional Algorithms
AI Social Media Enhancement
Attract AI Elevates Charm on Social Media with a Few Taps
Personalized Visual Catalogues
With Jotly, users can streamline their online discoveries
Safety-Oriented Social Tools
Instagram Aims to Protect Vulnerable Teens with its New Safety Update
Invite-Only Family Memory Hubs
Kinnect Unveils its New and Enhanced Mobile Application
Location-Based Photo Sharing
Harbor Creates Personalized Picture Albums Through location Sharing
Content-to-Post Social Tools
Camoo Carousels Transforms Media into Carousel Posts for Social
Elevated Social Media Visuals
SocialScreenshots Creates Stunning Visuals for Online Sharing
Phone-Based User-Targeted Campaigns
PlugSMS Helps Users Launch Campaigns From Their Phones
Engagement-Boosting Marketing Apps
LOCALACT Unveils the LOCALACT Mobile Marketing Application
Social Media Lead Generation
IgLeadGen Helps People Find and Target Leads for Business
Business Slogan Generators
The Slogan Generator Will Create a Catchy Slogan for Any Business
Dynamic Visual Communication Platforms
ConverStory Transforms Speech into Captivating Images
Surprising Romantic Inspiration
Love Fuel Offers 450 Ideas to Liven Up a Relationship
Effective Email Marketing Tools
InboxAlly Improves Email Deliverability For Marketing Campaigns
Improv Scene Generators
Instant Improv Suggestions Bolsters Creativity for Performers
Effortless Cover Designs
IMaker is a Tool for Creating Covers on Blogs, WeChat, and More