Retailers Beware! Instagram Is The Next QVC And Future Of Commerce

We all know that shopping is hitting our social media platforms, but it’s easy to underestimate both its ferocity and effectiveness. Social shopping is not a trend; it’s a force redefining the very essence of commerce, and Instagram Stories leads the charge. Simon Moss, CEO of BrandBrief, a platform that connects influencers with brands, says “The selling power of influencers on Instagram is unprecedented. Their trust levels are high, engagement is high, and this helps convert from awareness to purchase. Best of all, brands can track what’s working.” Here’s why Instagram’s potency is so attractive, and what brands can do about it. Millennials are the most marketing-savvy generation yet; they are skeptical of advertisers and clued into their tricks and tools. So it’s not surprising that they trust influencers more than the traditional marketing means. In fact, 92% of consumers believe an influencer more than an advertisement or traditional celebrity endorsement. On top of this, influencers are more open to posting branded Instagram Stories over a traditional post. They see the ephemeral nature of Stories as a way to engage in real time, and critically, they do not clutter up their feed and make them look exclusively like a brand’s puppet. Read more at Forbes.