Jessica Hibbard presented a summary at the FredNMT 2012 conference discussing the benefits of using Instagram, which has grown to 15 million users since its launch in 2010. She highlighted key reasons to use the app, including its simplicity, ability to connect with others visually, and potential marketing opportunities for brands. The presentation emphasized the positive community on Instagram and the potential for real-life interactions through events like instameets.

1. 3-minute summary presented by Jessica Hibbard during the closing session
at FredNMT 2012, the 4th annual New Media & Technology Conference,
presented by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.
Instagram: jhelenstar · Twitter: @jesshibb · Tumblr: jesshibb.com
Instagram is incredibly easy to use. It was the first app I downloaded on my iPhone,
and I was immediately hooked.
Instead of listing the features, I’ll let you Google the specs yourself. Or better yet, just
download Instagram and get started.
Without further ado, my top 10 reasons to use Instagram:
1. It’s free.
2. Launched in app store in October 2010. By end of 2011, Apple named
Instagram the top iPhone app of the year. Now, 15 million people are using
Instagram.
3. It’s utterly simple. You post a photo, add a filter and effects if you want, write a
caption, and post it. The app doesn’t try to do a million different things, which is
totally refreshing.
4. When you post a photo to Instagram, you can choose to automatically post it to
Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, Posterous. Most people are highly
visual -- I don’t know about you, but I’m much more likely to read a blog post or
click at Twitter link if there are photos involved.
5. The image-only format all but eliminates a language barrier, which can help you
connect with people who don’t speak English fluently.
6. The app is currently only available for the iPhone, but many tools are popping up
for printing Instagram photos and sharing photos online. Statigram, Instagrid,
and Instagreat are just three tools you can use to view Instagram photos in your
browser, even if you don’t have an iPhone.

2. 7. People are nosy. We say we don’t want to know what you had for breakfast, but
we’re lying. Photos of my food and my cats are some of my most popular
pictures on Instagram.
8. The possibilities are virtually endless for brands using Instagram. In addition to
maintaining their own presence, many brands have started to partner with
Instagram users to promote products and services. For example, during New
York Fashion Week, many designers had Instagrammers documenting their
shows. Other brands have started building community on Instagram with
hashtag themes and contests.
9. If you build a huge audience on Instagram, you might get a free exotic vacation.
Puma recently invited 10 hand-picked Tumblr and Instagram users to cover its
sailing team in the Volvo Ocean Race in Abu Dhabi.
10. The community of Instagram users is overwhelmingly positive, and there are
opportunities to build relationships in real life. There’s a worldwide instameet on
March 11th. Let me know if you want to join me for a photo walk in Frederick.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
• http://instagram.com/
• http://blog.instagram.com/
• http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instagram/id389801252?mt=8
• http://statigr.am/
• http://instagrid.me/
• http://instagre.at/
• http://instaprint.me/
• http://mashable.com/follow/topics/instagram/
• http://gizmodo.com/5878942/inside-instagram-how-slowing-its-roll-put-the-
little-startup-in-the-fast-lane
• http://blog.appboy.com/2010/10/5-things-instagram-got-right-that-others-
before-it-couldnt/
• http://socialfresh.com/brands-on-instagram/