Instagram is a social media platform for sharing photos and videos. It boasts 1.07 billion users, with 71% of the users under the age of 35. From a business perspective, 50% of Instagrammers follow at least one business on Instagram. Also, the platform can generate over 4x more interactions when compared to Facebook. 

What is Instagram Messaging?

Instagram Messaging has been around for 5 years. Over the past five years, direct message is central to how brands connect with users through story replies, public comments, direct messages, and mentions. With Instagram messaging, a business can deliver a personalised private conversation to provide a highly engaged conversation. 

Why Should You Use Instagram Messaging?

Forward-looking brands are always looking for ways to provide excellent customer support throughout a customer journey. Now Instagram is a core part of it. From discovery, sales, as well as post-purchase support, users are looking at brands on Instagram. At its core, Instagram messaging can deliver a personalised experience to your users. 

In a nutshell, you can use Instagram Messaging to 

1. Generate feedback about your brand/products/service
2. Build for customer support through social media, using Instagram as a core channel
3. Build delightful experiences that increase trust

Suggested read: How Instagram’s Messenger API will Change Travel Support

What is Instagram Business API, and Why Should You Use It?

In the past, a brand that wanted to interact with customers either needed to do so directly through Instagram or via Facebook’s unified business inbox. But these options are limited on how they can be used, especially by companies that might be handling large volumes of traffic. Even if you are keen to link up those customer interactions with wider customer service databases, it would be a challenge.

The Messenger Instagram API, by contrast, can be integrated into any third-party application that a company or brand might be using to manage communication like a chat application such as Verloop.io. 

Instagram Business API has been in beta since October 2017, and now it’s open for all brands. Techcrunch said, “Facebook noted that one of the key takeaways from the closed beta was that brands and companies wanted better ways of managing communications from one place. They also added that many of them are making more investments in software to manage their communications and workflows better.”

We envision brands using the API to use an Instagram chatbot to build on their omnichannel support and provide delightful support experiences to their users on Instagram.

If you want to hop on the Instagram Message API, let us know at marketing@verloop.io. We will be happy to get you started!