The Evolution of Instagram Ads [Infographic]

In 2010, two guys got together and said, “Let’s start a platform where users from all over the world can take a picture of what they are doing at that exact moment and share it with whoever wants to see it on an app platform. Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?” In full transparency, I wasn’t there for this conversation, but I assume it went something like that or maybe more similar to the Internship scene.

Fast forward just two years later and the Facebook heads took notice of one of the faster growing social networks out there. Their $1B acquisition of Instagram ushered in new, and seemingly unlimited, opportunities for the platform. For instance, one year after the buyout, video was introduced to Instagram, delighting the app’s then 100 million users.

Shortly after, sponsored posts became a thing, offering companies and individuals the opportunity to buy space on Instagram for increased connectivity, visibility, and engagement. Ad campaigns followed soon after, as did carousel ads and an updated algorithm: Users now have their timelines optimized with the posts from people they engage with most.

This infographic from SOCi, titled, “The Evolution of Instagram Ads,” highlights this timeline in more detail. Check it out below.