Top Instagram Growth Tools
Instagram has evolved tremendously over the last few years. Its popularity and the new features that keep popping up have made it one of the best social media platform for marketers.
Even so, there is no doubt that the early growth and the popularity Instagram enjoy today was spurred by the very same apps that the platform is cracking down on today.
Am talking about the newly updated brand guidelines seeking to have connected apps with the word ‘Insta’ ‘IG‘ or ‘Gram’ in their names to re-brand.
This spells doom for many app developers and users who have been relying on these apps to automate their engagement on Instagram.
According to the new guidelines, no app should be using the Instagram Logo or it’s name, or copy the look of the application because they have not been endorsed or sponsored by Instagram.
The social media giant has already started sending out emails to such apps asking them to re-brand within a reasonable time frame.
Existing apps with ‘Insta’ or ‘Gram’ such as Instagress, Statigram, Webstagram, Instadrop, and Luxogram have been asked to develop distinctive brands or use Instagram trademarks only in accordance with its policies.
Considering that some of these apps have millions of users, the new rules are a big blow to their business. It is highly unlikely that the developers of these apps will make all the changes as requested by Instagram.
If that’s the case, then such apps are going to shut down entirely, leaving millions of users dejected.
The updated guidelines come on the back of an upsurge in automation as people have increasingly been relying on bots to interact on Instagram.
On the bright side, these rules are likely going to affect spam accounts, thus, creating a reasonable ground for organic interactions.
Whereas we cannot blame Instagram for protecting its valuable trademark, it’s fair to say some of these apps have been using logos that are quite similar to Instagram’s famous rainbow-flagged camera.
Even so, there is a clear change of guard compared to the early days when Instagram used to welcome the new exposure brought forth by third-party applications.
The move by Instagram is seen by many as following suit of its parent company, Facebook, which is well renowned for cracking down on re-use of words in its name.
It’s no surprise that Facebook has a host of listed trademarks and the company even attempted to trademark the word ‘book’ sometime last year.
As a self-sustaining platform enjoying considerable growth, the new guidelines should propel Instagram even further as the world’s best social media platform.
Sources
- https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/19/instagram-cracks-down-on-connected-apps-using-insta-and-gram/
- https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2289942/instagram-bans-third-party-apps-from-using-insta-and-gram-in-names
- https://www.cnet.com/news/instagram-dont-use-insta-gram-or-ig-in-your-app-name/
