Brand Communities on Instagram: Exploring Fortune 500 Companies’ Instagram Communication Practices

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Abstract

To examine a more holistic communication landscape for companies on Instagram, this study conducted a content analysis of Fortune 500 companies’ official Instagram posts (N = 7,540) using the original three brand community dimensions (i.e., shared consciousness, rituals and traditions, obligations to followers). We also propose and explore a fourth marker, social networking, as an important Instagram communication characteristic for companies and marketers. Findings revealed that while all four brand community practices are observed across eleven industries and 165 companies in our sample, companies did not fully utilize their Instagram accounts to establish strong brand communities. More importantly, there were significant effects of the brand community practices on fans’ behavioral engagement through a number of “likes,” and a number of “views” for video posts. Theoretical and practical implications are addressed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)177-192
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Strategic Communication
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Communication
  • Sociology and Political Science

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