Instagram begins to sell ads in Russia

Mobile photo-sharing and social networking service Instagram has started to sell advertising in Russia.

According to the RIA Novosti news agency, a company statement revealed that this development forms part of a broader expansion of Instagram’s advertising business outside of the US.

“Using the new service, advertisers will be able to attract the attention of the young, fast-growing Instagram audience in Russia,” RIA Novosti quoted the company’s statement as saying.

With 16 million users, Russians make up Instagram’s fifth largest user group, with the number of users in the country growing by upwards of 25 percent each year.

Instagram will sell advertising in Russia in partnership with Aitarget, an advertising reseller that also works with Facebook, Instagram’s parent company.

According to Interfax news agency, companies such as Samsung, L’Oréal, Unilever, Nestle, Yandex.Taxi and Lamoda have already signed up to advertise in Russia through Instagram.

Source: The Moscow Times