Instagram to start monetization

Over 1 million users willingly follow Starbucks' Instagram account to see the coffee company's ads. Will Instagram start working ads into non-follower's feeds?

Instagram has proven to be a powerful social networking tool for brands as individuals and corporations alike use the photo sharing service to provide a visual representation of their products and identity. Currently, users will only see corporate postings if they choose to follow them but soon, ads may be as common on Instagram as false focal blurs and off-color food photos.

When Facebook bought Instagram earlier this year, rumors began circulating about what Instagram’s advertising methods will look like. Will photos from advertisers float in users' feeds along with friends' content like Facebook’s mobile advertisements, or will Instagram be used as a platform to experiment with new mobile advertising methods?

Facebook’s VP of global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson confirmed to Business Insider that the social networking giant is exploring ways to make money off their new acquisition.

Everson spoke to Business Insider about Instagram’s plans:

BI: Will you put ads in Instagram? 
CE: Eventually we'll figure out a way to monetize Instagram. 

BI: How far are you away from figuring that out?
CE: Well, Instagram continues to grow incredibly fast and we're still a very small team when you think about the amount of people they are reaching. There are many brands that use Instagram right now to try to get a feel for how to engage with their followers. We will definitely be figuring out a monetization strategy. When that will happen, I can't comment, but it's going to happen.

Read the rest of Business Insider’s coverage here.