[thejulielogan]

"This is a really good looking ad. Do you know what the problem with ads like this is? They don't work."

Actually, they do. They become part of the brand story. Whether you realize it or not, Instagram has evolved the SAME WAY as TV commercials in the Post-WWII world.

What started as TV shows sponsored by brands (the Coca-Cola Hour!) became magazine style ads interspersed between the show's content (TV commercials as we know them today).

Instagram started with entire channels sponsored by the brands (@NikeRunning) and now are moving to the magazine/tv commercial model of putting branded content between in-stream photographs.

This is not new. This does work. Stop fighting change just because you think "startups" are above it. They're not. Originality is the art of concealing your sources. Embrace that and just make it work as best as possible given your product + audience and get on with it.