The Wonderous World of Instagram Features
READ TIME: 2 minutes 28 seconds
Keep up with new features on Instagram. In 2020, Instagram gave users new functions to use as helpful marketing efforts; Reels and Guides. Between posting, stories, IGTV, live broadcasts, highlights, reels and guides, the abundance of tools to educate its users to create more engaging content. Inventive online marketing channels require companies to stay at the top of their ingenuity. Today's marketing world demands corporations to move with the times or get stuck in the past.
Instagram is an app B2B and B2C companies use for growth. Discovering key components to the app, makes room for a business to approach this photography centric tool uniquely as a stand-alone strategy. Knowledge of each element will help unite the brand recognition and leadership skills in support of a strong message.
Posts - Posting on social media helps your account appear on the homepage or newsfeed. As a first step to sharing content, posting is the way to go. When businesses use one feature, it is posting. Think of a post as a newsflash or briefing. It is a quick notification to educate and inform your audience. The term content is also associated with posts.
Stories - The unique quality of stories is they disappear after 24 hours. Businesses choose to share behind the scenes updates and how-to videos here. Stories facilitate real-time audience feedback when you create polls, yes/ no questions, and geotag locations. Think of these features as a way to support your daily post by sharing homepage content for viewers.
IGTV - Instagram created its video broadcasting network to rival YouTube. Quickly share long-form video in a vertical or horizontal perspective. Going into detail about business discussions while providing a clear call to action incentive. Save your live videos here immediately after recording.
Live - Three, two, one action is the countdown notice before you are rolling live for audience members to join. Live is the most fun since the viewers will leave a like and comment during the video. When planning a broadcast, prepare the discussion in advance. A clear message will help viewers decide to follow your lead. Directors say lights, camera, action for a reason. You must make sure your face is visible and well-lit. Hold your phone during the live or get a smartphone tripod. Action requires readiness with information to share live.
Highlights - The perfect place to save Stories for as long as you want is the highlight section on your Instagram profile. Compare this section to website tabs by choosing one topic per bundle of slides. Elevate your slides by using a graphic design tool to curate your brand visuals with a copy to unify the message.
Reels - Reels is an Instagram service that mostly replicates TikTok with its 30-second maximum videos paired with trendy music. Use the function to distribute content topics through videos. Make a quick point by backing it up with music that lyrically makes sense. Reels provides a large catalog of tunes. Reels will gain the most views of any feature since the tool is new and fast-paced.
Guides - Create a guide with topical posts already on your profile to share long-form information. Guides help tie together multiple posts to support directions or advice. This function has a unique look to it by displaying a heading image, subtopics and large photos viewers can instantly click on.
As you can see, Instagram keeps leveling up the wow factor with scaling features to support the business. When you partner with Francesca Ragucci Marketing on your Monthly Marketing Plan, we dive into creating campaigns for all of these tools. The purpose is to show your target audience you actively engage on the platform.
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