Since its debut in 2010, Instagram has continued to roll out various features to increase the social platform’s user experience. With updates occurring almost weekly, it can be difficult to keep up with the fast-paced changes. We’re breaking down the top Instagram features you should be using to take your account to the next level!
1. Reels
Starting off strong, Instagram Reels is one of the best features to grow your presence on the vast platform. Introduced in 2020, Reels allows users to record short, multi-clip videos that can be up to 90 seconds long. Upon recording a Reel, users can edit or clip videos and photos together using audio, effects and other creative tools. The Reels feature even has its own tab on the home feed navigation bar, allowing for further reach and engagement.
Need another reason to implement Reels on your profile? The infamous Instagram algorithm is more likely to recommend a Reels post to those who don’t follow you than regular feed posts. This feature not only allows the perfect opportunity to grow your following but can also spark creative ideas through exploring other published Reels.
2. Stories
Stories are one of Instagram’s most versatile features. Stories allow users to share their everyday moments through quick pictures and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Stories appear in a vertical format and give users a creative outlet by incorporating text, music, filters and interactive stickers such as links and polls.
Want to keep a story on your profile for longer than a day? Users can permanently add a story to their profile as a Highlight – a curated collection of Stories located in tappable bubbles at the top of your profile. Stories can be added to a Highlight within the 24 hours that they’re live, or expired stories can be accessed in the Story Archive to be added to a Highlight later on. Stories are a great way to increase engagement by giving a behind-the-scenes look into your brand and encouraging users to keep coming back to your account.
3. Pinned Posts
With the pinned posts feature, users can pin a maximum of three shared posts to the top of their profile grid. Pinned posts are an easy and simple way to amplify your profile’s visual appearance, all while introducing visitors to your brand. Posts have the ability to be pinned or unpinned at any time and are helpful in displaying the most valuable content of your choosing.
Some ideas for pinned posts could be top-performing content, recent announcements for your brand, common FAQs, or a promotion to showcase your products and services. Utilize pinned posts to give users a good first impression of your profile!
4. Guides
Last but not least, Instagram Guides offer a unique feature that can help set your brand apart. Similar to a blog post, Guides combine visuals and text into a curated content format. Each Guide uses an assortment of existing Instagram posts, paired with descriptions and commentary, to share information or tell a story.
Users can choose from three different Guide formats based on whether they want to recommend places, products or posts. Upon publishing a Guide, it can be found in the dedicated Guides tab on your profile, rather than being shared to your main feed. With Guides, the opportunities are endless and the feature is a great way to organize content for your followers!
Ready to grow your Instagram presence with these features but unsure where to start? Connect with us and see how we can help!
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