Over the past few years, Instagram has introduced various exciting new features. In the process, the platform has expanded beyond a place to solely share quick snaps taken on your phone.
Thanks to these new features, users now have more options for increasing their exposure.
Are you looking to grow your profile and connect with more like-minded people? Here are some tips for maximizing your Instagram visibility in 2021…
Sharing Instagram Reels
In August 2020, Instagram announced the introduction of the Reels feature. The company described this tool as “a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos” on the platform.
You can use Instagram Reels to create videos up to 30 seconds long. Once you’re done, you can share your reels with both your followers and the broader Instagram community.
While you might not have much time to work with, you can use Reels to get creative in various ways. Examples include quick photography tips, cooking recipe overviews, and advice for solving problems.
To create an Instagram Reel:
- Tap the + icon to create a new post.
- Scroll across the options to Reels.
- Create and customize your Reel.
- Click on the > (Next) arrow at the bottom of your screen.
- Choose where you want to share your Reel and add a caption. If you wish, you can also tag other accounts in your post.
- Tap Share.
Using IGTV
IGTV is a slightly older Instagram feature and has been around since 2018. However, many users still don’t make the most of this handy tool.
With IGTV, users can create longer videos up to 60 minutes in length. Videos must also be formatted to MP4. Your file must also not be larger than 3.6 GB.
One cool aspect of IGTV is that you can upload from your computer too. You can use this feature to upload full tutorial videos, documentaries, and more.
If you want to upload a video to IGTV, it’s worth remembering that your content must be at least one minute long.
To upload a video to IGTV from your smartphone:
- Go to your profile.
- Click on the + icon to the top right.
- From the presented list of options, choose IGTV Video.
- Upload a video from your mobile device.
- Add a title and description.
- Once you’ve customized everything, share your content by pressing Post.
To upload to IGTV from your computer:
- Sign in to your account on instagram.com.
- Go to your profile and click on the IGTV tab.
- Select Upload.
- Upload a video file and add a title and description.
- After customizing your content, scroll down and choose Post.
Mixing Photos and Videos in Your Posts
If Reels and IGTV seem daunting, you can start by mixing photos and videos within the content you publish on your feed. You can choose one or the other, or combine both forms of media with carousels.
Uploading videos on your feed is the same as publishing a regular photo post.
Below is a short walkthrough of the steps you need to take.
- Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon to create a new post.
- Either choose a pre-recorded video or create one on the spot.
- Add your caption, location, accounts you want to tag.
- After customizing, tap Share.
Creating Guides
Another relatively new feature on Instagram is Guides, which rolled out to all accounts in November 2020.
With Guides, you can curate content to provide more in-depth insights and extra value to your audience. You can use the feature to create product recommendations, travel tips, and more.
Besides sharing posts within Guides, you can also add a description. In this, you can talk about what you like in particular; plus your own recommendations.
To create an Instagram Guide:
- Go to your profile in the Instagram app and tap on the + button.
- On Choose guide type, pick the type of guide you want to make.
- When you’re ready, tap on Next > Share.
If you’ve been on Instagram for a while, you’re probably well-versed with using hashtags on your posts. But have you thought about using them in your Stories?
When you use hashtags in your Instagram Stories, your content will feature the tag you use in the Stories section. As a result, you could get in front of more eyeballs.
To add hashtags to your stories:
- Click on your profile picture and upload a photo or video.
- Tap on the third icon, which looks a little like a sticker.
- Choose the #HASHTAG option and add your hashtag.If you feel like a hashtag would make your post look ugly, you can hide it behind a location tag or sticker.
Going Live on Your Page
Another way to engage with your audiences is by going live on your page. In 2020, Instagram extended the length of time you could go live from 60 minutes to four hours.
Going live on Instagram makes you more accessible to your audience. They can ask you questions, and you can interact with them in real-time too.
To go live on Instagram:
- Click on your profile picture.
- At the bottom of the page, scroll to Live.
- Tap on the big red button.
If you want to control your Story functions, go to the settings icon in the top left.
Using the Professional Dashboard
If you’re serious about growing a presence on Instagram, you need to know the numbers behind your content. In early 2021, the tech giant rolled out an analytics feature that is more in-depth than previous capabilities.
You can check your post reach, interactions, and following on the professional dashboard, plus other metrics.
To use the dashboard, you need to have an Instagram for Business or Creator account.
To access your professional dashboard:
- Go to your profile.
- Tap View Professional Dashboard.
Grow Your Instagram Presence and Enjoy All of Its Unique Features
Instagram has so many exciting features beyond the simple image posts of its early days. Now you can upload documentary-length videos, show people behind the scenes, and access analytics to create more engaging content in the future.
When growing your exposure on Instagram, patience is essential. Equally as important is trial and error. Give all of these tips a try to see which ones work best for you.
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