Instagram is a dynamic platform that’s more than just a space for sharing images and stories. For brands, leveraging Instagram features can significantly enhance your social media strategy.
Here Are Some Features
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into seven hidden Instagram features for your brand that can help you stand out and engage with your audience more effectively.
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1. Instagram Insights: Unlock the Data
Instagram Insights is a robust analytics tool that provides a treasure trove of data about your account’s performance. This feature is indispensable for brands seeking to understand their audience and optimize their content strategy.
Detailed Use of Instagram Insights:
- Accessing Insights: Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select “Insights” from the dropdown menu. This will lead you to a dashboard with three main tabs: Activity, Content, and Audience.
- Activity Tab: This section provides data on interactions and discovery. You can see how many people visited your profile or interacted with your posts.
- Content Tab: Here, you can review the performance of individual posts, stories, and ads. Metrics like likes, comments, shares, and saves are available.
- Audience Tab: This offers insights into the demographics of your followers, including their age, gender, location, and active times.
Example: A fashion brand could use Insights to determine which posts featuring new arrivals receive the most engagement. If a particular style or color gets more likes and comments, the brand might focus future posts on similar trends or promote those products more heavily.
2. Instagram Saved Posts: Curate Your Content
Instagram’s Saved Posts feature is an underutilized tool that allows you to organize and revisit posts you find inspiring or relevant. This feature is beneficial for brands that need to keep track of content ideas, competitor activities, or industry trends.
Detailed Use of Saved Posts:
- Saving Posts: To save a post, tap the bookmark icon below the image or video. The post is then added to your Saved collection.
- Organizing Saved Posts: You can create Collections within your Saved posts for better organization. For instance, you might create Collections titled “Competitor Strategies,” “Content Inspiration,” or “Marketing Tips.”
- Accessing Saved Posts: Go to your profile and tap on the Saved icon (a bookmark). Here, you can view and manage your Collections.
Example: If you’re a beauty brand, you might save posts about trending makeup looks or new product launches. By organizing these into a Collection, you can easily refer to them when planning your own content or strategizing for upcoming campaigns.
3. Instagram Highlights: Extend Your Story Life
Instagram Highlights are an effective way to showcase your most important Stories permanently on your profile. This feature allows brands to keep key information visible beyond the 24-hour limit of regular Stories.
Detailed Use of Instagram Highlights:
- Creating Highlights: After posting a Story, you can add it to a Highlight by tapping “Highlight” at the bottom of the Story screen.
- Organizing Highlights: Go to your profile, tap the “+” icon in the Highlights section, and select the Stories you want to feature. You can also edit Highlight covers and titles to match your brand’s aesthetics.
- Updating Highlights: Regularly update your Highlights to keep the content fresh and relevant.
Example: A travel agency might create Highlights for different destinations they offer. By including Stories from client trips, promotional offers, and travel tips, they keep valuable content readily accessible to potential customers.
4. Instagram Polls and Questions: Engage Your Audience
Engagement is key to building a strong community around your brand. Instagram’s Polls and Questions stickers are excellent tools for fostering interaction and gaining insights into your audience’s preferences.
Detailed Use of Polls and Questions:
- Using Polls: In your Instagram Story, swipe up to access stickers, then select the Poll sticker. You can ask a question and provide two answer options. This feature is ideal for quick feedback or gauging opinions.
- Using Questions: The Questions sticker allows you to ask open-ended questions. This can be used for gathering detailed feedback or encouraging your audience to share their thoughts and experiences.
Example: A restaurant could use Polls to ask followers which new dish they’d like to see on the menu. By using Questions, they could gather detailed feedback on what customers love about their dining experience and what improvements they’d like to see.
5. Instagram Shopping: Sell Directly from Instagram
Instagram Shopping is a powerful feature that allows users to purchase products directly from your posts and Stories. For brands, this integration can streamline the purchasing process and drive sales.
Detailed Use of Instagram Shopping:
- Setting Up Instagram Shopping: You must have a business account and connect it to a Facebook Shop or product catalog. Once approved, you can tag products in your posts and Stories.
- Tagging Products: When creating a post or Story, tap the “Tag Products” option to link to specific items from your catalog. This creates a direct pathway for users to purchase the tagged products.
Example: An apparel brand can use Instagram Shopping to tag items in a post showcasing a new outfit. Users can tap on the product tags to view details and make purchases without leaving Instagram.
6. Instagram Guides: Share Curated Content
Instagram Guides allow you to create curated content in a blog-like format. This feature is ideal for brands that want to share in-depth content or provide valuable resources to their followers.
Detailed Use of Instagram Guides:
- Creating Guides: Tap the “+” icon on your profile and select “Guide.” You can choose to create a guide based on Posts, Products, or Places.
- Adding Content: Include relevant posts, products, or locations in your Guide. Add descriptive titles and information to provide context and value.
- Publishing Guides: Once you’re satisfied with the content, publish the Guide to make it available on your profile.
Example: A fitness brand could create a Guide featuring “Top 10 Exercises for Beginners” by compiling relevant workout posts and videos. This provides a structured resource for followers seeking fitness advice.
7. Instagram AR Filters: Add Fun and Engagement
Augmented Reality (AR) Filters add a creative touch to your Instagram content. Brands can use custom AR filters to engage users and create interactive experiences that align with their campaigns.
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Detailed Use of AR Filters:
- Creating Filters: Use Spark AR Studio to design custom AR filters. This tool offers various features to create interactive and immersive experiences.
- Publishing Filters: After creating your filter, submit it for review. Once approved, you can share it on your profile and encourage your followers to use it.
- Promoting Filters: Create posts or Stories showcasing your AR filter and invite your audience to try it out.
Example: A skincare brand might create a filter that lets users virtually try on different makeup looks or skincare products. This interactive experience not only engages users but also allows them to visualize how the products might look on them.
Conclusion: Leverage These Instagram Features for Your Brand
Incorporating these hidden Instagram features into your brand’s social media strategy can significantly enhance your online presence. By making full use of Instagram Insights, Saved Posts, Highlights, Polls, Shopping, Guides, and AR Filters, you can better understand your audience, create engaging content, and drive sales.
Implement these features to stay ahead of the curve and maximize your brand’s impact on Instagram. By continually exploring and utilizing these tools, you can refine your strategy and build stronger connections with your followers.
Keep experimenting with these Instagram features, monitor their effectiveness, and adjust your approach based on the insights you gain. The right features used strategically can transform your brand’s Instagram presence and lead to greater success on the platform.