Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the marketplace today. With over one billion active users per month, you need to have an Instagram account if you are looking to market anything in today’s world.
If you’re an avid Instagram user, you’ve probably already been using most of the site’s features. But you might be overlooking some gems that will really help your social media strategy. Whether you’re using Instagram as part of your business or to connect with old friends, here are the top Instagram features you should try out.
1. Use Explore
The Explore tab is a smart place to start your Instagramming. The feed highlights content from accounts you’re not yet following, but that may be relevant to you. You can use explore to discover new accounts. For example, if you want an account for dogs, just search for dogs in explorer and click on any account that catches your eye.
2. Take a Poll
Use polls to engage users and show off your marketing skills. Polls are an excellent way to create buzz around topics that interest you and help you learn more about your audience, which you can then use to inform your content decisions moving forward. Make sure that you have a great headline with your poll, as it will increase engagement. Also, make sure there is enough information in both options for users to make a decision.
3. Ask Questions
If you’re using Instagram to run a business or promote yourself, then you should be asking questions. This is because some of your followers might have similar needs, and they can use your content to help them figure out what those answers are. If you aren’t engaging with your audience by asking questions, you should consider it. It’s an easy way to get others involved in your content and improve brand loyalty. Plus, who doesn’t love answering a question?
4. Track Hashtags
Hashtags are often used in relation to specific events or stories e.g., a particular album drop or concert. You can use them to make connections with people who share similar interests or passions as you. Just make sure your hashtags are related to your niche and not overly general so that other users are more likely to discover them.
5. Save Original Photos
This feature allows you to save an original photo to your phone without losing any of its integrity. That means no more cropped photos or stretched images. A photo, video, or an insta story will be saved on your device exactly as it appears in your feed.
6. Instagram Carousel
You can upload up to 10 pictures or videos on a single post, and it will be displayed as a carousel. This is great for brands that want to give out an overview of their physical products.
7. Reels
This feature allows you to create a video from up to 30 seconds of your videos/pictures. It is a great way to create an ad or highlight your business or brand. To get started, select multiple pictures/videos from your camera roll and tap on Reels in your carousel menu. From there, you can choose how long you want each picture/video to play before moving on to another picture/video.
Bottomline
If you’re looking to market your business on Instagram, you should definitely try these features that I’ve listed above and see which ones resonate the most with your customers. This is a great way to get in touch with like-minded people who will help boost your social media profile and give you more exposure in today’s world, where social media rules everything.
