Once you’ve read this blog, you’ll be convinced to use Instagram for promoting your brand if you haven’t started already. Instagram has significantly evolved from its initial phase of only allowing photo uploads on user profiles. Today, the array of features that Instagram offers to marketers is vast! Well, not infinite, but marketers have a wide range of tools to leverage when they opt for advertising on Instagram.
Continue reading to discover some of the key Instagram features available to marketing professionals, which you can use for your next social media advertising campaign. 😊
Instagram offers a wide range of features that make it an invaluable resource for businesses looking to expand their social media footprint. Some of the key features include:
Did you know that after seeing an advertisement for a brand on Instagram, 50% of users become more interested in it? Instagram ads are a valuable asset for marketers looking to promote their brand and should not be ignored. By 2023, it is estimated that 2 billion users will be using the platform, and Instagram advertising has the potential to reach a significant portion of them. Instagram ads come in various forms, providing marketers with a range of options to choose from. Here are some of the most popular types of Instagram ads that you can use to showcase your brand.
Instagram’s image and video ads are interspersed among the regular posts in a user’s feed. Image ads are an excellent option for brands with visually
appealing content, such as photographs or illustrations, that they want to share. Users can interact with the ad by clicking on a call-to-action (CTA) button located at the bottom of the ad. Video ads function similarly to image ads but provide marketers with more flexibility to showcase their dynamic brand. 😊
Did you know that Instagram is the go-to platform for shopping for 44% of its users? This makes it an ideal target for your marketing efforts. Instagram shopping ads include links within the ads that allow users to view and purchase products without leaving the Instagram app. This is incredibly convenient for users and an effective way to showcase your products to an audience eager to click the “Buy Now” button. 😊
Carousel ads allow users to swipe through a series of images. For ecommerce businesses, these ads are ideal for showcasing a collection of related products that users may be interested in purchasing. Alternatively, carousels can be used to tell a multi-part story about your brand or services. Collection ads combine the features of carousel and shopping ads, allowing advertisers to include multiple product images for users to swipe through. Users can purchase items directly from the ad, making it another excellent advertising option for ecommerce brands on Instagram. When users click on the ad, they are taken to an Instagram Instant Experience Storefront page that provides more information about the product and purchase options. 😊
Instagram Stories, a feature that allows users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, is probably one of the most valuable tools for marketers. It enables you to post content frequently without overwhelming your audience’s regular feed. Stories appear at the top of your standard Instagram feed, and your followers can like, comment on, and reshare them, making them an excellent tool for increasing brand awareness.
Instagram Story features include:
If you have a series of Stories that you love but don’t want them to disappear after 24 hours, you can use Highlights to keep them accessible for your audience on your profile page. You can add up to 100 stories to a single Highlight! Add as many Highlights as you want to your page by simply tapping the “+” icon below your profile’s bio. Get creative with them!
Reels are Instagram’s answer to TikTok. Like TikTok videos, Instagram Reels are filmed vertically and formatted to provide users with endless scrolling and uninterrupted video content. Reels can be found in a separate tab from Instagram’s regular content feed and allow for videos up to 90 seconds long, unlike TikTok’s impressive 10-minute limit. 😊
With a wide range of customization options available, marketers can create unique and engaging Reels to connect with a larger audience and increase brand awareness on Instagram. Some of the features available for creating Instagram Reels include:
Instagram Reels provides advertising opportunities for marketers looking to reach a wider audience through the new Boost feature. To boost a Reel and turn it into an ad, your new or existing Reel must meet the following criteria:
Instagram Live is a live-streaming feature that allows brands to connect with their followers in a more personal and interactive way. You can use Instagram Live to host events such as Q&A sessions, live demonstrations and tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks at events, and collaborations with brand partners and influencers. To generate excitement for your next Instagram Live session and encourage more people to tune in, use your Story to post reminders for your followers.
Collabs is an Instagram feature that allows you to collaborate with another user. For marketers, this is an ideal tool to use when working with influencers on an influencer marketing campaign or partnering with other brands on Instagram. With Instagram Collabs, you can co-create a regular post or a Reel with another Instagram user. The Collab post will include both your and your co-creator’s Instagram handles and will appear on both of your pages. Instagram Collabs can increase brand visibility and awareness, attract new followers to your page, and even generate new leads.
