Instagram is home to more than two billion users who are active every month and is the third-most popular app following Facebook as well as TikTok.
With an ever-growing number of users, Instagram keeps expanding what they have to offer, and the year before was no exception!
It was originally an app for sharing photos, however it has evolved into far more than that.
In the past year, we’ve witnessed the launch of Broadcast Channels, new editing tools, templates, and many more!
Let’s look at ways you can be the most effective in making use of Instagram.
New Features
Broadcast Channels
Broadcast Channels were introduced on Instagram in February. They have been taking the Instagram platform to the top of their game and are extensively used by brand owners, artists, and other creators.
Broadcast channels function as a social media tool that allows users to send messages which allows creators to directly interact with their followers on the scale of.
Only approved artists or their moderators and admins can send messages. Followers can only react to messages and participate in polls.
As of now, musicians use this tool to provide a quick, casual method of keeping their fans current.
The feature allows them to post special moments from behind the scenes by using photos, text audio, video, and voice messages as well as polls, whether related to their tour’s new music or even something as fun as the ability to vote on upcoming merchandise.
The artists that are making the most of this latest feature include The DPR Ian and Alexander Stewart.
New Post Added to the List
Although Instagram is a great platform for posting promotional images as well as videos from press material and official music videos, the information doesn’t always create the most enjoyable experience for fans. You should consider exploring new methods to interact with your followers via your Feed
- Event Notifications
If you are a creator or an artist As a creator or artist, you are able to create Instagram posts that contain reminders about the upcoming events you have planned, like performances, or new music releases. Viewers can click on the bell icon located in the left-hand right corner of the post and subscribe to reminders of the occasion. There is also the option of sharing the message to your Story!
- Product Tags:
This is where you highlight products from your inventory directly in your photos and videos, for example, the following: Feed, Reels, and Stories as well as product descriptions on your profile bio, or feed description so that people can click on the tag to discover more about it.
- Fundraiser Integration:
If an artist, creator, or other creative has a connection to a charity or is looking to raise funds think about using the “Add Fundraiser’ option. This can encourage followers to contribute and be displayed on your profile for 30 days. You may also opt to prolong the fundraising remove it from your account, or even end the campaign in the early hours. When your fundraiser is running you’ll have the option to post the fundraising via posts, stories, or even a live-streamed video.
- Music :
It is now possible to incorporate music into the Feed Post! As with the option to add music to your Story This option currently can be found in the settings menu before sharing your image.
- Collab Highlight:
Utilize Instagram Collabs to collaborate on posts in conjunction with other accounts. The author of the initial post may invite another account to join as co-authors. If the other account is willing to accept the invitation the user’s username is included in the post and the post will then be distributed to their followers.
- Note that the person who has been invited to join the account can be deleted at any point, as well as the person who wrote the original blog post can eliminate the contributor at any time.
All About Reels
In the year 2020, Instagram launched Reels and it has since gone off and has seen numerous updates in the past few years. The artists can utilize Reels to create and find humorous, short videos on Instagram. This feature lets you make and edit multiple-clip videos using audio, effects as well as new tools for creativity. The tools available are:
- Standard Lyrics:
- Utilizing music within Reels to play music in Reels You can also include standard lyrics similar to the Instagram Story.
- Superbeat:
- Music beat effects that add attractive visual edits to your reel by the tune you pick.
- Dynamic 3D Lyrics :
- Effects that add lyrics to your Reel. lyrics onto your Reel to allow you to play music and interact with your viewers.
- Remixing:
- This app lets artists connect, make, and collaborate with music, trends, and creators through remixing their content. It’s like sharing a post with TikTok!
- Sound Effects:
- From crickets, airhorns, drums, and many more The latest range of sound effects could add humor to your reel, or invoke certain emotions from your followers
- Interactive stickers:
- Poll How do you create a two-part reel? Ask your viewers about the storyline you want to tell when you make your next film so that they can determine the plot.
- Test your guests’ abilities to the examination (or show them something brand new! )
- Emoji Slider Allow your viewers to feel the way your message can affect them with stickers that make the reaction more intense.
- “Add Yours” is a new method to engage your followers. Invite your audience to join in on a trend that you develop with your Add Yours sticker. It’s an old Story popular, and it is available to create your reels for Instagram as well as Facebook.
- Dual Capture:
- To create a more immersive experience For even more immersive storytelling, there’s an innovative Dual recording mode of the Reels Camera that lets you capture by using the front and back-facing cameras simultaneously. This means you can record your moment in 360 degrees, with no fanciful techniques or complicated methods of workarounds.
- Templates:
- It makes creating reels simple by allowing you to reuse elements that you have from reels you like. The only thing you have to do is choose the template that you like to add the images or videos to put your unique spin onto the Reel. The new reel will feature the same soundtrack and timing as the original.
Instagram Filters Refresh
Instagram Filters began in the year of 2018, as a method to add something unique to users’ Stories They have continued to grow in speed since then. Anyone can now make and share their own augmented reality filters through Facebook’s Studio tool, called Spark AR.
When your filter is submitted and approved by Spark AR it will appear in the appropriate Instagram profile. You’ll notice the Filter tab updated in your account. The users will not receive messages about the new filters and it’s crucial to plan a proper timeline for the rollout of the new filter.
Let’s Live!
Live streaming On Instagram lets you show your video content to the world in real-time, which enables the audience and you to share a common experience. With the update coming in 2023 users can now stream live for a period of up to four hours before saving their experiences as Reels. In addition, if you live, all your followers will get an email to join.
To use this feature, open the image screen that you’d like to choose to use for taking a photograph. Then, go to the menu on the left to select “Live.’
Scheduling Your Live
Live Scheduling tool helps in promoting, planning, and planning for Lives to come. Now you can plan your Lives using feed posts at least 90 days before the event as well as promote them through a brand new Stories Sticker for Lives that has been scheduled. Also, fans or viewers can opt-in to receive reminders when it is time to listen to the Lives.
Instagram Stories
A.I. Background Tool
Meta is introducing a brand innovative generative A.I. background editor tool that is available for Instagram Stories to users in the U.S. It allows users to alter the background for their photos by providing instructions such as “On red carpet” or “Being being chased by dinos.” The users can create custom prompts that can be used to generate different backgrounds. When you post the Story by using the tool users will be able to be able to see the “Try this” sticker that includes the request, so that they can play around with the photo generator feature too.
Instagram Add Yours Sticker Templates
Instagram is launching a brand new feature that lets users design custom “Add Yours” templates to use in Stories which allows users to create meme-friendly questions for their followers to engage in. In order to create a template users are able to post their Story and then add additional elements such as GIFs custom texts or photos, and then click on the “Add your own Templates” stickers to save elements they wish other users to use. Users sharing the template aren’t able to modify the pin elements, however they can edit the template. The feature is available globally beginning today. It builds on the already existing Add Yours sticker that was launched in 2021, which allows users to answer the prompts. Templates that can be personalized allow users to express their creativity as well as collaboration capabilities. In the same way, Instagram introduced a Reels template search feature in July. The template browser is available along with the announcement of dynamic AI background editing tools for Stories in the U.S
Shop
Although the Shop icon is eliminated from the navigation bar, it’s an excellent location to explore if would like to look through your preferred brands or browse an artist’s shop. Instead of clicking on Shop or the Shop tab, simply go to the webpage of the account (brand or artist, business or company, etc. ) that you would like to look at.
Today Product Tags as well as ads can aid you in finding desired products with just a tap once they’re on Your Feed. Instagram Shop offers new collections as well as items from creators and brands and also unique curations on their social selling channel. It is also possible to utilize Facebook as well as Apple Pay to provide an effortless, secure method to purchase and donate to charities you value through multiple apps.
Instagram continues to evolve month by month, improving itself to make it a better place for musicians and their supporters. Although it ranks third place in the field of video-based content, it’s safe to claim that we believe Instagram is the top site for photo sharing. In addition to Broadcast Channels and new music integrations, it’ll be fascinating to discover what other new capabilities Instagram will bring to the table in 2024. It is, as expected, an essential tool for artists and creatives can use to build their reputation.
