Category: Instagram

Social Media News: Instagram Introduces New Share Option

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users – we have an exciting new Instagram feature for you to try out:

In the beginning of October, Instagram rolled out a new way to share Stories: sharing a Story with multiple group lists at once. In addition to the “Close Friends” list, users will be able to create other group lists and share content with all selected groups. 

This new feature will allow users to add up to 250 users to a group, forming new audiences and different communities. 

There has been a general trend across social media platforms towards less public content and more content discovery/discourse within online communities. As such,  Instagram is continuing to find new ways to make the user’s experience more personal, such as this shared Story option that gives users more agency with whom they are sharing content, allowing for more engagement across users. 

For more social media news, be sure to check out our Instagram @peoplefirstcreatorcommunity or stay tuned for the next blog next Friday!

Social Media News: Instagram Tests New Collaborative Post Feature

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users! This month, Instagram began testing a new collaborative post feature that will allow creators to add their images and videos to an existing post, allowing users a new way to collaborate with other creators and share their unique perspectives and content.

Once this feature is enabled, viewers can submit additions to a creator’s original post for consideration. These image and video submissions will need to be approved by the creator who owns the post.

This feature, like Instagram’s new “Add Yours” button on Stories feature, encourages collaboration between users and creates a “curated” group experience on the platform. 

We at People First are excited to see how this feature impacts brand partnerships and accounts as brands can now ask creators to add their content to the brand’s original post!

It’s important to note that this feature is currently still in testing with no official release date confirmed. 

That being said, be sure to keep up with our weekly blogs to gain the latest social media news and updates.

Social Media News: Instagram Increases Link Quantity in Bio

Posted on by marley

In mid-April of 2023, Instagram released a new feature that allows Instagram users to add up to five unique links to their in-app bio!

According to Instagram, this update is intended to “make it easier for creators and other users to highlight their passions, bring awareness to causes they care about, promote brands they love, showcase their personal business, and more”.

While the links will continue to be displayed in the same location, aka in the last line of the Instagram user’s bio, it will now also include the number of links available. When the first link is clicked, the other links, a maximum of five, will appear at the bottom of the screen. 

So what does this mean for our creators? This can be a great way for microinfluencers and content creators to promote their other social media channels or digital platforms to merge and strengthen their audience bases. Additionally, it can impact brands’/organizations’ campaigns by allowing creators to add links to petitions and other resources in their bio without limiting themselves to one link. 

If you are interested in adding new links to your Instagram profile… click ‘Edit profile’ → ‘Links’ → ‘Add external link’. 

Be sure to organize your links as you want them to appear in the app! 

Creator Tip: When to Post on Instagram…

Posted on by marley

It’s been a while since we posted tips and tricks for our creators to produce high-quality content and reach a large audience. In this week’s blog, we discuss posting times on Instagram and why they matter.

According to the online blog, “Later,” the best time to post on Instagram in 2023 is 4:00 AM when calculated local time across time zones, with the best day to post is Monday. 

This recommended posting time may vary depending on your goal as a creator.

  • If your goal as a creator is to generate higher engagement on metrics such as likes and comments, the best time to post is in the morning. 
  • However, if your focus as a creator is on videography and you utilize Reels, the best time to post is, again, at 4:00 AM and the best day to post is Monday.

The rule of thumb is to post earlier so you beat the competition and increase the likelihood of your content ending up on users’ feeds. 

Here is an in-depth list of the best times to post on Instagram during the week: 

  • Monday: 5:00 AM
  • Tuesday: 7:00 AM
  • Wednesday: 3:00 AM
  • Thursday: 3:00 AM
  • Friday: 7:00 AM
  • Saturday: 1:00 AM
  • Sunday: 1:00 AM

Feel free to download or screenshot this image to optimize your Instagram posting schedule:

For more information, check out the full article by clicking here.

Social Media News: Instagram ‘Channels’ Coming Soon…

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users! 

Instagram will be introducing a new feature—Channels—where users will be able to join group chats to remain updated on specific topics, niches, creators, and more. 

With the purpose of creating more private spaces for users to message, Channels can be accessed through the Instagram Direct chat list. Although users cannot add comments or new messages into the feed, they can read and react to messages that are posted in the chat. This contrasts Instagrams traditional ‘public’ posting such as in-feed or Story posts. Additionally, Channels will support images, text, polls, reactions, and even collaborations.

Channels will be a new way for creators and brands to engage with their users so if you are interested in joining, be sure to request early access to the feature!

Social Media News: Instagram Implements Gifts for Reels

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! 

On February 8th, Instagram announced that they will now allow all eligible U.S. based Reels creators to receive virtual gifts from their audience. How?

All through the click of a new button on their clips! Reels viewers will be able to purchase virtual gifts through Meta’s in-app currency—Stars—to gift creators. These virtual gifts are a way for users to express their appreciation for their favorite creators as the virtual gifts translate into more revenue for the creator, which they can access through the Professional Dashboard. 

If you are a creator who utilizes Reels, be sure to check out the virtual gifts update!

Social Media News: 2023 Vision for Creators on Instagram

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you been feeling like Instagram is turning into TikTok? If so, you’re not the only one. With Instagram’s focus on reels and videos in the past, many users have complained that Instagram does not feel like “Instagram” anymore.

This month, Adam Mosseri, Chief of Instagram, has announced that Instagram will return to their origins and re-focus on photos in 2023. Perhaps they heard and took into account what many loyal Instagram users have been saying in the past as they are now looking to balance the volume of photos and videos. 

However, it’s important to note that Instagram will be more likely to follow-through on this change if photos continue to generate usage. So if you are a creator who prefers images over videos, be sure to upload loads of photos and engage with others photos as well!

Social Media News: Instagram Introduces New “Quiet” Feature

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of content shown on your Instagram feed? Better yet, have you ever felt irritated by the amount of notifications you receive after posting your content?

If so, be sure to update your Instagram app as Instagram is now increasing the ways users can personalize their in-app experience — by providing creators with features to take breaks or manage the content shown on the application.

Instagram’s newest feature, aka the Quiet Mode, turns off all notifications, adds a signifier to your profile status, and an automatic response in your DM’s if messaged. 

Although the Quiet Mode feature is available to all users, it specifically targets our teenage Instagram users and content creators as it prompts teens to manage their Instagram usage late at night. By allowing users to “sign off” and pause notifications, it allows for a more positive user experience among younger users!

Check out this article for more information on Instagram’s new Quiet Mode feature!

Social Media News: Instagram Releases 2022 Recap Reels

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Instagram has finally hopped on the trend with the introduction of their new 2022 Recap Reels. This “end-of-the-year” recap feature has been a prominent trend amongst various social media platforms and apps such as Spotify, BeReal, and Snapchat. 

Specific to Instagram’s recap Reel is the added feature of a celebrity narration. Here’s what the update looks like:

  • On each user’s Instagram feed, they are prompted to ‘Create Your 2022 Recap Reel’.
  • The user is then walked through the Recap creation process using a narration template that features celebrities and influencers such as DJ Khaled, Bad Bunny, and Badshah. 
  • Instagram’s recap Reels allow brands and creators to share a message or solidify a brand identity for the year – so be sure to take advantage of the templates!

The 2022 Recap Reel templates will be available until early 2023. Once posted, the recap Reel will remain in the front center of the user’s Reel tab~

Social Media News: It’s ⚠️Time to BeReal ⚠️ On Instagram

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you all heard of the app BeReal? 

BeReal is considered an “authentic alternative to mainstream social media platforms” due to its signature once-a-day, untouched posts. Although BeReal was launched in 2019, it has blown up in recent years! As a result, Meta has recently implemented “Candid Stories” on Instagram—a feature that can only be used once a day and captures two simultaneous images using the front and rear cameras—similar to BeReal. 

This is just one of the many updates that Meta plans to implement on Instagram in the coming months! Expect changes such as a new Note feature and “Group Profiles” as well. So what do these changes mean for our creators?

It simply means that there are new ways to engage with audiences on Instagram, with an emphasis on interacting in smaller groups. To read more about Candid Stories and future Instagram updates, check out the full article by clicking here.

Social Media News: The Future of Video Storytelling

Posted on by marley

We’re back with more social media news to keep you informed. In case you missed it, Instagram recently published a guide on how to boost your marketing strategies on the platform. According to the social media program, Reels are “the future of video storytelling on Instagram”. The new feature already takes up 20% of the time people spend on Instagram. 

Incorporating Reels into your content can help drive engagement, reach, and relevance. When filming Reels, keep in mind that some of the most successful ones on Instagram are entertaining, relatable, and digestible. Get creative! Utilize visual effects and bite sized text to help hold the attention of viewers. 

Do you happen to sell products of your own? Half of Instagram users surveyed use Instagram Shop weekly. The platform advises that product tags are what drives product discovery by users. Make sure to tag frequently across various formats to maximize shoppable moments for your followers.

Social Media News: All Instagram Videos Will Become Reels

Posted on by marley

Hey there, creators!

Does it feel overwhelming trying to keep up with all of the current industry news and trends? We understand that it can be difficult to stay informed when the world of social media is constantly changing with the needs of users and new technologies. That’s why our team at People First is dedicated to giving you weekly updates in our newsletter.

This week, Meta announced that video posts shorter than fifteen minutes will be automatically shared as Reels on Instagram. Videos posted to the platform prior to this update will remain as videos and won’t be changed to Reels. 

With this change, a significant amount of video content shared on Instagram will be filtered into the Reels algorithm. As more users begin to watch more Reels, your content could start to receive more engagement!

Instagram is also adding new tools for users to create their Reels such as: 

  • Remix for photos
  • Additional Reels templates
  • Add your clip to the end of the video

Social Media News

Posted on by marley

Hey there creators! 

We have some exciting new updates from the social media world, for all creators and influencers that we are thrilled to share!

Youtube is adding a new feature to it’s studio editing trim. This feature is designed to allow users to cut segments from longer video uploads into shorter clips. This will enable finer grain time editing, as well as making it easier to edit in the youtube studio app itself. This update will be available for all youtube studio editing users, by the end of the first week of August!

Our Tip or Trick of the week: 

As of lately, all Instagram users are noticing a shortage of likes and engagements, on still media posts. Any static feed image posts are not being shown in feed as much anymore. This is because Instagram is continuing to push out their reels feature, and wanting more users to create video content in reels. The best thing to do is use this new algorithm, to your advantage, and start posting more reels! The more Reels you post, the Instagram algorithm will push out to more users on its platform. While posting reels you also have the option to not share it in feed, so it won’t be shared to all your followers, but it will be pushed throughout all of Instagram, which will increase your account engagement, and bring in new viewers to see your account. It is best to start posting reels now, and take advantage of the new algorithm, so you can boost your account as much as possible!

Creator Tip: Reels Play Bonus

Posted on by marley

In 2020, Instagram released Instagram Reels, which has changed the way many people create, discover, and share short, entertaining videos online today. But now, Instagram wants to give back to the people who made Instagram Reels such a success, by introducing the Reels Play Bonus!

For years, partnering with brands or affiliate marketing groups were some of the only ways to get paid for creating Reels. However, things are starting to look different. Due to the popularity of Reels, Meta is in the midst of finding new ways to pay creators for their work. 

For instance, there are embedded advertisements available for creators that have more than 10,000 followers in over 50 countries. These overlay ads give creators 55% of the rewards. 

Another exciting feature is creators will be able to receive “stars” on their Reels from viewers. Each “star” received is an equivalent to a cent in earned revenue.

There’s currently another new way for creators to receive payment for their content from Meta. The company has recently announced the Reels Bonus Play Program. This program provides a “bonus” revenue outside of the Instagram creator fund to creators and influencers whose Reels get at least 1,000 views over a 30 day period. The Reels Play Bonus pays can pay creators as much as up to $35,000 per month, however, it’s an invite-only feature. 

After the Reels Play Bonus is accessible to you, the opportunity is available to you for 30 days. As a creator, you have the option to choose any number of Reels to count toward the Reels Play Bonus earnings during those 30 days. Your bonus payout will be determined by the performance of your Reels.