We’ve all seen the new version of Instagram by now, but have you explored all the changes? 

From Reels and IG Shop to moving the post button; it’s pretty much a whole new app. 

If you’re struggling to navigate your way through, we’re deep diving into the changes made and are sharing our thoughts on the new experience! 

Reeling in the Views

Reels is your time to shine and be exposed to new audiences! If you’re looking to boost your engagement and level up that follower count, Reels are the way to go. Short, snappy and relatable are the key components of successful Reels.

Here’s how you can apply it to your niche:

1. You can’t go past the brainstorming phase - get out your notebook, set aside some time and write down every idea that comes to mind. Focus on how your message can be conveyed in a short timeframe. 

Questions to ask yourself - Can you take part in a trend? Is there an event you can relate to? How can you convey your brand in 10/15 seconds? What message do you want to send to a new audience? 

2. Once you’ve given yourself some time to think over the possibilities, start filming! 

If videos aren’t really your thing, start simple by showing off a location near you, a quick clip from a meal out, an outfit of the day, how you make your product - the opportunities really are endless. 

This is an opportunity for you to reach out to a new audience and create a more casual, authentic connection with them.

IG Shop Till You Drop

The new shop tab has made it even easier to eternally scroll through clothing, jewellery and even beauty services. 

This is a great opportunity for small businesses to advertise their products in a new and engaging format. With new recommendations being made to potential customers constantly, your business has the potential to be marketed to a whole new audience.

This is the perfect place to have posts that are more informative and accurately display the product being sold. Not only is it positive for product based businesses but also individuals with personalised merchandise or one off products that don’t have a dedicated sales campaign. 

Service businesses also have an opportunity to connect with related audiences as their posts are weaved in with product posts. Consumers now have the opportunity to peruse related products from multiple stores all at once! 

Wait… How Do I Post?

Instagram has shaken things up and reformatted the entire landing page, including moving the post button. This has caused a little bit of controversy, as users find it harder to post new content and feel the focus has shifted away from content sharing. 

However, we’re approaching the changes differently seeing them as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

On the bottom navigation bar, all the icon options available are focused on new content.

Whether it’s seeing content from those you follow, content that the algorithm is promoting to you, or IG Shopping, this section is all about promoting the sharing of new content and displaying a higher volume of content to a wider audience. 

The top navigation bar focuses more on engagement with your current audience through the posting, notifications and messages functions. Instagram has also created “hubs” for ease of use and content sharing.

Our suggestion: focus on how you can benefit from these app changes.

Updates to social media platforms are inevitable, as developers find new ways to make the experience more dynamic for users. 

We encourage you to challenge your content creation methods, and find ways to incorporate these new forms of connecting with your audience.