Instagram has announced a new feature that more clearly tells creators, businesses, and other users how they should post on the platform: “Best practices.”
This new feature is used as a guide that can be accessed through the professional control panel offered for Instagram’s professional accounts. The feature is being promoted as an educational tool aimed at helping content creators produce more interactive content, and includes tips on producing and sharing videos and photos, and how to monetize them.
Some tips stand out as general social media strategies. For example, suggestions such as “monitor long-term follower growth” and “post more and regularly” are offered. Other clues may point to Instagram’s corporate priorities: For example, a recommendation given to me on my account says that Reels videos longer than 90 seconds will not be recommended to new users, thus limiting the discovery process. This emphasis seems consistent with the trend towards short-form content, as Instagram head Adam Mosseri has previously stated.
On the one hand, it can be helpful for creators to receive information on how to gain greater reach directly from the platform. Creators trying to decipher social media algorithms have struggled for over a decade. But on the other hand, access to such tips or suggestions can put pressure on creators. If they do not fully comply with the platform’s demands, they may run the risk of their content not being seen by viewers. Are Instagram best practices telling me that making more Reels will quickly increase my followers? Probably yes. However, it is no secret that Instagram wants more short video sharing as it continues to compete with TikTok.
This summer, Instagram told creators that “views” were now the most important metric across the platform. This number, which has become a critical indicator for understanding content performance, plays a decisive role in the rankings. Another important element is how often the content is sent to others. Mosseri warns those who try to create eye-catching and shareable content, “Don’t force it.” This is another point to keep in mind.
Instagram shows its changing strategy with its new guide
This new guide offered by Instagram to its content creators reveals the changing strategies of the platform, especially with its emphasis on short video content. Intensifying competition with TikTok has led Instagram to prioritize shorter and shareable content. This means content creators need to rethink their strategies to stand out more on the platform.