![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-professional-dashboard.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollow these Professional Dashboard tips to get the most out of this feature:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Stay Informed: <\/strong>No Seriously! That\u2019s the name of the section in the Professional Dashboard where you will find other content creators\u2019 tips on making the best and most engaging content for your audience.<\/li>
- Sell your products:<\/strong> There is a section where you can easily set up your products on your page, where potenial and current customers can purhase right from your social profile. After you set up your store, you can actually tag shoppable products in your posts and stories, making it that much easier to sell to your followers. (More on social shopping here<\/a>!)<\/li>
- Post about 15 minutes before your peak: <\/strong>The \u201cMost Active Times\u201d section under \u201cSee All Insights\u201d will help you capture your audience at an optimal time. For the best engagement, post about fifteen minutes before the optimal time for that day. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-professional-dashboard-most-active-times.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may also be interested in our Complete Guide to Instagram Analytics.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feature #2: Live Rooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Launched in March 2021, Live Rooms<\/a> allows more than one account to participate in the same Instagram Live session. Go live with your teammates or colleagues, influencers, other businesses, vendors, or even your customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-live-rooms.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some helpful tips for Live Rooms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Add three or more users to the live. <\/strong>You can invite up to three other users to join your live video. You could run a panel, get a discussion going, or even have different participants cycle through. As long as you and that account are following one another, they can join your session. <\/li>
- Make a bite-sized podcast.<\/strong> A full podcast for yor business could be a major undertaking. Live Rooms could be your \u201cbite-sized\u201d podcast episodes where you provide tutorials, offer a Q&A session or even turn it into a talk show of sorts. Skies the limit! <\/li>
- Join others\u2019 live videos.<\/strong> If it\u2019s too much pressure to host a live yourself, you can always jump into another person\u2019s Live Room and contribute that way. It\u2019s actually a great way to gain more followers from their account as well as engage with a new potential audience. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You may also be interested in these 8 Tips to Create Incredible Instagram Live Videos.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feature #3: Remix Reels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever been perusing on Reels and thought, \u201cHmmm, I could do this better?\u201d Or wished you could share your thoughts on what\u2019s going on in a particular reel? Launched in April 2021, you now can with Remix Reels<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-remix-reels.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remix Reels tips and tricks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Incorporate others\u2019 Reels into your own.<\/strong> Whether it\u2019s expanding upon the already created reel, turning it into a duet, or adding funny comments to it, you can get super creative here based on what your audience wants to see. You also have the option to create the reel inside the app itself or upload an existing video, an option not offered by TikTok).<\/li>
- Expand your audience. <\/strong>That person gets notified if you use their content, so if they share it on their feed, you can increase your exposure to their audience. Note: if you select the three dots at the bottom and the option doesn\u2019t show up to remix, then that person has turned that feature off. <\/li>
- Don\u2019t forget to adjust the audio.<\/strong> There are three lines at the top that you need to select before you hit next to make sure your audio will come through. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t miss our 20 Instagram Reels Ideas to Build Your Brand<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feature #4: Stories caption stickers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also in April 2021, caption stickers for Stories<\/a> were introduced, which automatically turns what you say into text. Just tap on Stickers and search for captions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-stories-caption-stickers.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Capture more viewers.<\/strong> Did you know 40% of people aren\u2019t watching video with the sound on<\/a>? This is a great opportunity to capture that audience. Using the captions sticker, you can auto-populate what you are saying in a video so that more people will watch it.<\/li>
- Keep it short.<\/strong> This feature only works for videos that are 15 seconds or less, so take care on all the information you need to share in a short snippet. <\/li>
- Double-check for accuracy.<\/strong> It may not get the wording 100% right, so just tap on the words to edit any of them that aren\u2019t accurate. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Want to be more Stories-savvy? We\u2019ve got posts for that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Shopping for Instagram Stories is Here<\/a><\/li>
- 6 Epic Instagram Story Hacks You\u2019ll Wish You Knew Sooner<\/a><\/li>
- Everything You Need to Know About Instagram Story Ads<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Feature #5: Updates to Insights <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Instagram also made some general updates to their platform that have turned into great features for content creators. Many of these recent updates are targeted for Reels and IG Live<\/a>, which will help creators engage more with their audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Check Reels and Live insights.<\/strong> These will come in handy after you have made your Reel or gone Live with another user. It will show you what your audience liked and what they didn\u2019t like. Along with if Instagram pushed your reel out or not based on potential engagement and algorithm compliance. You can use these to adjust what you do next. <\/li>
- Expand your tracking period!<\/strong> With the new updates, you can now expand your tracking period from 30 to 60 days. You now don\u2019t need a third-party tool to analyze more of your data. <\/li>
- Focus on Accounts Reached.<\/strong> When you are in Insights Overview, check out the Accounts Reached section. This will break down your followers and non-followers which can be helpful, but also which type of content is getting the most attention. This way you can do more of what\u2019s working or get out of your comfort zone and try to update the type of content you may need to improve upon.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-reels-insights.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feature #6: Instagram algorithm shift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not actually a feature, but just as important! Instagram\u2019s latest algorithm is said to favor fun and engaging video content. In June 2021, Instagram announced that it will not optimize for recycled content from other apps, such as TikTok. Before this recent update, users were missing about 70% of their posts<\/a> along with 50% of their friends\u2019 posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Write a longer caption with the video. <\/strong>This has actually shown to increase engagement and interaction on the platform where your audience will want to see the full video and not just keep scrolling. <\/li>
- Branded intro and branded outro.<\/strong> This will keep consistency and make your videos on the professional video creation level. It needs to stay on-brand with your business so the user doesn\u2019t get confused on what they are watching. <\/li>
- Incroporate music.<\/strong> Also make sure these songs are copyright-free and you are using the right type of music for your video. Think about how you are trying to engage with your audience. If you are trying to give them an exciting update, then use upbeat music. If you are showing your audience something on the more serious side, then perhaps keep the music calm. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For more great social media content ideas (and much more), head to our Social Media Marketing Lab<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feature #7: Instagram explains how its algorithm works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also not a feature, but big news. In the same month, Instagram decided to shed more light on exactly how their algorithm works<\/a>. You can learn more here in these 9 Ways to Show Up in the Instagram Feed [New Info!]<\/a>, but some quick pointers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Regularly publish Reels:<\/strong> Reels regularly will help boost your page outside your network and all organically! It doesn\u2019t have to be that time-consuming either if you keep everything in a shortened format. Studies are showing that Reels are getting two times the reach<\/a> than a normal post (as well as has longevity on the platform), so it only makes sense that you take advantage of how Instagram\u2019s algorithm works.
![\"shopify](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-reels-ideas-for-busines-feature-another-business.png\")
<\/li>- Cut down on the hashtags. <\/strong>Hashtags are losing their luster. The algorithm is getting more advanced in terms of categorizing for keywords (more on Instagram SEO here<\/a>) and relying less on the use of hashtags in your posts. So maybe save some time and cut the normal 30 hashtags to about half or even less. <\/li>
- Focus on video and shopping.<\/strong> Yes, the CEO of Instagram<\/a> is telling you, straight from the source, that Instagram is no longer a photo-sharing app. It is now more focused on shopping and video content. He\u2019s not saying photos are going away, but they will definitely be focusing their algorithm to give more videos and products a boost over photos. It\u2019s time to get more creative on how you are utilizing Instagram than just pushing out a photo a day. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That said, be sure to check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 13 Tips for Creating More Effective Instagram Video Ads<\/a><\/li>
- How to Create Captivating Instagram Videos<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Feature #8: Black-owned business label<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From Instagram<\/a>: \u201cLast summer through fall, there were over 1.3 million Instagram posts in support of \u201cBlack-owned\u201d or \u201cBlack-led\u201d businesses. And the number of businesses located in the US with \u201cBlack-owned\u201d or \u201cBlack-led\u201d in their profile increased over 50%\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Support, support, support!<\/strong> With this new feature you can discover and support more black-owned businesses<\/a> by engaging with their accounts and buying directly from them. <\/li>
- Designate your business (if applicable).<\/strong> Set your profile to display under Black-Owned Shopping. You can make these updates on your profile and check the Instagram Help Center<\/a> for more info. <\/li>
- Find partnership opportunities.<\/strong> Maybe you aren\u2019t a black-owned business but you want to be a part of the 15% Pledge<\/a>. This is a great resource to use when trying to find businesses to partner with that are black-owned. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-black-owned.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFeature # 9: Location Stories (once again!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This feature was removed in October 2020 due to election precautions, and finally, a year later, it\u2019s back! With it, users can find Stories being published by accounts nearby\u2014a great way to do some local social media marketing<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-location-stories.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFeature #10: Maps search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In September 2021, Instagram began rolling out the Map search feature. The in-app map will show nearby shops, venues, and cafes, and if a user taps on one of the map items, Instagram will then show more information about the business like hours, address, pricing, their Instagram profile, and public posts tagged at that location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/staging.wordstreamcdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/instagram-features-map-search.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n - Designate your business (if applicable).<\/strong> Set your profile to display under Black-Owned Shopping. You can make these updates on your profile and check the Instagram Help Center<\/a> for more info. <\/li>
- How to Create Captivating Instagram Videos<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Cut down on the hashtags. <\/strong>Hashtags are losing their luster. The algorithm is getting more advanced in terms of categorizing for keywords (more on Instagram SEO here<\/a>) and relying less on the use of hashtags in your posts. So maybe save some time and cut the normal 30 hashtags to about half or even less. <\/li>
- Branded intro and branded outro.<\/strong> This will keep consistency and make your videos on the professional video creation level. It needs to stay on-brand with your business so the user doesn\u2019t get confused on what they are watching. <\/li>
- Expand your tracking period!<\/strong> With the new updates, you can now expand your tracking period from 30 to 60 days. You now don\u2019t need a third-party tool to analyze more of your data. <\/li>
- 6 Epic Instagram Story Hacks You\u2019ll Wish You Knew Sooner<\/a><\/li>
- Keep it short.<\/strong> This feature only works for videos that are 15 seconds or less, so take care on all the information you need to share in a short snippet. <\/li>
- Expand your audience. <\/strong>That person gets notified if you use their content, so if they share it on their feed, you can increase your exposure to their audience. Note: if you select the three dots at the bottom and the option doesn\u2019t show up to remix, then that person has turned that feature off. <\/li>
- Make a bite-sized podcast.<\/strong> A full podcast for yor business could be a major undertaking. Live Rooms could be your \u201cbite-sized\u201d podcast episodes where you provide tutorials, offer a Q&A session or even turn it into a talk show of sorts. Skies the limit! <\/li>
- Sell your products:<\/strong> There is a section where you can easily set up your products on your page, where potenial and current customers can purhase right from your social profile. After you set up your store, you can actually tag shoppable products in your posts and stories, making it that much easier to sell to your followers. (More on social shopping here<\/a>!)<\/li>