Previously known as a photo-sharing app, you may have noticed that it is hard to grow a following on Instagram, especially considering Instagram is saturated by influencers and millions of users. Unless you have taken time to master the Instagram algorithm, typically your content will only appear on your followers’ feeds, which is good but not good enough when you’re trying to grow your following exponentially and build your business!

Instagram users will soon begin to notice recommendations on their feed for topics and content creators that they don’t follow. This is all in an effort to promote a more ‘organic reach’ for your posts.

Videos!

If you look at your Instagram feed right now, you will likely see more videos appearing on your feed from people you follow which demonstrates videos are already being prioritized on the feed, compared to regular photos. 

So, what does this might mean for you? This means you should start getting comfortable with using video as your medium.

3. SHOPPING:  In regards to Instagram increasing their e-commerce capabilities, it is unclear how many followers you need to be able to use the following changes or what type of Instagram you need (i.e. business or personal). However, here is what we know now: Over the next few months, Instagram will also be adding new ways to earn money for creators. As you have likely already seen, Instagram has increased its e-commerce applications over the past year. Now you can buy directly from Instagram and Influencers have affiliate links, but Instagram will soon add a ‘native affiliate tool’ which will allow you to tag your outfits, merchandise, and other items in your pictures and earn a commission off of it when people buy the same items from your link. This in theory will also allow your consumers to sign up and buy your products/packages directly from Instagram, instead of being redirected to your website. This will make it easier for your followers to enroll in your services or buy your products.

Keeping It Legal

If video becomes a key strategy (which by now we hope you are convinced), consider using a Media Release Form when creating content with other creators. This can include collaborative content or interview-style content. With this type of video content, you want to outline who owns the media and how you can use it. A Media Release Form is a one-page agreement that sets out the legal expectations between you and anyone who you collaborate with to make social media content. This agreement explains that you, the creator, can use the content for social media and marketing purposes, now and in the future.  A Media Release form is especially important if you earn, or plan to earn money from social media because this agreement explains that the individual you collaborate with will not be eligible to receive any compensation for their participation in your content. 

Grab our Media Release form HERE to keep your content legally protected!

Take Away

We still don’t know a lot about the upcoming Instagram changes but start preparing yourself to prioritize videos to work with the algorithm.