Instagram: Product Updates You Need to Know in 2024
Want to stay ahead of the curve and maximise your impact on Instagram in 2024? This article breaks down the latest product updates you need to know to boost.
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Want to stay ahead of the curve and maximise your impact on Instagram in 2024? This article breaks down the latest product updates you need to know to boost your engagement, reach new audiences, and achieve your business goals. From exciting new features to crucial algorithm changes, we've got you covered.
Summary
April - June Updates
Instagram's Cracking Down on Engagement Bait
Updates to Reels Video Length
Reels Draft Sharing Feature
Jan - Feb Updates
Instagram Expands Carousel Image Limit from 10 to 15
Ads with Promo Codes Streamline Conversion Tracking
Instagram Extends Reels Duration to 3 Minutes
'People You Follow' Direct Message Filtering
Instagram's Cracking Down on Engagement Bait
Back in June, Instagram warned users against trying to "hack engagement." Specifically, they said they won't recommend content that explicitly asks for comments, shares, tags, or other actions – like asking people to comment with a specific word or emoji.
This has a lot of marketers worried, especially those using automated tools that rely on single-word responses (like "+1") to trigger automated engagements. While these tactics might have worked in the past, Instagram now sees them as inauthentic and is limiting their reach.
The good news? Genuine engagement is still key! Focus on asking open-ended questions and sparking real conversations. Ditch the gimmicks and build real relationships with your audience.
Updates to Reels Video Length
Regarding Reels, while the platform permits videos exceeding 90 seconds, Instagram advises that longer videos may experience reduced visibility. For optimal reach, brands are encouraged to keep Reels within the 90-second limit.
This doesn't negate the value of longer Reels. They remain a valuable tool for deeper audience engagement, facilitating the sharing of detailed product information, brand narratives, or behind-the-scenes glimpses to foster brand loyalty.
However, we recommend a testing phase. Experiment with varying Reels lengths on the same topic to determine which resonates most effectively with your audience. Analyse the resulting data to inform future content strategies. Regardless of length, prioritise content quality to ensure audience engagement and retention.
Reels Draft Sharing Feature
Instagram is currently testing a new feature that allows creators to share unfinished Reels drafts with friends for feedback before publishing. This provides creators and brands with the opportunity to refine and improve their content prior to release, thereby enhancing quality and increasing the likelihood of successful videos.
Instagram Expands Carousel Image Limit from 10 to 15
Instagram is currently experimenting with an expanded image limit for carousel posts, allowing select users to include up to 15 images, an increase of 5 from the current limit. This provides users with greater flexibility for sharing their experiences.
For brands, this alleviates the previous constraint of limited space, which often forces the compression of text and information or the division of content across multiple posts, impacting readability. This expansion offers increased narrative potential and allows for more compelling presentations of products and services.
Instagram has confirmed this ongoing test of "the ability to add more than ten photos to carousel posts" and will share further information after gathering user feedback.
Ads with Promo Codes Streamline Conversion Tracking
Traditionally, connecting digital ad campaigns with sales figures required manual cross-referencing of sales records and ad performance, a time-consuming and often imprecise process.
Instagram's new "Ads with Promo Codes" feature addresses this challenge by allowing brands to directly incorporate promotional codes within their advertisements. This enables potential customers to utilise these codes during checkout, streamlining the purchase process and increasing sales opportunities.
Consequently, brands gain more precise conversion tracking, identifying high-performing keywords and campaigns. This data-driven insight allows for more effective optimisation of advertising and overall marketing strategies.
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