We know that Social Media is always changing and evolving, it is a constant update of demographics, trends, memes, image and video formats or the latest algorithms.
To be a business at the forefront of these changes, start updating some of the Instagram trends that defined 2019 as well as the trends to look forward to in 2020.
When IGTV first launched, it wasn't clear how it would work or what it would bring in terms of Instagram strategy.
However, after several changes and updates to the entire Instagram platform, IGTV is not only here to stay, it's doing better, and will likely continue to grow in importance throughout 2020.
First, Instagram added an IGTV tab to the navigation page, giving users more opportunities to search for more videos and reach more content creators they care about.
Later, Instagram also added the option to include previews of IGTV videos in a user's page, helping people discover accounts they follow that are also creating video content.
Not only that, the platform also allows content to be posted in landscape video format, making it easier to share existing video content that brands have created.
So what does this mean for your brand?
· Share existing video content, including in landscape format, to reach larger audiences.
· Create vertical video content specifically for IGTV.
· Consider creating an IGTV series that your audience will love.
· Share previews of IGTV videos on your feed to reach more viewers.
Since its creation in 2016, Instagram Stories has grown rapidly, reaching 500 million active users each day at the beginning of 2019. And there are no signs of stopping.
In fact, Instagram is just making it easier to share your Stories with more and more people, adding the option to share them all to Facebook so your friends and followers can see them too.
This feature exists for both personal and business accounts and is a great way to cross-promote your content so you can reach a larger audience.
Instagram also has a lot of great features to take advantage of in Stories.
More and more brands are focusing on Stories content, even more than content for their pages, and you should do the same.
· Cross-promote your content to your Facebook Page.
· Take advantage of tools inside Stories, like fonts, fill tools, Boomerangs, stickers and more.
· Once you reach 10k followers, start linking to your website content regularly to increase traffic.
Instagram has incorporated enough shopping features that the platform has become almost an entirely new revenue stream for e-commerce businesses.
However, the price tag feature has not yet been applied in Vietnam, as well as many other countries.
If you have an online store, you can start by setting up your store on Instagram.
Instagram has added a ton of features to improve shopping on their platform, like the ability to tag products in your posts, tag products in Stories, and even check out and complete entire purchases on the platform.
There's even a Shopping tab right on Instagram's Explore section, making it easier for users to find products to buy.
· Tag a product any time it is referenced in an Instagram post or Story.
· Enable in-app checkout so your followers can easily purchase from you directly through Instagram.
· Incorporate your product promotion further into your Instagram strategy.
It is extremely interesting to see content and ideas on these social media platforms lead to another platform or page, and this has become extremely popular with tweets and memes.
In fact, there are some accounts that focus solely on meme content and other brand accounts that incorporate them into their own marketing strategies.
But what took Instagram by storm and will continue to be a trend in 2020 is sharing screenshots of tweets in Instagram posts and Stories.
These can be your own tweets or other people's tweets, but make sure it's allowed.
Tweets on Instagram all tend to be the same – a small screenshot of the tweet centered in a square, using a colorful, brand-related background.
This can be a great way to share the opinions of other industry experts, bring in a bit of humor, and reshare some of the top content or best feedback from fans online.
· Share opinions and thoughts from experts in your industry.
· Bring a touch of humor to your site naturally, but still evoke your brand's own color and style.
· Create unique patterns for your Instagram tweets and memes compared to product photos or original photos.
Instagram is making it increasingly easier for users to find new accounts to follow, which is great for your business.
Pictured, there are tabs for Shop, IGTV, but you can also find other categories, like Nature, Decor, Travel and more.
The content on each user's Discovery page is different and categorized based on each person's interests, so you need to ensure the correct marketing strategy for your audience if you want to find a dedicated space for customers to discover your brand.
· Post your content at the right time.
· Interact with users related to your industry.
· Use attractive and relevant call-to-action.
We will get more interactions in future articles.
Instagram Stories include features like polls, Q&A, and more to give your fans the opportunity to interact directly with you and specifically your content.
To add interactivity to your Instagram content, open the Stories panel, select a photo or upload your content, then tap the sticker icon to access all the content options.
This is a fun way to engage your fans.
· Create countdowns for events, giveaways, promotions
· Add a poll or question sticker
· Test your fans with a small quiz
· Allow your fans to participate in private Q&A chats
Instagram is not purely a site for posting perfect, quality photos but also expands to much more.
While many brands and influencers still make sure they have beautiful and connected pages, more and more users are posting real-life photos, like bad days, behind-the-scenes failures, unedited photos and the like.
For example, this carousel post from Netflix is quite interesting right here.
Brands are starting to incorporate this idea into their own Instagram strategies.
· Use diverse, unaffected forms in the brand's product images.
· Share real, behind-the-scenes content that showcases life as a CEO, social media manager, freelancer, or other roles within your organization.
· Focus more on connecting with your audience than curating the perfect Instagram profile.
· Start incorporating content like memes and tweets for a more relaxed feel.
· Use carousel posts to keep your page looking good while still providing a behind-the-scenes look after users swipe left.
Last, but certainly not least, influencer marketing, is not going to change.
What you may have noticed in 2020 is a lot less on-page content and a lot more Stories content.
Micro-influencers – those with less than 25k followers – actually tend to get higher engagement rates than larger influencers, so keep this in mind to determine exactly which influencers to partner with.
· Find influencers whose audiences align with your brand's audience
· Approach them with your specific campaign goals for the idea as well as what you can hope to achieve from this partnership
· Create a package with pricing and benefits that the influencer will do to promote your business
· Create a hashtag to easily follow your influencer
The above article summarizes all 8 trends that have taken Instagram marketing by storm throughout 2019 and will continue to be a trend in the coming years.
Source: Chloe West
