Over the years, Instagram has evolved from a simple picture uploading platform to a content marketing channel and even an online store for businesses. 2022 is about to add more feathers to the hat of Instagram and thus make it more user-friendly. Here are some of the latest and upcoming Instagram trends you must know.
Instagram in 2022: Latest Trends & Effective Strategies
- Boom of Instagram Shops
Instagram shopping is becoming mainstream with each passing day. Instead of directing customers to business websites, Instagram shopping enables people to easily purchase from the app. More than 130 million users tap on an Instagram shopping post every month and this trend is to grow this year (source: Hootsuite).
- Visual Storytelling
These days, visual storytelling is everywhere! It is where some stand-out content is created that inspires people to take action. The end of 2021 witnessed the retirement of IGTV. These days, Instagram enables users to post up to 60 minutes long videos directly on the main Instagram feed.
Therefore, IGTV videos and feed videos can be viewed via a single tab on the profile page. The IGTV app is getting rebranded as the Instagram TV app.
- Story Links
Even a couple of years back, external linking was reserved for Instagram accounts with 10,000 or more followers. Now, it has become commonplace for everyone. Anyone, irrespective of follower base can add a link sticker to the story and lead viewers to any site/platform.
You can simply tap on the add sticker icon on the create mode and select the link sticker. Now, you can add the URL and even customize the sticker text. This opens a huge opportunity for small businesses.
- User-Generated Content
If there’s one thing we noticed consistently across all the social media platforms over the years is their focus on user-generated content. They consider such content as a reliable source of information for a brand. Instagram is no exception to that.
Therefore, start encouraging your users to contribute to your content marketing efforts and share on Instagram. It also helps in diversifying your content strategy and brings the users closer to your brand – a key component of building brand loyalty.
Interacting with your audience is the first step before asking for content. Also, you can offer various rewards for creating content. This will encourage people to try your products, create content, and share on Instagram.
- Reel Downloading
Released back in 2020, the Instagram reel feature has earned huge popularity among users. A study by Growthoid mentions that reels receive 22% more engagement than regular video content.
Do you love to watch Instagram reels? Well, good news for you! Now, you can download Instagram reels and save them on your phone gallery. You can even share these on any platform. Here is a step-by-step guide to download reels:
- Head to the Instagram reel you want to save
- Hit the Share button and tap Add Reel to Your Story
- Zoom the reel to make it full screen (It will hide the reels icon at the top left)
- Press the Download icon at the top and the reel will be saved on your phone
- Instagram Live
Instagram Live has earned immense popularity over the last year. 2022 is going to further boost it. Therefore, start planning Instagram Live content and connect with your followers.
Still not considering it seriously? Here’s a compelling study: 80% of the audience prefer to watch a live stream instead of reading a blog post (source: Live Stream). Give what they want!
Going live on Instagram is easier than you think. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Tap the Plus icon on the top right of Instagram
- Swipe over to Live
- Tap on the button to go live
- Trendy Posts
While going with the flow often interrupts a brand’s objective of being unique and standing apart from the crowd, sometimes, it’s important to follow the trends on Instagram. That’s because people prefer to watch something trendy on a loop.
Also, if you create posts leveraging the latest trends, you need not worry about content creation. (We know, content creation can be difficult at times!) Be it a popular meme template or a catchy number, inspirations are around you. Take advantage of the trends to increase your chances of landing on more people’s Explore pages. So, keep an eye on the trendy posts of 2022 and brainstorm.
However, we don’t encourage you to follow the trends randomly. Make sure that they align with your brand and don’t affect your uniqueness.
Instagram Algorithm
Enough of new features, it’s time to discuss something about the Instagram algorithm. Businesses, marketers, and influencers alike need to learn about the Instagram algorithm to get desired results.
The first thing that you should know is that the Instagram algorithm is not a single algorithm. It is a wide array of algorithms, procedures, and classifiers that collectively work to put the right content in front of the right viewers at the right time.
If you are just about to blame Instagram algorithms for your reduced reach, let us tell you that it doesn’t intend to affect your business or reach. All it wants is to keep the users hooked to the platform so that they keep scrolling and don’t leave the app.
With algorithms getting updated all times, you can expect a stricter content analysis in 2022. Hence, pay attention to show the users what they want to see and the algorithms will favour you.
As you can see, with so many new features and algorithm demands, mastering Instagram marketing is not a matter of joke. If you want to leverage the power of Instagram for your brand, consider engaging professional digital marketing services. Experienced marketers can do wonders and take your brand to new heights!
We hope our guide will help you to manage your Instagram presence in a more strategic way. Let us know your thoughts.
