Want to go viral? Instagram's 'best practices' feature can help
Instagram has rolled out a cool new feature called "best practices," designed to help content creators, businesses, and everyday users nail their posting game. You can find this handy tool in the professional dashboard if you've got a professional account. The main aim? To be an educational buddy, helping creators whip up and share engaging content, plus giving them some tips on how to cash in on their photos and videos.
A blend of generic and specific tips
The "best practices" feature offers a mix of general social media strategies such as "track long-term follower growth" and "consistently post more." It also provides more specific advice that may reflect Instagram's corporate objectives. For instance, one tip suggests that Reels longer than 90 seconds won't be recommended to new users, potentially limiting their reach. This advice aligns with previous statements by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, emphasizing the importance of concise short-form content.
Balancing act for creators
This new feature is a bit of a mixed bag for content creators. On one side, it gives them some handy tips straight from Instagram on how to get more eyes on their posts. But on the flip side, it might put more pressure on them to stick to certain posting rules, or else their content could get lost in the crowd. This move really shows how Instagram is pushing for more short videos, trying to keep up with TikTok.
Views are now the main metric
Earlier this year, Instagram told creators that "views" are now the main metric on the platform. This shift was made to help creators get a better grip on how their content is performing. Another biggie affecting ranking is how often people share your stuff with others. Mosseri suggests that creators shouldn't stress about making everything go viral or super shareable, but they should definitely keep these metrics in mind when putting together their posts.
