Deep Dive Into New Instagram Features And How To Use Them?

Gone are the days of static images; now, you can create immersive visual stories that captivate your audience with the new Instagram updates. You can share broadcast channels, create stickers, use AI, and so much more. 

If you love constantly being on Instagram and browsing it like the 63 million influencers, you must keep an eye on the new features. 

We have covered the new Instagram updates and how to utilize them at your best in this blog. So, read on to understand them better.

Top New Instagram Updates In 2023-24

Some of the essential Instagram updates that you need to take a look at are as follows:

1. Broadcast Channels

When the Instagram broadcast channels feature was launched in February 2023, brands hopped onto the bandwagon and made the most of that opportunity. With the help of a broadcast channel feature, users can send mass updates to their followers. 

As you can share mass updates, you have the opportunity to share photos, voice notes, and videos with all your followers only if they join the broadcast channel. As a result, you will be able to foster a stronger, better, and more emotional connection with the audience.

How to Create Broadcast Channels?

• Step 1: Open the message icon on the Instagram app. 

• Step 2: On the top right, click on Tap a new message. 

• Step 3: Click on ‘Create broadcast channel’. Here, you can edit your broadcast channel with the channel name, audience, end date, and the information you want to reflect on your profile. 

• Step 4: After making the necessary changes in settings, click on Create Broadcast Channel. Then, move ahead and select the audience that you want to invite on your channel. 

2. Collab Instagram Posts with Friends

Collaboration on Instagram posts was launched on Instagram back in 2021. However, they've been hyped up in recent times after the latest updates on Instagram posts regarding collaboration, in which you can collab with up to five accounts to share photos or contribute to the posts.  

The best part about the Instagram post collaboration is that the post will appear in the feeds of those you've invited. Thus, you'll be able to get engagement from the followers of other collaborators, too. 

How to Create Collab Instagram Posts?

• Step 1: Click on the (+) icon available on the bottom tab of the Instagram app. Select the pictures/videos you want to post. 

• Step 2: Make the necessary edits, and on the next screen, you can ‘Tag people’ or ‘Invite collaborators.’

• Step 3: Tap the name of the followers you want to invite for collaboration and click ‘Done.’

• Step 4: Edit the post by adding captions, location, and more before you make the actual post. 

3. Share Comments on Instagram Stories

You can now share the comments on your Instagram stories. If there are certain comments that you find interesting or are more of a question, you can just share them on your story and reply to the question asked or give an appropriate reaction to the comment.

How to Share Instagram Comments on Stories?

• Step 1: Swipe left on the comment. 

• Step 2: The option to share it will appear on the screen. 

• Step 3: Click on the share on stories option. 

• Step 4: Share the comment and design the story as you want. 

4. Music on Instagram Account Carousels

While earlier you had the option to add music to only singular posts on Instagram accounts, you can now do it for carousels. This feature has recently been rolled out on Instagram and is already capturing much attention. 

How to Add Music to Your Posts?

• Step 1: Tap on the (+) icon on Instagram to add the posts. 

• Step 2: Select the pictures or videos you want in the carousel. 

• Step 3: In the next edit option, you will get the option to add music; click on it. 

• Step 4: Search for the music you want to add to the post. Tap on select. 

• Step 5: Adjust the timer for how long you want the music on the post. You can also swipe the audio bar if you want a particular song section to play. 

• Step 6: Edit the post and share it on your profile. 

5. Share Notes on Instagram Profile

The notes feature on the Instagram profile is going to be a ride down memory lane for all the millennial users on Instagram. If you're someone who has used MySpace, you will surely be able to connect with the notes feature on your Instagram profile. 

Notes are only short text-based updates on the Instagram profile that appear on top of the follower’s message box. It is one of the best ways to keep the account on top of the minds of your Instagram followers. 

Whether it's your regular posts or reels, if they haven't made it into your audience's feed, your notes surely will. This is perfect for social media influencers who want their message to reach an audience. 

How to Share Profile Notes?

• Step 1: Visit your Instagram DM option. 

• Step 2: Your profile photograph will appear at the top of the message bar. Click on it to add a message. 

• Step 3: A bubble will appear; type the text in it, and you can also select the song of your choice. 

• Step 4: Click on 'Share,' and notes will be published. 

6. Photo Stickers

Do you want your Instagram stories to be fun and unique? Try adding photo stickers to it. While there are generic stickers, the fun stickers can be a great way to customize your profile. 

How to Create Photo Stickers?

• Step 1: Open the Stories section. Swipe up to get the stickers. 

• Step 2: Click on the Create option. 

• Step 3: Choose a picture from your camera that you want to turn into stickers. 

• Step 4: Instagram will turn the selected image into stickers by default. 

7. Reel Templates 

Want to have your own reel template? Now, you can. With the Instagram's new features, you can create reel templates. Although the feature has been there for quite some time, it has only been updated recently. 

After the update, using the reel templates and effectively editing the information accordingly became significantly easier. This is the perfect option for those who can create the reels, ideally in no time. 

However, only some Instagram reels are available for the template feature. If the creator allows the reels to be used, the template can be used. 

How to Craft Reel Templates?

• Step 1: Click on the (+) option, and then choose the Create button. 

• Step 2: Choose the ‘Templates’ option from the screen. 

• Step 3: There will be a wide range of reels that you can use as the template for the following video. You can also get the reel templates from other creators. 

8. Multiple Links in Bio

You can now have multiple links in your Instagram bio. Also, you do not have to worry about constantly replacing the different links. As a result, you can invite your users to click on any of the links and be directly sent to the respective post.

How to Add Multiple Links in Bio?

• Step 1: Click on edit profile. 

• Step 2: Select the ‘links’ option in the bio description. 

• Step 3: Choose the (+) option to add external links. 

• Step 4: Then, if you want to add more links, click on the More Link option. 

• Step 5: Drag and drop the links to offer more options. 

We also have some additional updates to spice up your Instagram account, they are:

9. Add Polls to Captions

Thanks to the new Instagram updates and features, polls are no longer available only for Instagram Stories but also for captions. Whether it's just a silly message or offering helpful insights, you can always utilize the feature of adding polls to captions. 

According to Instagram for Business, around 57% of customers love seeing polls and hashtags from brands on Instagram. By adding polls to captions, you'll be able to capture users' attention soon. Furthermore, it can contribute to getting your audience hooked. 

10. Instagram Shop and In-shop Ads

You can now shop on Instagram by clicking on posts that have integrated shop links. The ads will contain product tags, which will allow the business and content creators to get extensive exposure. 

Instagram Shop and in-shop ads are a creative way to attract the audience's attention and keep them engaged. Furthermore, it also helps to highlight the shoppable products. 

If you want to use the power of Instagram shops and in-shop ads, you need to have an Instagram business account. It is crucial to focus on small factors and tag the right products so that they can appear in Instagram shops. 

11. Meta Verified

While being Meta verified isn't much of a feature, this new update did prove to be extremely beneficial for brands and creators. Getting Meta verified means a small blue tick will be available next to your username. 

With the Meta Verified feature being introduced, there is absolutely no need of being a public figure to get it. If you want to get Meta verified, you will have to pay a subscription fee per month. 

When you become Meta verified, you will gain access to numerous exclusive and premium features. The popular features you will get after being Meta verified include account protection and personalized stickers. 

Best Practices to Handle Essential Instagram Changes

Now that Instagram has undergone these changes, you may need help to keep up. However, there are certain practices that will allow you to keep up with the Instagram changes seamlessly:

1. Keep Your Profile Updated

When you want Instagram updates to work for you, it is important that you keep your profile updated. Apart from that, it is also important to update the app as well. Properly updating the profile from time to time can play an important role in accessing the best features of the Instagram app.  

2. Understand How Instagram's Algorithm Works

Instagram's algorithm works in different ways, so you need to have an idea of how it functions. You need to get a proper understanding of how the Instagram algorithm works so that you can make the most of it and use it to bring out the best. While you're browsing the internet, try to get insights on how you can make the algorithm work in your favor. 

3. Search What Influencers Are Doing

One of the easiest ways to handle the essential Instagram changes is to understand what the influencers are doing. You can analyze the type of content they're posting, what they are sharing in their stories, and what hashtags they're using. Moreover, you can also compare the number of collaboration posts they're sharing. 

Final Thoughts

With every new update, Instagram introduces a plethora of new features. This can be a great tool for aspiring influencers and content creators. The platform offers many things to learn that can be extremely beneficial. By using these new features, you can also enhance your journey towards content creation. 

What are the best of these features? It helps you gain credibility on the platform as well. The key, however, is to find a feature that fits the best for you. Try it all, implement it all, and choose only the best to help you in your journey.

FAQs

#1. How do I enable new features on Instagram?

If you want to access the new features on Instagram, you need to update the Instagram app on your device. At the same time, it is important to ensure that you have an updated device for the app to function smoothly. 

#2. What are the new Instagram updates?

The new Instagram updates include multiple links in the bio, adding polls to the captions, sharing music on your Instagram profile posts, sharing comments on stories, Instagram Shop and broadcast channels.

#3. Can using new features enhance my Instagram profile ranking?

Yes, using new features enhances your Instagram profile ranking. Instagram often promotes content that utilizes its latest features. Thus, by incorporating these features into your content strategy, you may attract more views, comments, and shares, which can positively impact your ranking.

#4. How do you post collaborative Instagram posts with friends?

When you upload a post, you have the option to invite another individual or follower as a collaborator. You can choose this option and start posting collaborative Instagram posts with your friends. 

#5. How do you use new features on Instagram stories?

Using new features on Instagram is a piece of cake. You can share comments directly on your Instagram stories or add music and polls to check how a particular feature is functioning on your profile.