It’s no surprise that TikTok has taken the world by storm. But, what’s social media’s darling for the last couple of years doing to keep up? The answer: a lot. From introducing Reels a little over a year ago in August 2020, to adding a shopping section with more targeted items for its users, Instagram has gone through a lot of changes recently to try to keep up.

All of these changes are amazing for the social media world. We’re getting a better UX from the app constantly trying to keep up with its (arguably) cooler cousin. Here are the 6 recent updates that you need to know about!

1. Goodbye, Swipe Up

The iconic line from Kim Kardashian, “Swipe up you guyssss,” is now extinct. Instagram decided to knix the swipe up for content creators with 10,000+ followers due to the fact that it offered less creative flexibility. The swipe up feature was not customizable, as nearly all other features are within Instagram. Instead, Instagram will now offer...

2. Hello, Stickers

Two words: Link. stickers. These stickers will be clickable links within a story itself so content creators can have more freedom to customize and streamline story creation. Instagram is discussing expanding this feature to more people outside of the current 10,000+ follower requirement and is trialing it with select accounts now. “Click the sticker you guysss” just doesn’t have the same ring to it...but we’re sure content creators will love the new feature’s flexibility.

3. Captions for Instagram Stories

Instagram just got a little bit more inclusive. For years, the best digital marketing strategists and content creators knew to write out closed captions or a brief summary of what’s being said on Stories or IGTV. This ensures more people can enjoy the content and doesn’t require that a person hears you to engage. Now, Instagram has made this inclusive (and SEO-friendly) strategy even more accessible - they’ve introduced a captioning technology that transcribes the words you’re saying right onto the screen. No more typing; Instagram will do it all for you with incredible accuracy! All you have to do is press the “captions” sticker. Find out more about how to use this new feature here.

4. Money for Content Creators $$

Instagram is finally stepping up to the plate and paying its creators for the content they create! The app has helped thousands of people grow wealth, but this has taken place through brand deals, sponsorships, and products off the app. Through ads on IGTV and badges on IG Live where fans and businesses can sponsor accounts, the app gives its creators a piece of the pie (55%, to be exact). This is a game-changer for any size account on Instagram and opens the door to many new opportunities to generate revenue within the app.

5. Reels Length Extended to 60 Seconds

In yet another bid to compete with TikTok, Instagram has listened to its users and extended Reels’ maximum amount of time. This will allow for more long-form style videos. More informative and entertaining content is a great move for the app because it will keep people on the app for longer. A win for Instagram, but a loss for me and my inevitable screen-time spike!

6. Countdown Sticker

Instagram rolled out a countdown sticker about a month and a half ago. It’s a clock that allows content creators, brands, or anyone to make an announcement counting down to an event. The Inspiration Agency has an upcoming product launch this fall (small secret spill). We will use the countdown sticker because not only is it a cute way to promote a launch/release date, but it also allows for interaction with those who choose to be notified. These people will get a direct message notification when the countdown expires, so they know precisely when our product is launched! We can’t wait to share more on this later…

And there’s even more to come…

As a digital marketing agency, it’s our responsibility to always be on top of the latest updates so our clients can utilize the features and leverage their growth! We’re sure the evolution of Instagram is far from over, so we’ll keep staying on top of the platform's next moves and keep you up to date. For now, we can’t wait to watch our clients and all creators within the app continue to grow.

If you’d like to get in touch with us about your social media strategy and how a digital marketing agency can help grow your business, we would love to tell you more about what we do. We hope these updates were helpful and you implement some of them into your IG use!

6 New Features Instagram Introduced in Summer 2021