Instagram has been a great platform for influencers, creators, and brands alike to promote their products and content. Their reach is amazingly vast and now has more than one billion users. Due to this, a lot of people have found it easier to engage with a larger audience on the platform.
Initially known for its photo-heavy features where all users uploaded pictures on their feeds, followed by the one-minute videos that the app started allowing, Instagram has evolved a lot. They have understood the growing need of their users and the fact that one-minute videos are not enough.
What is IGTV and How Can You Use It To Your Benefit?
As they started expanding and entertaining a larger audience, the needs of this audience became extremely clear. They wanted to have more freedom when it came to uploading videos on the medium, and that is what Instagram did. On June 20, 2018, Instagram launched a new feature called IGTV made exactly for this purpose.
Unlike the short one minute videos, people could now upload videos in a long-form whose duration extended up to one hour. This was perfect for the users since they could now share videos, pictures, and long-form content, all on the same platform.
You can do this, too, using IGTV on Instagram. Uploading videos on Instagram is just like how one would upload a regular picture.
You go about the exact same process. This includes going to the upload section, selecting the file you want to upload, and then adding a suitable title for your IGTV video.
It’s that simple, and it can be done in a matter of minutes. The best part about the IGTV feature is that it has been marketed as a feature that is very similar to a regular TV. It has long videos, channels, and almost any features that a normal TV does.
This feature is especially great for marketers since it helps increase engagement and helps you collaborate with fellow creators better, and in a space that is less-restricted. When you upload this video, you will find two options- a short video and a long video.
Your short video is the regular one minute and less than one minute video. The long video is the IGTV feature that has been introduced. So, if you want to upload a video that is longer in duration, you should select the long-form option.
Next, you can also add a picture that will act as a thumbnail or cover to your video. This has to be chosen wisely, and it should be kept in mind that this will make or break your video. On the basis of this image, your viewers will decide if they want to watch your video or not.
So, keep your cover as interesting and intriguing as possible and make sure it is not something dull and regular. It has to pique the interests of your viewer so that you can convince them to watch a video that is relatively long in duration.
You can select a cover from your gallery too. So, if you want, use an edited image with some text for the same. Next, you have to put in a title and description for your video.
Use a title that is short, to the point, and gives a clear idea to the viewer. The description is where you can delve into some details and give your viewer some more insight into the content of the video.
Use appropriate hashtags and engagement tools like SEO to increase your reach and visibility. Instagram also lets you make a one-minute promo of the video, which acts as a preview to your original video.
You can make this promo using a free promo video maker available online. Your promo has to show the best parts of your video while also keeping some element of secrecy in the video. Do not give away any main parts of the video, but just make the promo as exciting so that the viewer feels like watching the rest of it.
As mentioned before, IGTV has largely been marketed as a very fitting substitute for TV. So, just like a TV, this too has a feature wherein multiple videos can be added to the same series under the same umbrella. If you want to make a series regarding the farmer’s crisis in the country, all you need to do is shoot a couple of videos regarding the same.
You can even edit these using a photo slideshow maker with music and then uploading them on your IGTV. To make this a part of your series, all you need to do is select the ‘Add to Series’ option when you are uploading a new video.
For this, you will also have to create a new series. To do this, you can select the ‘Create Your First Series’ option available on the application. Then, you can name the series, add a description for it that will explain what your series actually contains.
After doing this, you have your own TV-like channel with a number of videos that your viewers can see.
Another feature of Instagram that is well known is the live feature. Here, account holders can go live on their page, and their followers can interact with them in real-time by either joining their live or sending in their comments.
People and brands use this feature to interview people, record important events, etc. Instagram also gives its users the option to convert this live stream into an IGTV video after the live stream is over.
However, the limit for this is one hour. In this way, the live stream always stays on the page of the user and can be viewed by anyone in case they missed the actual session.
Here, too, you can add a title and description for your video.
To Conclude,
Instagram has revolutionized its user interface ever since its inception in 2010. It has catered to the needs of its users extremely well, which has made it so relevant in today’s times.
Use this feature and help your brand discover new heights of outreach and engagement. This can be done by simple research and creative efforts put in by you and your team. So, without any delays, give your followers the benefit of accessing long-form and more detailed videos on Instagram today!