Instagram’s latest feature, Live Stories, is the newest update to the app behemoth. We were introduced to Instagram Stories not that long ago, and found plenty of great new features can really drive engagement and followers.
Over on Facebook, Live video has been around for quite some time now, taking the social media world by storm. It’s not surprising that this capability has been copied on Instagram – which, by the way, is owned by Facebook.
With Instagram Live you can share in a real-time moment with followers for up to one hour. Followers will be notified that you’re live with a “LIVE” banner under your Instagram logo on the Stories bar. You can easily flick through and browse other trending Live videos to see what others are sharing at the minute.
If you’re going Live, you can see how many of your followers are viewing your video at any given time. You can see comments and the amount of ‘love’ your video is getting in real-time. While you mightn’t be able to revisit your Live video later on like in Facebook, this new Instagram feature means that users can still share raw, humble video as well as perfectly crafted flatlays on the one app – and for social media addicts, the more features, the better.
But wait, there’s more! Instagram have upgraded their Direct feature. You’ll notice the inbox icon has been replaced with a flying kite, and this icon will also appear directly underneath every photo in your newsfeed for you to send directly to individuals or groups.
Swiping left from your Instagram newsfeed will open up the camera, and from here you can choose from three modes: Live, Normal and Boomerang. We’ve already covered Live, but in Normal or Boomerang, you can take photos, use the front facing camera, add text or doodles, take a video or Boomerang clip and more, then send it to as many or as few people as you’d like – disappearing after it’s opened. Respond to those funny videos in text with Direct Messages if snapping isn’t quite your style. Sound familiar? #snappycat
Live Video on Instagram Stories from Instagram on Vimeo.
Much like Facebook Live, there are so many ways to grow your following using Instagram Live videos:
- Share a behind-the-scenes look at your business
- Let one staff member host an Instagram ‘Takeover’ and watch the goings on of their day
- Tease content and build hype about new product launches
- Showcase products and their functionality Live in action
- Cross promote your other social media accounts
- Offer a secret code word exclusive to Instagram Live viewers
- Film a live Q&A with your team
- Most importantly, let people know you’ll be Live and give them reasons to watch!
The possibilities are endless on social media, so what you choose to post – either permanently or temporarily – is only limited to your imagination. So go on, jump on the bandwagon, adapt to the takeover of new technology updates and make your brand more valuable and enjoyable to consume.
How do you use Instagram for your business? What functions would you like to see next?
All photos and videos via Instagram blog.
