Instagram 2020 updates

By Sarah Ankney

This year has been the year for tons of updates to Instagram. But how does this affect you? It all depends on how you feel about the updates and what you do with the information provided. There were privacy updates, new features, shopping features, and algorithm updates. This information will help you to make the best use of Instagram for you and your business.

Privacy

Let’s talk privacy updates. Third party applications will need your permission to display photos on a case by case basis. This will protect your information and location. Part of the privacy feature is how “likes” and comments are displayed for private and business accounts. Only business accounts will have access to the number of “likes” and comments that are displayed so that account

holders can analyze data and make your account work for you.

Reels - Video

Instagram reels was recently rolled out to rival the Tik Tok platform, which is set to close shortly. This is where you can create 15 sec videos set to background music. You can incorporate humor or an inspirational vibe. To do this, use the in-app camera aka stories to search through the database for a song. You can add AR affects and filters. You can sync previous clips as well as speed up or slow down the video.

Stories

There is a testing of stories to be displayed all on one page with those you interact most with being shown the content first. These are followers with whom you have built relationships. There are a few things you can do to get followers to interact with your stories more; and that is to use stickers to get more engagement through encouragement by using a poll, emoji slider, and questions stickers. Make sure if you are using the stories feature to post consistently and on regular basis to be top of mind for your followers, and be at the top of feed for your followers. Lastly, there are new fonts for the stories to make your story stand out and be unique. If these stories do well, do not forget to save them to IGTV so that they will stay in your feed forever.

Other New Features

Other new features include the heart in the navigation bar being replaced with a shopping bag for a short cut to shopping on Instagram. There

is also the ability to pin 3 comments to manage the tone of responses to your content. This can be done by swiping left and taping on the pin icon for the comment you wish to pin. These are the comments that will be shown first to your followers. You can also see the first 20 followers and 50 followers that interacted least. There is also a sorting option under your follower’s tab where you can see latest to earliest. Messenger and Instagram Direct are set to merge sometime this year where you will be able to chat with contacts on Instagram. This will allow Instagram to host up to 50 people in a room.

Fighting back against Bots

Instagram is also cracking down on the number of bot accounts. There is a brand-new review and ID process for accounts. If there is a pattern of inauthentic behavior which is common in political and hate groups. These accounts are then flagged and asked to provide ID. If you fail to provide ID within 30 days these accounts will be deleted and not displayed on any accounts. Remember do not purchase “likes or follows” because this can get your account deleted as well.

Business and Shopping Upgrades

Businesses have more access to shopping. Businesses must have 1 eligible product which is available for direct purchase from verifiable website or Instagram checkout. Another feature to the shopping is product tags can be spotted on captions. The tags will open a shoppable product page. You can open storefronts showcasing collections and products which can be purchased in-app. People can shop through Instagram profiles, the feed, explore tabs, and stories. If you have products this would be a great way to get additional customers.

These are the updates that are coming or have already happened to Instagram for 2020. Use these updates to your advantage to make more money and get more followers for your Instagram business profile. Stories, shopping, privacy, and more are constantly changing. Make sure you keep up with the updates so that you can get the most out of your social media strategy for Instagram.

Sarah Ankney of Sassy Pinterest is a Pinterest Account Manager. She wants to empower your business with a bit of magic to help you get visible. Sassy Pinterest creates graphics and descriptions as well as manages your Pinterest account so that you can do all the things you need to do and drive traffic to your business. If you need assistance in your business to get traffic to all your sites, please contact Sarah Ankney to add another powerful marketing tool. “You can open storefronts showcasing collections and products which can be purchased in-app. People can shop through Instagram profiles, the feed, explore tabs, and stories. “