New Instagram Features and Why You Should Pay $3.99 to Get Them

Instagram keeps changing

Sometimes I roll my eyes. Sometimes I wonder why they moved something that was perfectly fine where it was. And sometimes, Instagram introduces a feature that actually makes me say, “OK, this is good.”

These new features? I think they’re worth the $3.99.

Why? Because they give brands more control over how their Instagram looks, how long their content lives and, most importantly, how their audience experiences the brand.

Extend the Life of Your Stories

Stories can now be viewed for 48 hours.

That may not sound revolutionary, but think about how useful that can be for promotions, rebrands, milestones and important news like a brand launch or event.

You put time into creating the content. Why not give it a little more time to work for you?

A 24-hour expiration date can feel awfully fast when you’re trying to get an important message in front of your audience. Two days gives your audience more opportunity to see it without you having to repost the same thing over and over.

See What People Are Rewatching

Instagram now lets you see how many times your Story has been rewatched.

With that being said, it doesn’t tell you exactly who your stalkers are…Sorry.

But it does give you something much more useful: insight into what content is interesting or resonating with your audience.

If people are rewatching something, pay attention.

That should indicate that you need to do more of that.

Maybe it’s a certain type of educational content. Maybe it’s behind-the-scenes footage. Maybe it’s a product demonstration or a particular way you’re telling your story.

Your analytics are telling you what your audience wants. Listen to them.

Share Stories Only to Highlights

This is AMAZING.

Why?

If you are strategic about building your Highlight categories, you can lay out your brand story impeccably without clutter.

The real advantage here is that Highlights can do some of the storytelling for you. When someone discovers your brand, they can quickly get a feel for who you are, what you offer and what matters to you without digging through dozens of posts.

Highlights are essentially a mini navigation system for your Instagram. Use them strategically to guide people toward the information you want them to see.

Have a “Start Here” Highlight. A “Products” one. Maybe “About Us,” “Events,” “FAQs” or “Reviews.”

The possibilities are endless, but the key is to be strategic. Less is more. 

And please, go through your Highlights once a month and clean them out.

If something is outdated, delete it.

Your Instagram should reflect your brand today, not your brand from three years ago.

Pin More Posts

You can now pin more posts and create the top half of your grid exactly how you want it.

This is a big deal!

Your pinned posts are prime real estate.

When someone lands on your profile, the top of your grid is one of the first things they see. Pinning more posts gives you control over that first impression and allows you to put your most important content front and center.

Think of it as deciding what you want someone to know about your brand before they start scrolling.

Pin your most important announcement. Your best-performing piece of content. A post that explains what your company does. A product you want people to know about.

This is especially valuable when you have a new product, major announcement, important brand information or a piece of content that you want to keep getting attention.

Don’t leave your first impression up to whatever you happened to post last week, last month, or even last year..

Reorganize Your Grid

We shared this news a few weeks ago, and JamCom is still on a high about this one.

What better tool to get the attention your brand needs while ensuring your audience is looking where they should?

This is a perfect storytelling tool.

Your grid doesn’t have to be a chronological scrapbook of everything your brand has ever posted. You can create a visual flow that guides people through your brand, highlights important content and creates a more intentional first impression.

Don’t sleep on this!

Instagram Is the Window to Your Brand

They say the eyes are the window to your soul.

We think Instagram is the window to your brand.

And just like your eyes, we don’t recommend covering them up with false eyelashes, colored contacts or creating a completely fake face.

People can see through that.

The brands that stand out aren’t necessarily the ones with the most polished, perfect-looking Instagram accounts.

They’re the ones that feel real, intentional and true to who they are.

What do we recommend?

A little maintenance.

Curated Highlights that help people quickly understand your brand.

A feed that tells a cohesive story.

An aesthetic that is beautiful, but still honest.

Content that feels intentional, not overly manufactured.

Giving important posts a longer life instead of constantly moving on to the next thing.

Think of it as a little Botox and some really good eye cream for your Instagram.

You’re not changing who you are, you’re just making sure your brand’s eyes are telling the right story.

And for $3.99, that’s a pretty good investment in your first impression.

Ready to give your Instagram a natural, undetectable facelift? Let’s get started.