5 Instagram Updates You Need to Know
Over the weekend when the US was preparing for a TikTok ban and the return of the orange one, Instagram was busy sending out ALL the updates it could cram into one weekend!
There was a lot to take in! That had social media managers and instagram coaches like myself doing this each time a new update dropped:
So once the updates had stopped, I gathered them all here to explain them, so you don’t have to figure them out on your own.
1. Rectangular portrait grid
2. 3 minute Reels
3. Ability to edit your grid
4. Simplified Bio
5. Story Highlights are moving
1. Rectangular Portrait grid.
Instagram has been all about the squares since it began. But some considerable time ago it allowed users to start posting landscape or portrait images, though the grid remained square. However that has changed and the grid is now in a 3:4 portrait format:
I’ve been recommending ditching square imagery for some time (as it takes up more space on your followers’ feed, and is more likely to catch their eye) and now the grid has changed I say if you haven’t already, now’s the time to switch over. Going forward make any picture or carousel image as a 4:5 format (1080×1350 pixels). Message me if you’d like any help with this.
2. 3 minute Reels
Previously for Reels to be recommended on the Reels tab they had to be under 90 seconds long. I generally didn’t recommend long Reels to clients as that is a long, long time to hold someone’s attention. So to do it, you have to know how to do it really really well. And honestly, myself included, I’m not sure most of us do! But now, to “allow more room for creativity” Reels can be up to 3 minutes long and will be recommended on the Reels tab.
Do I recommend you try this? Like everything on Instagram, if a client says, “should I…?” the answer will often be, test it and see. If it works with your audience, do it.
3. Ability to edit your grid
Now I haven’t seen this yet but I’ve been reading that Insta will soon give us the ability to move imagery around on our grids. So they won’t be displayed in the order you posted them. This will allow for more an aesthetic looking grid. But honestly I’m not entirely sure of the benefits of that as yet… I’ll come back to you!
4. Simplified Bio
I believe that this is still in the testing stage so you may not see it for a while, but Insta are looking at the layout of the bio. Looks like our Instagram profile name will be bigger alongside with the profile picture. This really stands out so as I’ve been saying for a while, make sure you pack your profile name with keywords about what you do! Make it really easy for people to see how you can help them.
This brings us to another section of the bio:
5. Story Highlights are moving
Looks like this is currently being tested too; story highlights will no long show up above the grid as they do in the above pictures. It looks as though they’ll have little tab of their own alongside the Reels tab you can see there (the triangle in a square icon). Now honestly, I’m not keen on this change. I think Story Highlight are a brilliant way for your potential customers and clients to very quickly be able to see who you are and what you can do for them. So much that I actually tagged the head on Instagram Adam Mosseri in a recent Thread asking this!
If Adam actually replies I’ll let you know what he says!!
Now as if all this wasn’t enough, Adam also said that there’s a new, free Meta app coming called Edits which is a video editing app that integrates directly with Insta. Sounds like this is something to rival CapCut which is an app you may already use? But as it’s being made by Insta for Insta users, I would expect it to be worth trying! It’s likely to be available from 13th March, but if you’re an iPhone user you can preorder it here
Phew! Lots of changes! But as always, I will keep an eye on these things for you so you don’t have to!
Any questions at all (and remember there are no stupid ones!) you know where I am.
Suze 🫶🏽
Category: Insta Tips