Instagram Shadowban Is Real: How to Test for & Prevent It When you're trying to grow a following on Instagram, you depend on Explore and hashtag pages to expand your audience and reach. So it can feel more than a little disheartening when it suddenly seems like your content isn't showing up anywhere. If you feel like your posts are receiving fewer likes and comments suddenly, or aren't appearing for certain hashtags or on the Explore page, you might be shadowbanned. From Instagram's perspective, the objective of hiding "inappropriate" content makes sense (although its enforcement has been criticized.) Why does Instagram shadowban? Shadowbanning allows Instagram to filter out accounts that don't comply with their terms. Some people use inauthentic measures to expand their Instagram following, like buying followers or using hundreds of hashtags that are irrelevant to their content. If that's the case, it makes sense that Instagram hides content from those accounts so that only genuine and helpful content is promoted to users. While Instagram doesn't openly admit to shadowbanning, they released a statement on their Facebook business page in February 2019 that addressed the problem users were having with their content not showing up for certain hashtags. Their statement at least confirms the hashtag dilemma as a real one — but many speculate that the statement is Instagram's way of admitting to shadowbanning, without actually admitting it. It's important to note that Instagram changes its algorithm often, so those alterations could be the...

30 Fashion Brands That Marketers Can Learn From on Instagram Between carefully curated photos, expertly targeted ads, and decisive adoption of Instagram stories, no other B2C industry has thrived on Instagram, much like the beauty and apparel industry. Some of the best clothing brands on Instagram are masters of consumer engagement, and businesses from any industry could learn something from these inspirational feeds. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of 30 clothing brands — both big and small — crushing the game. For a deeper dive into how to build a presence on Instagram, check out our complete guide to Instagram marketing. 30 of the Best Clothing Brands to Follow on Instagram 1. Telfar @telfar Telfar is a luxury brand well known for its bags and clothing. Like many brands on the list, it uses Instagram to share information about its products paired with high-quality product photos, videos, and user-generated content. Image Source 2. J.Crew @jcrew J.Crew has mastered the art of follower engagement on Instagram. Its vibrant feed inspires followers, whether via daily updated Stories, in-feed product announcements, or style inspo.     ...

Scheduling Instagram Reels: The Complete Guide Instagram Reels generate 43.5% more engagement than Instagram videos on average. So if you’re looking to give your content a boost, it’s time to make the switch. But there’s a catch. It’s impossible to deliver engaging Reels daily. You may run out of time or ideas. Scheduling Instagram Reels is a great solution to keep up with posting every day. Read the full post to learn how to schedule IG Reels. Table of Contents The Benefits of Scheduling Instagram Reels How to Schedule Instagram Reels With Creator Studio by Meta How to Schedule Instagram Reels With Other Tools Best Apps for Scheduling Instagram Reels Gain More Engagement With Instagram Reels Scheduling The Benefits of Scheduling Instagram Reels Still not convinced that you should schedule your reels? Here are six major benefits of planning ahead. 1. Posting at the right time garners more engagement. The best time to post Reels is between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, according to a two-year-long research study from Hootsuite. On Saturdays, you’ll want to post at 9 a.m., and on Sundays, it’s 7 p.m. Unless you live, sleep, and eat with the phone in your hands, it’s difficult to stick to these time slots without scheduling posts. If you want the most engagement on your Reels, schedule them when your audience is most active on Instagram. Image Source 2. You’ll be flexible and consistent with...

Instagram Marketing for Small Businesses: The Complete Guide Seventy-one percent of US businesses use Instagram to market their products, services, and brand to more than one billion users on the app. With a variety of interactive features, Instagram marketing has become essential for small businesses. Your team needs need to have an Instagram marketing strategy in place to harness the platform’s power. Read this guide to help you tackle the platform. Table of Contents: Why Instagram Marketing Matters for Small Businesses 15 Instagram Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses Getting Started Why Instagram Marketing Matters for Small Businesses In our digital-first world, Instagram is one of the first places people go to learn about a small business. Today, 90% of people follow at least one business on Instagram. Further, 1 in 2 people use the app to discover new brands, products, and services. As a small business owner, you need to use Instagram to get your business in front of customers and build brand loyalty. But without a clear Instagram marketing strategy in place, you may find yourself struggling to grow your audience, post content consistently, or generate quality engagement. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Over 90% of small businesses struggle with these common social media challenges. Here’s the good news: Even if you have a small budget, limited resources, or a one-person team, there are several Instagram marketing strategies that small businesses can use to grow their presence and find success on the...

Is IGTV Gone? I remember recording a 20-minute video I intended to upload to Instagram as IGTV content. The video was a collaboration with a few of my content creator friends, and I was so excited to share it. Imagine my surprise — and confusion — when I logged into Instagram and couldn't find the IGTV feature! I remember thinking, "Is IGTV gone?" The simple answer is yes, but don't worry — there are still ways to share long-form content on Instagram. Here's what you need to know about the fate of IGTV and video sharing on the app. What happened to IGTV on Instagram? In October 2021, Instagram scrapped IGTV as the social network shifted its focus toward video content. IGTV was combined with in-feed videos, forming the new Instagram Video feature. In July 2022, the Instagram Video and Instagram Reels tabs were consolidated to create a singular space for all video content, and all videos will be shared as Reels. Image source: Instagram So, if Instagram wants to pivot more toward videos, why would it do away with IGTV? Well, IGTV focused on long-form videos in the hopes that it could compete with YouTube. However, TikTok soon rose in popularity, and TikTok's short-form videos became more popular among social media users. To remain competitive, Instagram discontinued IGTV and launched Instagram Reels before launching Instagram Video. Changes are coming to video on Instagram 📺At Instagram we’re always trying to build new...

20 Essential Instagram Marketing Tools You’ll Need in 2022 With thousands of Instagram marketing tools to choose from, how do you know which ones you need? The key to building an Instagram marketing tech stack is to ensure that you have tools that perform these core functions: research, creation, execution, measurement, and optimization. This list gathers Instagram tools with this principle in mind. Each recommendation has been assigned a “best for” category to help you easily identify what core function it performs. Let’s get started. Table of Contents The Best Instagram Marketing Tools The Best Free Instagram Marketing Tools Inside HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software HubSpot’s social media management software is a powerful all-in-one tool. With HubSpot, you can run social media campaigns, measure performance, and optimize your strategy from one central platform. While this platform provides tons of features that cover all aspects of running a successful Instagram marketing campaign, here are three core functionalities that make this tool a social media powerhouse. 1. Social Monitoring Hubspot’s social media management software allows you to create “streams.” These are dedicated pages for monitoring conversations on a specific social media platform. Streams can be set up to track and trigger alerts for brand mentions, relevant keywords, and even your competitors. For example, a competitor stream can be set up to track the performance of a competitor's Instagram content and campaigns. This means that within your dashboard you will have a...

How To Do Affiliate Marketing on Instagram Affiliate marketing on Instagram works the same as other platforms, where a business pays someone (i.e., an influencer) a commission for attracting people to purchase its product or service. The amount of commission paid is tracked through a unique code or URL.   Instagram used to have a native program for creators, but it ended in August of 2022. Not to worry, though, because you can still make money from affiliate marketing on Instagram. This post will discuss how and give examples of creators that successfully use the strategy. How to Do Affiliate Marketing on Instagram 1. Switch to a creator or business account. An important step, although not required, is to have a creator or business account on Instagram. When you have this designation on your account, it establishes your legitimacy with your followers and the businesses you choose to work with. You’ll be seen as a trusted source that is not trying to run a scam or make a quick profit.   2. Find affiliate partners or businesses that you want to work with. To start affiliate marketing on Instagram, you need to find an affiliate program you want to work with. Amazon Associates is an excellent example of an affiliate program, where you can earn a commission between 1 and 10% based on the product category. Another option is to reach out to businesses directly that you’d like to work with and explain how you relate to what they offer and the...

What to Post on Instagram: 18 Photo & Video Ideas to Spark Inspiration Instagram isn't just a go-to social network for individuals anymore. Many marketers have caught wind that it's a powerful social network where they need to have some sort of presence. The platform's heavy emphasis on visual content like photos, videos, illustrations, and GIFs is becoming a critical way for brands to communicate their story and message. Plus, it's an excellent way for businesses to humanize their brand, recruit future employees, showcase their products and content, and delight and engage customers. Check out these 18 ideas for videos, photos, and other content you can post on Instagram. (And for more inspiration, check out our list of the best brands to follow on Instagram.) 18 Content Ideas for Videos, GIFs & Photos to Post on Instagram 1. Behind-the-Scenes Content Instagram is a great platform for humanizing your brand, and giving your audience a sneak peek at what goes on behind the scenes is one way to do that. It's also a good way to show followers what it's like to work there, which is great for your recruiting efforts. Here's an example from the Boston Red Sox, showing what batting practice looks like close-up (with a really cool, fish-eye shot). Image Source And here's one from a small arts and crafts store called Cherry Tree Beads. We love how this one uses the hashtag #employeetakeover to share one of the faces behind the brand, giving followers the...

How to Collab Post on Instagram as a Brand or Creator Wondering how Instagram’s new Collab feature works? We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll dive into how this new feature works, the benefits for brands, and the steps to use it. Plus, get a few tips on how to leverage it. What is a collab post on Instagram Why use an Instagram Collab post? How to Create an Instagram Collab Post Tips for Making Instagram Collab Posts What is a collab post on Instagram? In the Fall of 2021, Instagram announced the “Collabs” feature, which allows an feed post to live on two users’ profiles. You 🤝 MeWe’re launching Collabs, a new way to co-author Feed posts and Reels.Invite an account to be a collaborator:✅Both names will appear on header✅Share to both sets of followers✅Live on both profile grids✅Share views, likes and comments pic.twitter.com/0pBYtb9aCK — Instagram (@instagram) October 19, 2021 Here’s how it works: User 1 will create the post and invite User 2 to be a collaborator. Once User 2 accepts, the post will live on both users’ profiles. They will both share ownership of the post as well as the engagement (likes, shares, comments). Currently, Collabs is only available in the feed and on Reels. That means that you can’t add a collaborator on Stories, the Shop tab, or anywhere else. Why use an Instagram Collab post? For influencers and brands, the...