Discover New Instagram Updates and Features!
Instagram New Features
Instagram never stops to surprise us. While the world is trying to stay resilient through these tough economic times, it is exciting to see how Instagram is rapidly developing new features and functionalities to tackle main business issues and help users support their favorite brands.
And now, more than ever, keeping up with what’s new on Instagram can be quite a challenge. There are new Instagram features almost every week.
Four Instagram Features you need to know about:
All videos will be posted as Reels
In the coming days, new video posts under fifteen minutes will be shared as reels.
What does this mean for brands or clients?
IG says this change will be happening “in the coming weeks” so expect it to roll out at different times. Videos posted prior to the change won’t become Reels but it’s time to start the conversation about optimizing for vertical video marketing content.
This change will allow you to use the editing tools, effects and collaboration features for all of your videos but that doesn’t mean every video you post has to be a trendy, dancing traditional Reel. It just means vertical video content will be the ideal format for videos going forward. Videos longer than 15 minutes will not be posted as Reels.
If you already have content created and scheduled that’s not “optimal” for this change, don’t toss it out (the change hasn’t even arrived for most people). But once you start creating new marketing content, we recommend leaning in to the 9:16 aspect ration (1080px x1920px) video.
New remixing Instagram features:
IG is releasing new ways to collaborate with posts with three new remix features:
Remixing photos – this will launch in the coming weeks
Expanded remix layouts – like green screen, horizontal or vertical
splitscreen and Picture in Picture reaction view
Add your clip – instead of only being able to put your clip alongside of the original, you can now add you digital clip after the original so it plays sequentially (think duet vs stitch on TikTok).
Reels templates
Instagram recently introduced a game-changing new feature: Instagram Reels Templates.
With Reels Templates, you can quickly copy clip timings of an existing Reel — saving you tons of time and effort.
Previously, you’d have to guess clip lengths required to sync with a specific audio track, and manually adjust your digital clips.
Now, you can drop your own photos and/or videos into a template, and you’re good to go.
This makes the Reels content creation process quicker, easier, and keeps you within the app — rather than editing your Reels elsewhere.
Dual camera
Instagram has added a new feature called Dual, and it allows you to utilise both your front and rear-facing cameras at once.
The idea is that you can record something interesting, whilst also recording your reaction to it, and both will appear on screen at the same time.
How to create a Dual video
- Open your Instagram app and tap the Plus icon at the top to create a post
- From the drop-down menu, select Reel
- On the left-hand side of your screen, you’ll see numerous icons, tap the down arrow to show more
- Select the camera icon that is labelled Dual
- Tap the large Reel icon in the centre to record your marketing video
- Once you’re done, you can continue to edit your video or add filters and effects before posting