Unlocking the Hidden Gems: Free Instagram Features Every Marketer Should Be Using

We love Instagram! It is a treasure trove of great marketing tools. However we have found that marketers can often overlook several valuable features. Let's explore some tools that can help you engage your audience and boost your results, all for free!

The Power of Interactive Stories

Stories have become essential for both personal and business accounts. Their temporary nature encourages spontaneous content creation and real-time updates.

One great feature often overlooked is the ability to add interactive elements such as polls, quizzes, and questions. They are entertaining and provide insights into your followers’ preferences and behaviors. Using polls can garner responses from up to 65% of viewers, helping you learn what your audience wants to see more of or their opinions on your new products.

With Stories, you can also keep essential posts accessible by saving them to your profile as Highlights. This strategy allows newcomers to quickly grasp your brand’s message and offerings.

Engaging Instagram Story features, including polls and quizzes.

Carousel Posts: The Art of Storytelling

Carousel posts allow you to share multiple images or videos in one post, making them perfect for storytelling, showcasing collections, or providing valuable information without overwhelming your audience.

Consider using carousel posts for tutorials, before-and-after transformations, or to highlight various aspects of a product or service. Each swipe is an opportunity to engage your audience. For example, a cooking brand might use a carousel to show ingredients on the first slide and the finished meal on the last, encouraging users to swipe and stay engaged longer.

Carousel post showcasing a step-by-step recipe.

Instagram Insights: Unleashing Data Without Cost

While creating appealing content is crucial, analyzing its performance is equally important. Instagram offers free insights that can help you track how well your posts are doing. These insights provide metrics on post performance, audience demographics, and user engagement.

A recent study showed that brands using Instagram Insights saw a 30% increase in engagement by adjusting their strategies based on this data. Regularly reviewing these analytics allows you to understand which types of posts resonate with your audience, enabling you to create content that attracts more engagement.

Reels: Short Form Video Magic

One of our favorite features of Reels is the ability to reach a wider audience beyond your existing followers. With Instagram's algorithm favoring this type of content, brands can gain unexpected visibility.

Use Reels for quick tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or to showcase your brand's personality. For instance, a fitness brand might share a 30-second reel featuring a high-energy workout routine. You don’t need fancy equipment just capture the content.

Strategic collaborations = win -win

Collaborations and Shoutouts: Amplifying Reach

Collaborations are an effective and budget-friendly way to expand your audience. Partnering with influencers or complementary brands can introduce your brand to new communities. A strategic shoutout is a word-of-mouth recommendation, multiplied.

Ensure that both parties provide value. This mutual benefit will enhance audience experience and strengthen the relationship between brands.

IGTV and Long-Form Videos

While many focus on short content, IGTV provides a platform for longer videos and can be a powerful tool. Use this feature to share in-depth tutorials, interviews, or content that requires more context.

Investing time in IGTV creates opportunities for deeper connections with your audience. Research shows that viewers who engage with longer content are more likely to become loyal followers.