There are over 200 million enterprise accounts on Instagram—that’s a number of competitors should you’re searching for your model to stand out. However, should you sustain with the newest Instagram traits, you may leverage these traits as a part of your Instagram advertising technique that grabs consideration and fuels progress.
In this text, we dive deep into the highest 9 Instagram traits for 2024. We’ll cowl progressive ways like AI-driven content material creation and neighborhood constructing with examples to incorporate them into your individual Instagram technique.
1. Video takes precedence over photographs
Do me a favor: Open your Instagram app and scroll by way of the primary 10 to 15 items of content material. As you scroll, you may discover a standard theme—many of the posts are movies.
Instagram continues to prioritize video—particularly Reels—in 2024. In truth, the platform is often releasing new options to encourage creators to make extra video content material.
For instance, now you can:
Reply to a Reel with one other Reel
Add new results, music and voice overs to your Reels
Upload video tales up to 60 seconds lengthy with no cuts
Host interactive reside streams
Leaning onerous into video isn’t simply inspired at this level—it’s important to thrive on Instagram proper now. Convey your model’s genuine persona. Show your merchandise in motion. Give behind-the-scenes glimpses of your group. Talk to your followers in real-time.
Using video not solely helps you construct real connections together with your viewers—it additionally drives attain and engagement by interesting to the Instagram algorithm.
Instagram Reel traits for 2024
Instagram Reels launched in 2020 and slowly rolled out to all customers all through 2021. This micro video addition to Instagram was created to compete with Snapchat and TikTookay. It has continued to develop in recognition. Many manufacturers and content material creators will repurpose their movies throughout every of the platforms—TikTookay, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
Here are some Instagram Reel traits in style with manufacturers this 12 months:
Social media managers performing as model spokespeople
Instead of hiring paid actors to ship scripted messages, social media managers at the moment are stepping in entrance of the digital camera when creating Reels.
Social media managers have an intimate understanding of the model’s voice and values. And they’re in a position to rapidly create content material that deeply resonates with the viewers at a fraction of the price. Our social media managers right here at Sprout Social hop into Reels from time to time to act as spokespeople for our social media advertising software program:
An added bonus to that is that social media managers’ appearances assist construct stronger private connections between the model and its clients over time.
Video memes
Memes, in fact, nonetheless are trending on Instagram. Brands are remixing meme Reels with trending audio and placing their very own spin on humorous clips or popular culture references to be related to their model and viewers like Visme did.
Remember to align your meme content material with model values whereas nonetheless exhibiting the lighter facet of your corporation. When carried out proper, it could actually get plenty of constructive engagement once you’re aware to place your model as relatable and culturally conscious.
Instagram submit traits for 2024
Just as a result of Reels are trending on Instagram doesn’t imply static posts are useless. If you take a look at your feed, 25-30% is probably going nonetheless are picture, video and carousel posts.
Instagram has additionally rolled out a small however first rate replace in this space. You can now add audio to static posts to make them extra partaking.
Brands proceed to use Instagram posts in distinctive, artistic methods. Here are some noteworthy traits to watch and do that 12 months:
Photo dump
This Instagram submit development is particular to carousels. The picture dump includes sharing a sequence of photographs that will appear candid and unrelated at first look however collectively convey a narrative or a theme.
It’s like flipping by way of somebody’s private picture album. It provides a glimpse into behind-the-scenes moments. For manufacturers, these moments may embrace occasions, user-generated content material and photoshoots. For instance, Coach used this development to showcase their trend assortment for Fall 2024.
Text posts
Traditionally, Instagram has been all concerning the visuals. However, in the meanwhile, there’s a rising development of textual content posts. The theme is to make the textual content submit a static picture or flip-through sequence inside a carousel.
Brands are posting stats, listicles, ideas, how-tos, quotes, bulletins, buyer testimonials and extra as aesthetically pleasing, minimalistic textual content posts that align with their branding.
Text posts stand out in a visually saturated feed and are nice for providing bite-sized worth or sparking dialog with followers.
Here is an instance from Sprout Social:
Soft launches to tease merchandise
Brands are teasing new merchandise by way of “comfortable launch” posts. They are portraying new merchandise with refined hints, behind-the-scenes peeks or cryptic messages. Usually they’re dropping a number of posts over a time frame to create anticipation and hype for the launch of latest merchandise from these following.
This is a superb technique for partaking your viewers to peak curiosity about what’s coming subsequent. Additionally, creating buzz round a product earlier than its official launch helps generate early curiosity and demand.
Check out how Huda Beauty did this comfortable launch Reel seamlessly:
2. Empower social content material creation with AI
Just like most different tech manufacturers, Instagram—and its guardian firm Meta—is investing closely in AI this 12 months. For entrepreneurs, this development may significantly change the best way they create content material.
Currently, Instagram provides the next AI options for creators in particular areas:
AI generated stickers: Users can enter prompts to create customized AI stickers. From there, they’ll ship these stickers in chats or add them to their tales.
Start a chat with AI: Ask for suggestions and recommendation, discuss pursuits, and even view and comply with AI profiles and the content material they submit.
AI backdrops for tales: When you share a photograph to your story, use the AI backdrop software to create a brand new background primarily based on a textual content immediate.
Mark Zuckerburg has additionally introduced two new AI capabilities that may quickly come to Instagram—AI picture modifying and prime quality video era. Users would have the option to rapidly take away undesirable objects, manipulate photographs, change the background and generate artistic, unique video clips that match their imaginative and prescient by merely typing in prompts.
Aside from utilizing Instagram’s built-in AI options, manufacturers are tapping into third-party AI instruments to create content material rapidly and simply. For instance, you need to use Sprout Social’s AI capabilities to analyze sentiment, share posts at simply the appropriate time, write partaking captions, brainstorm marketing campaign concepts, generate competitor studies and personalize help messages.
But does this imply AI goes to substitute social media managers utterly? Not anytime quickly. It is, nonetheless, more and more changing into part of social media methods.
AI will help entrepreneurs slash time in half by automating sure duties and accelerating artistic processes. Used neatly, it could actually allow you to scale content material creation, enhance person experiences, drive extra engagement and keep forward of the competitors.
3. Increase engagement with neighborhood experiences
Driving engagement on Instagram takes greater than only a fairly feed. With the algorithm now actively favoring real neighborhood engagement and interplay, manufacturers want to prioritize constructing connections with their audiences.
For instance, Instagram launched broadcast channels final 12 months as a a method messaging software for creators to have interaction with their followers. These channels will give creators a possibility to give the newest updates to their followers in a extra intimate and interactive area.
This is an instance of Quek Shio‘s broadcast channel to get a greater understanding of what they appear like:
Currently, creators can ship textual content, picture, video and voice notes in broadcast channels. They can even share query playing cards and polls to collect fan suggestions. However, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not this characteristic will broaden to enterprise accounts or if it’s going to stay only for digital content material creators.
Alternatively, manufacturers can add followers to their Close Friends checklist to share unique content material, tales, provides and updates. Gather suggestions, reply questions, share behind-the-scenes footage and even create an unique checklist for patrons solely.
Invite individuals to be a part of your Close Friends checklist by speaking about it in a submit or story like Tina Davies Professional.
4. Increase site visitors with a number of hyperlinks from bio
Remember the great ol’ hyperlink in bio?
(*9*), you can solely add one hyperlink to your Instagram profile. Most entrepreneurs relied on instruments like Linktree to condense all their essential channels and pages right into a single hyperlink.
Now, you may embrace up to 5 exterior hyperlinks in your Instagram bio. See Ring Concierge’s Instagram profile to see how they present up once you click on into them:
For omnichannel manufacturers, this can be a enormous alternative to drive site visitors to a number of channels and touchpoints. A retail model may take customers to their finest promoting product web page, FAQs part, YouTube channel and on-line store. A SaaS model may ship individuals to their highest changing touchdown web page, newest weblog submit and a brand new downloadable eBook.
Here’s how to add a number of hyperlinks to your bio:
Open the Instagram app
Tap in your account
Tap Edit profile underneath your profile image
Tap Add hyperlinks
Tap + Add exterior hyperlink
Enter the URL and title of the hyperlink you need to add
Hit Done in the highest proper nook
Tap + Add exterior hyperlink once more to add one other hyperlink
You can even delete hyperlinks and/or change them anytime you need. This provides a number of flexibility to manufacturers that need to increase new campaigns and content material on channels apart from Instagram.
5. Boost visibility utilizing Instagram search engine marketing
Social search is a quickly rising development. Last 12 months, a mixed 29% of Gen Z and Millennials flocked to social media platforms as an alternative of precise search engines like google to discover info. And this quantity continues to develop in 2024.
Optimizing for native search is extra essential than ever. Instagram’s algorithm is working continually to ship related, customized and intent primarily based content material to customers’ feeds. To stand out, entrepreneurs want an Instagram search engine marketing technique that goes past simply utilizing the appropriate hashtags.
Here are some ideas to assist your Instagram content material rank larger in Explore and person feeds:
Find the appropriate key phrases: Pinpoint particular key phrases your viewers is looking for to information your content material creation technique. For occasion, if there’s a rising curiosity in vegan recipes, create content material round key phrases like “vegan breakfast concepts” or “plant-based dinners.”
Optimize subtitles and captions: Incorporate key phrases into the textual content a part of your Instagram posts and tales. Use them in subtitles, captions, tags and stickers. Don’t overlook to preserve it partaking. You may begin with a query like “Who else loves smoothie bowls?” to immediate person engagement and embrace key phrases naturally.
Follow and have interaction with comparable accounts: Actively touch upon and like posts from accounts in your area of interest, similar to different vegan meals bloggers, to enhance visibility and encourage cross-engagement.
Add alt textual content to your posts: Adding descriptive alt textual content to photographs, like “vegan avocado toast on a country desk,” improves your submit’s accessibility and helps Instagram’s algorithm perceive and categorize your content material higher.
Hop on the newest traits: Stay up to date with viral hashtags or challenges and incorporate them when related. If #Veganuary is trending, be a part of the dialog by sharing your distinctive vegan recipes or ideas.
Stick to the official pointers: Ensure your content material follows Instagram’s advice pointers to increase its probabilities of rating larger in feeds and exhibiting up in entrance of the appropriate audiences.
6. Create model partnerships with native Instagram instruments
Instagram has lengthy been the highest platform for manufacturers and influencers to work collectively. It’s straightforward to see why—customers are 1.5x extra seemingly to have an interest in viewing branded creator content material on Instagram than on different platforms.
In 2024, Instagram is taking model collaborations extra significantly than ever. They’ve already launched a bunch of instruments and options to facilitate these partnerships.
For instance, manufacturers can enable different Instagram accounts, similar to influencers or companions, to add product tags in their posts. Users who click on on these tags will likely be taken straight to the model’s Instagram store and would have the option to take a look at on the platform.
Brands can even share collaborative posts with companions and influencers. Users can “invite collaborators” to a submit in addition to tag manufacturers in paid partnerships, having each concerned accounts present up—and publishing the submit to each collaborators’ profiles.
To see what they appear like, take a look at this collaborative submit carried out by meals blogger, Appetite Foodie, and Bang Bang Oriental, a meals corridor in London:
But maybe essentially the most thrilling replace is the launch of Instagram’s Creator Marketplace. It’s sort of like Instagram’s personal influencer administration platform the place manufacturers can discover creators to work with, share marketing campaign concepts and structured outlines with them, handle communication, focus on compensation and extra all in one place.
Image Source: Instagram
Creator Marketplace is at present solely out there to manufacturers in the US. Businesses in becoming a member of {the marketplace} can fill out this kind.
7. Food content material is trending on Instagram
If you’ve been on Instagram for some time, you already know meals content material is huge on the platform. We’re not simply speaking stunning, mouthwatering photographs of meals. This 12 months, it’s additionally about fast, straightforward and wholesome recipes and Reels customers can’t cease watching.
And it is sensible. Most individuals on Instagram are 18-34 years outdated—an age group that considerably contributes to meals tradition on-line. On prime of that, Gen Z isn’t afraid of what’s trending on the plate. In truth, they’re fascinated by it. A notable 45% are intrigued by vegan merchandise, whereas 42% are prepared to strive plant primarily based meat.
Plus, once you take a look at bigger societal shifts in direction of saving cash in addition to well being, wellness and conscious consuming, it’s straightforward to see why customers need extra content material about making and consuming restaurant high quality meals at dwelling.
For meals and restaurant manufacturers, this presents a serious alternative on Instagram. Get artistic with easy-to-follow recipe tutorials, cooking ideas or mouthwatering meals styling Reels. Go reside whereas making ready buyer favorites or spotlighting native farms that provide your components.
Here is an instance of how The Baker’s Grove in New Jersey did it nicely:
These bites of meals content material, particularly when optimized with Instagram hashtags and captions that spark dialog, can drive enormous visibility for your corporation.
Not only for eating places, manufacturers promoting kitchenware, meal providers, programs and extra can all capitalize on customers’ cravings for cooking inspiration. Show how your product will help them elevate do-it-yourself meals or current attractive close-ups of dishes your merchandise helped put together.
Even manufacturers in unrelated verticals ought to incorporate meals content material when doable. Take this instance from IKEA:
There are alternatives to highlight workplace kitchen areas or cafes. Show your group having fun with meals ready by featured distributors. Genuinely join with audiences over common matters like favourite consolation meals or go to late night time snacks.
Food has distinctive energy to construct sturdy, private connections. Find artistic methods to incorporate meals content material into your Instagram technique whereas maintaining it related to place your model for progress in 2024.
8. Leverage person generated content material
User-generated content material (UGC) at present dominates Instagram—for good cause. Hard promoting promotional ways don’t work anymore. People now crave authenticity and relatability, particularly on a platform they’re spending hours on day by day.
And the strongest manufacturers faucet into this free advertising by creatively repurposing posts from actual clients. It’s essentially the most highly effective means to construct belief, drive engagement and develop on the platform.
So, how do you get your palms on high quality Instagram UGC?
Big manufacturers like BMW, Samsung and Apple use hashtags to supply user-generated content material.
Samsung has even created a separate Instagram account to showcase UGC. Creators wanting to get some publicity on the platform gladly tag photographs taken with their Samsung gadgets with #withGalaxy for an opportunity to be featured on the model’s web page—which has a formidable following of 4.8 million customers.
Another means to encourage UGC is to run competitions and reward one of the best entry or entries. Or, accomplice with influencers and creators in your area of interest. Ask them to share trustworthy product evaluations or ship them free PR packages to create unboxing movies you may repost in your model’s web page.
Jake the Bengal, the cat influencer, and Cheerble, the Pet Store, created a collaborative paid partnership submit to promote Cheerble’s cat toy.
You can ask permission to repost natural tales and posts that includes your product from non influencer public accounts. These are extremely efficient as they present genuinely completely happy clients utilizing your model in their day-to-day lives.
9. Paid promotions broaden your attain
As the recognition of social media platforms grows, the necessity for algorithms to finest serve their customers additionally grows. And when an algorithm is deciding who will get served your content material, you may see a decline in attain. Because of this, Instagram paid promotions are a rising development in 2024.
Let’s return to our train from the primary development, the place we scrolled down to see the primary 10 to 20 posts.
If your feed was something like mine, you noticed about 9 Reels, six common posts and 5 sponsored posts. That means about 25% of your feed is full of paid adverts, just like the Deel one beneath.
While that may look like loads, let’s take a look at it from a unique perspective. It additionally signifies that 25% of your audience’s feed is full of sponsored posts. And that should you begin investing in Instagram adverts, your model can personal a part of that 25%.
Use Instagram traits to replace your technique
Thousands of things affect Instagram traits—different platforms, new options, client habits and societal shifts are just some. Keeping up with the present traits on Instagram freshens up your content material and exhibits your viewers you’re not afraid to strive new issues.
Looking to degree up your Instagram advertising in 2024? Check out our information to utilizing Instagram for manufacturers to learn the way to set objectives, create a content material technique, drive engagement and develop your corporation on the platform.
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-trends/
