Instagram Advanced Features

Instagram supports 5 content types via Audenci: Feed posts (single image, 1:1 or 4:5), Carousels (2-10 images/videos), Reels (short videos, up to 90 seconds), Stories (24-hour ephemeral content, coming soon), IGTV (longer videos, coming soon). Each type has different reach, engagement, and best practices.

Feed post best practices: Use 4:5 aspect ratio (1080x1350) for maximum screen space, First line of caption is critical (shows in feed), Use 20-30 hashtags in first comment, Post 3-5 times per week consistently, Optimal posting times: 11am-1pm, 7-9pm local time. Feed posts have longer lifespan than Stories/Reels.

Reels are Instagram's fastest-growing format: Max duration: 90 seconds, Vertical format: 9:16 (1080x1920), Use trending audio for discovery, Hook viewers in first 3 seconds, Include captions (most watch on mute), Post 4-7 Reels per week for maximum reach. Reels get 2-3x reach compared to feed posts.

Carousels drive highest engagement: 2-10 slides (sweet spot: 5-7), Mix images and videos, Tell a story across slides, Use consistent design template, Include clear CTA on last slide, Carousel posts get saved more (algorithm boost). Use for: Tutorials, Tips, Before/After, Product showcases.

Effective Instagram hashtag strategy: Mix hashtag sizes: 5-10 high-reach (1M+ posts) for discovery, 10-15 mid-reach (100K-1M posts) for visibility, 5-10 niche (10K-100K posts) for engaged communities. Avoid: Banned hashtags, Over-used generic tags (#love, #instagood), Hashtags unrelated to content. Rotate hashtags to avoid shadowban.

Research effective hashtags: Use Instagram search to find related hashtags, Check top posts for each hashtag, Note post count (indicator of reach), Look for hashtag engagement rate, Save high-performing hashtags in sets. Audenci's hashtag suggestions use this research automatically.

Tag products in Instagram posts: Connect Instagram Shopping to your product catalog, Tag products in images, Users can tap to see product details and price, Buy directly through Instagram, Track sales attributed to specific posts. Instagram Shopping is powerful for e-commerce brands.

Stories best practices: Post 5-10 stories per day, Use interactive stickers (polls, questions, quizzes), Add links (requires 10K followers or verification), Use story highlights for evergreen content, 24-hour lifespan creates urgency. Stories are more casual than feed posts.

Instagram algorithm prioritizes: Interest (past engagement with similar content), Recency (newer posts ranked higher), Relationship (engagement with creator), Frequency (how often user opens Instagram), Following (accounts followed), Usage (time spent on Instagram). Optimize: Post when audience is online, Encourage saves and shares, Reply to comments within first hour.

• Ask questions in captions to encourage comments
• Use call-to-actions ('Double tap if you agree')
• Reply to comments within first hour (boosts reach)
• Engage with similar accounts (comment, like)
• Use Instagram Live for real-time engagement
• Collaborate with other creators (Collabs feature)
• Run giveaways (follow + tag a friend + like)

Key Instagram metrics: Reach (unique users who saw post), Impressions (total views), Engagement (likes + comments + shares + saves), Engagement rate (engagement / reach × 100), Profile visits (interest indicator), Link clicks (if in bio or story), Follower demographics (age, gender, location). Track metrics in Audenci Analytics → Platform filter → Instagram.

• Post Reels consistently (4-7 per week)
• Use 20-30 hashtags in first comment
• Reply to comments within first hour
• Post when your audience is online (check insights)
• Use high-quality images (minimum 1080px wide)
• Write engaging captions with clear CTA
• Rotate hashtags to avoid shadowban
• Track what content performs best and do more of it