Photo Credit: instagram-press.com
Social media is continuously evolving, and for Instagram co-founder and CEO, Kevin Systrom and team, keeping up with this evolution is important. They have once again proven that Instagram deserves to be a top social media network with the introduction of IGTV (Instagram Television) – a new revolutionary feature that levels up viewers’ traditional television experience by utilizing the modern mobile app platform.
IGTV is like a combination of TV and YouTube. Anyone with an Instagram profile, including businesses, can optimize it to entertain, inspire, and inform other users. It’s important to know these basic things if you wish to take advantage of this exciting feature:
Channels
Just like the television, IGTV has tons of channels. Anyone can set up a channel and be a creator by downloading the stand-alone IGTV app on your mobile device. Once you’ve downloaded the app, simply open ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Create Channel’. You’ll then see a walkthrough of the basics of the app. Just click on ‘Next’, ‘Create Channel,’ and then IGTV will automatically create your channel based on your account handle name.
You can also create a channel by clicking on the TV icon on the top right corner of your Instagram homepage or feed. All you have to do is simply tap the ‘Settings’ gear icon and click on ‘Create Channel.’ You can then start uploading videos. Aside from the IGTV app, you can also upload videos via web or your desktop computer. IGTV videos automatically play as soon as you open the app.
Video Forms and Duration
IGTV videos are full screen and vertical, so make sure you record videos in vertical or portrait mode, not in landscape mode. Take note also that videos must be in MP4 file format and should have an aspect ratio between 4:5 (minimum) and 9:16 (maximum).
With IGTV, you can upload videos as short as 15 seconds to as long as 10 minutes, with a maximum file size of 650MB. Big or verified Instagram accounts can upload videos up to 60 minutes long, with a maximum file size of 5.4GB.
Categories
You can watch IGTV videos from accounts you follow on Instagram or others you are likely interested in based on your preferences. You can switch between these three categories:
- For You – Videos based on your activity on Instagram or on your likes or interests
- Following – Collection of videos of people/accounts you follow on Instagram
- Popular – Trending public videos most likely from celebrities and ranked by popularity
Steps to Uploading an IGTV Video
Follow these simple steps to upload an IGTV video:
- Go to your Channel.
- Tap the + icon on the right corner of your screen.
- Choose a vertical video from your camera roll.
- Type in the title and add a short description.
(If you’re using IGTV for your brand, it would be best if you add links, hashtags, and keywords, so it will be easier for people to find and view your videos.) - Upload a cover photo. It could either be your custom cover or a snapshot of photo from your video.
- Click the ‘Post’ button.
- Monitor your posts through the ‘View Insights’ feature. You’ll be able to see who viewed, liked, and commented on your post. You can also reply to the comments you receive.
It’s amazing how innovative tools like IGTV are available for free and can easily be accessed and used by the growing number of Instagram users, including businesses. It’s a simple and entertaining feature with numerous rewards and benefits for you and your brand.
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