Social media marketing isn’t like it was five years ago, let alone two. It can be easy to fall behind on the best strategies if you’re not current on the latest social media tools. As platforms continue to add new features, testing them out is crucial to see what works best for your brand so you can remain one step ahead of the competition. When social media platforms evolve, so should our marketing strategies—here are eight Instagram features to update your social media strategy in 2025!
- Reels
In the last few years, Instagram Reels have become an integral part of marketing on the platform. If you haven’t incorporated Reels into your brand’s social media strategy, now is the time to get on board. Reels are short-form videos that have inundated everybody’s Instagram feed, shifting the platform from a photo-centric space to a video-centric one. This feature was influenced by the general public's shift toward videos due to the popularity of video-based platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Today, every successful platform has incorporated more video-based features as this type of content often outperforms static and predominantly text-based content.
- Stories
Gone are the days of sharing perfectly curated content on Instagram 24/7—today, users desire raw, authentic content sprinkled in. Instagram Stories are a great tool on the platform to share more casual content. This type of casual content includes behind-the-scenes, resharing UGC, news and other updates, and quick check-ins with your online community. Stories are also effective for boosting your other content, like feed posts and Reels that might get lost in the algorithm.
- Broadcast Channels
Instagram Broadcast Channels is a public messaging feature that’s great for community-building, allowing users to communicate directly with their audience. Followers interested in staying up to date with your brand can subscribe to your Broadcast Channel and receive notifications the same way they would receive a direct message (DM). You can use this tool to share updates directly with your more engaged audience before posting these updates to your entire account—or you can share messages with your followers to alert them of new posts.
- Polls
Polling your audience is an effective way to gauge your brand's performance and determine how you can improve the brand experience by receiving feedback directly from your audience. Instagram has made polling your audience even easier with its Polling features integrated throughout the app. Create polls for your followers on your Stories or add polls to your feed post captions. Add polls when you want to receive audience feedback and to build connections with your online community. Instagram Polls can also prompt further post interactions, therefore boosting your engagement.
- Threads
Instagram Threads is technically a whole new platform integrated into the original, presenting as an alternative to X (Twitter). However, Threads has great potential for brands whose main audience is on Instagram, as it provides a seamless connection for your existing followers. Use Threads similarly as you would X (Twitter) by sharing text-based news, updates, and even questions to start conversations and strengthen your online community.
- Live Videos
Many platforms have added live video features to share information immediately and interact with your audience in real-time—and Instagram is no exception. Use Instagram Live when you want your brand to speak directly to your audience. Your followers will be notified that you’re doing a Live video and invited to join the conversation. Just note that before doing a live video on any platform, you’ll need to clarify the message you want to send to your audience. Think of it like live television—you must be prepared in order to share your intended message effectively.
- Trial Reels
Instagram Trial Reels is a recently added feature on the platform that allows users to test out different types of content on Reels and evaluate their performance without hindering connections with existing followers. Trial Reels will show your content to non-followers only to test its performance. Once you’ve reviewed the post analytics, you can determine if you want to share the Reel on your account with your actual followers. Trial Reels can also help expand your reach with non-followers, allowing you to convert additional users into followers.
- Instagram Edits
Following the temporary TikTok ban in the U.S. this past January, Instagram announced its new app, Edits, a video editing app with many similar features to CapCut. This app is still a work in progress, but Instagram is slowly releasing new information, including what features we can expect and even what they’re working on with the app in real-time. Apart from the features available in most video editing apps, Instagram Edits has announced AI features and a collaboration element that is currently under development. Users will be able to turn static images into videos with AI in the app and edit videos with multiple collaborators—no more sharing accounts just to edit your team’s content! Instagram has yet to announce the release date of Edits, but in the meantime, we’ll stay tuned for more updates.
Across all industries, digital marketing is essential for any successful business. Digital marketing establishes a strong relationship with your target audience and increases your brand’s awareness, allowing your company to reach a wider audience. To grow your business, evaluate your current digital marketing strategy to determine what’s working and what still needs improvement.
If your team needs help with digital marketing, the first step to your success starts here! Contact us today, and watch your business grow tomorrow!
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BlueTickSocial is a woman-owned and women-led digital marketing agency. We focus on building your digital presence to generate sales, increase engagement, create brand awareness, and take your company goals to the next level.
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