Feeling overwhelmed by the constant flood of Carousels, Reels and Stories? You’re not alone! Keeping up with Instagram features in 2024 might feel like chasing a moving target, but fear not. The RED Marketing team has gathered the most important Instagram news and changes that every brand needs to know. So, sit back, relax and let us do the heavy lifting for you. Make sure to bookmark this page – trust us, you won’t want to miss out on the latest trends and features!

Tune up your Instagram Carousel posts with music

One of the most exciting Instagram updates this year is the ability to add music to your Carousel posts that include video clips. Previously, you could only add music to still image Carousels, but now you can spice up your mixed media posts with your favourite tracks. This change means you can create more engaging content, blending images, videos and music into a single post. It’s a fantastic opportunity for brands to enhance their storytelling in a more memorable way.

Instagram access key metrics with Creator Insights

Instagram is rolling out another game-changing update aimed at bridging the gap between creators and brands. Introducing the “Creator Insights” display – a feature that offers a snapshot of a creator’s account performance over the last 30 days, now available to selected users. This Instagram feature lets brand accounts access key metrics like follower growth, accounts reached and accounts engaged by tapping on the Creator Insights link on a creator’s profile.

Cross-post Stories to WhatsApp effortlessly

Instagram may soon let you cross-post your Stories directly to WhatsApp. While this might not seem like a huge change at first glance, it’s a significant opportunity considering WhatsApp Status boasts 450 million daily active users and is growing rapidly in Western markets. This handy expansion of Instagram updates could be a major boost for brands looking to maximise their visibility and engagement across multiple platforms with minimal effort. Quick and easy!

Brace yourself for Ad Breaks while scrolling

Ever found yourself frustrated by ads while scrolling through Instagram? Meta’s latest move, the “Ad Break”, might soon make that a regular experience. This could interrupt your scrolling and force you to watch an ad. While it’s a fresh concept that hasn’t been widely discussed yet, it seems like a strategic move by Meta to boost their ad revenue. However, it’s likely to irritate many users who are already exasperated by the platform’s increasingly ad-heavy experience.

Get creative with new features for Broadcast Channels

Instagram is rolling out new features for Broadcast Channels, giving creators more tools to make their channels truly unique. Now, you can go live, use custom themes, moderate emojis and utilise QR codes to engage with your audience in innovative ways. Whether you’re hosting a live session or creating a themed broadcast, these new Instagram features ensure you can personalise your channel and maintain a safe space for interaction with your most loyal fans.

Add flair to Carousels with text overlays

That’s right – you can now add text directly over your Carousel images on Instagram. This exciting new Instagram feature opens up a world of creative possibilities for your posts. Imagine jazzing up your Carousel cover photos, spotlighting key details or just giving your visuals a fun twist with snappy text overlays. This feature allows brands to elevate their visual storytelling, reinforce their brand identity and add compelling call-to-actions directly onto their images.

Keep your DMs clean

Say goodbye to junk messages and hello to a cleaner, more focused inbox with this latest Instagram update! After extensive testing over the past year, Instagram has rolled out this perk for all Meta Verified subscribers. With this feature, Verified profiles can now filter out unwanted DM requests, ensuring that only serious and relevant queries come through. This setting is available to both notable accounts and users who’ve signed up for Meta’s Verified programme. As Instagram continues to roll out innovative features, it’s clear that staying ahead means embracing these updates to maximise your brand’s impact. Ready to level up your social media game? We’ve got you covered. Hit us up at info@redmarketing.co.za for South African clients or info@redmarketing.biz for UK clients. Also, check out our recent posts: Meta’s bold expansion of Meta Verified and how to get your first 1,000 organic Instagram followers.