Instagram Business Account Changes You Can Expect To See In 2021

Using Instagram for your business might not sound like the smartest choice. It’s not as popular and iconic as Facebook or as explosive as the relentlessly controversial newcomer, TikTok. While it might not make headlines as much as these two other social media platforms, that doesn’t mean it should be ruled out as a potential avenue for implementing a social media marketing strategy. In fact, because Instagram is a hub of visual content and preferred by the artistically inclined, it’s an excellent place to try out different content marketing strategies.

There are certainly advantages to having an Instagram business account, but part of enjoying those advantages means staying in the loop on the exciting changes the platform will undergo – and finding new strategies so you can capitalize off of them.

Text Translation

Part of Instagram’s appeal can be found in what sets it apart from other social media platforms. It celebrates and brings attention to one of the most universal constructs of human culture and society – art. However, language barriers can interfere with one’s ability to enjoy artistic content, regardless of whether or not it’s text-based. Instagram knows its audience and is working to bridge that gap so creative minds can come even closer together, and businesses can connect with prospective consumers that they couldn’t connect with otherwise.

Think about the possibilities that this can open up. Brick-and mortar businesses in multilingual areas can now offer services to customers who aren’t fluent in English. Businesses can share their brand to prospects on the other side of the globe. Businesses looking to expand into an international market, perhaps even open locations abroad, now have a resource to establish a customer base in that area. You can even get feedback on your latest logo design from professionals who studied marketing in India, photography in Germany, graphic design in Mexico, and color theory in Egypt. And the fact that it supports 90 languages, with plans to add more in the future, makes this feature even more exciting.

Analytic Reports

Instagram business accounts were initially only able to access analytic reports from within the last 30 days. This has increased to a 60 day time period, and doubling the time frame means double the amount of available information. Having this larger time frame makes it easier for businesses to identify trends and put any highs and lows they experience into a greater context. This helps with making informed decisions about the future direction that your business is going to go, and offers more reliable information for determining your KPIs – among many other things.

Collaborating

The image-based platform has offered their equivalent to backlinking, a tried and true SEO strategy used primarily with written content. You see it all the time in blogs and it’s a staple of LinkedIn content marketing because of the two purposes it serves- referral traffic and building your network.

On Instagram, account owners can now share their content with the followers of other account owners. By sending an invitation to ‘collab’ you are asking someone else to work on a post or reel with you. If they accept then the final product will be shared on both accounts. This opens up the understandable fear of helping one’s competitors, but remember that they have just as much to lose as you do. And if this feature was bound to fail Instagram wouldn’t be implementing it in the first place. Granted, the ‘collab’ feature mirrors TikTok’s ‘duets’ so not only is the platform giving users new ways to reach their audience, they’re proving that they pay attention to social media trends and know how to stay relevant. All the more reason to open an account with them!

Algorithms

No one is neutral or on the fence about algorithms. You either love them or you hate them, and Google has played a big part in that. It’s notorious for making changes to its algorithm which negatively impact a business’ ranking and can crumble a high ranking sites network. Instagram isn’t as vicious, nor is it as simplistic because they have multiple algorithms. Everything from posts to stories to reels have their own, so different types of content are never competing with each other. They’re also being very transparent about their algorithms; CEO Asam Mosseri released a video that explains it all in-depth.

Video Changes

The collab feature is but one of many new video features that Instagram will be rolling out. Instagram asked its users what they want to see more of and the answer was a resounding cry for entertainment. Again, we’re seeing the ways that TikTok is altering the realms of digital marketing, content marketing, and brand marketing and promotion strategy. Not one to fall behind, Instagram is finding ways for video content categorized as ‘entertaining’ to reach bigger audiences.

The best part? You don’t have to change anything about your content or social media management; Instagram is taking care of the whole thing for you. All you have to do is refine your strategy, then sit back and enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

Social Awareness

Remember earlier when we said that TikTok is so controversial? Facebook is no stranger to controversy either, but being the top social media platform allows it to get away with little more than a slap on the wrist. Instagram is very aware of the way its platform can be abused and content can cause harm. It’s also very aware of real world changes and social movements, and it’s adapting to accommodate them and highlight their importance. This combination of risk mitigation and fostering community shows Instagram cares about its users as much as it cares about itself and its reputation.

To top it all off, they regularly share tips for helping content creators and businesses thrive on the platform. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Social Media Management

To someone who doesn’t currently have an Instagram account, being bombarded with this list of new features can be intimidating. Even those who already do have an account might not yet have found ways to optimize their business profile to improve their growth. Fortunately there are agencies that specialize in helping businesses just like yours create a customized growth strategy that takes every angle into account- from your current struggles, unique brand, greatest aspirations, and everything in between.

Gold Lion Technologies is a trailblazer in the world of social media management and marketing. We work alongside our clients as partners and collaborators. We’re not here to tell you what to do, we’re here to help you explore your options and take your business to the next level on your terms. Why settle for anything less than the gold standard? Get in touch with our team today by phone or by email. We can’t wait to hear from you.