While Instagram Guides were discontinued in June 2023, this article provides valuable insights into alternative ways to curate content and engage your audience on Instagram, focusing on strategies to maximize the impact of your posts. Learn how to create engaging content collections that boost engagement and provide value to your followers.
How much effort do you invest in crafting your Instagram posts?
We understand. Crafting successful posts involves considerable work. You strategize, draft, design, and edit, all while ensuring timely approval and scheduled posting. It can be disheartening when posts underperform or engagement is fleeting.
So, how can you amplify your posts’ impact and unlock their engagement potential in a post-Guides era? The key lies in leveraging other Instagram features and creative content strategies.
Alternative Strategies to Instagram Guides for Content Curation
While Instagram Guides are no longer available, you can still achieve similar results by strategically utilizing other features.
1. Story Highlights with Curated Content
Similar to Guides, Stories Highlights allow you to group related Stories together on your profile. Use this feature to create collections of Stories covering specific themes, products, or events.
To maximize engagement:
- Create visually appealing covers: Design custom covers for each Highlight to make them attractive and informative.
- Organize logically: Group Stories in a way that makes sense to your audience.
- Include calls to action: Encourage viewers to interact with your content by adding polls, quizzes, and questions.
2. Collaborations and Co-authored Posts
Partner with other creators or brands to create co-authored posts that reach a wider audience. This not only expands your reach but also introduces your content to new potential followers.
Key benefits:
- Increased visibility: Tap into your partner’s audience.
- Fresh perspectives: Offer diverse content.
- Enhanced credibility: Benefit from your partner’s expertise.
3. Reels Series
Develop a series of Reels that explore a particular topic in depth. This format is perfect for educational content, tutorials, or showcasing different aspects of your brand.
To create a successful Reels series:
- Plan your content: Outline the topics you’ll cover in each Reel.
- Maintain consistency: Use a consistent visual style and format.
- Encourage interaction: Ask questions and invite viewers to share their thoughts in the comments.
4. Leveraging Carousels for In-Depth Storytelling
Carousel posts allow you to share multiple images and videos in a single post. Use this format to tell a story, provide a step-by-step guide, or showcase different features of a product.
Best practices for carousel posts:
- Compelling visuals: Use high-quality images and videos.
- Clear and concise captions: Keep your text short and engaging.
- Strong call to action: Tell viewers what you want them to do.
5. Dedicated Highlight for Resources/FAQ
Create a Story Highlight dedicated to answering frequently asked questions or providing useful resources related to your niche or industry. This can act as a central repository of information for your followers.
Content ideas for a resource Highlight:
- Industry insights: Share your expertise.
- Tools and resources: Recommend helpful tools.
- Troubleshooting tips: Address common problems.
6. Influencer Marketing
Collaborate with influencers to promote your brand, products or content. Influencers can create content that resonates with their audience, helping you reach a new segment and drive engagement.
Key considerations:
- Relevance: Choose influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.
- Authenticity: Ensure the influencer’s values match your brand.
- Transparency: Clearly disclose the partnership.
Examples of Effective Content Curation Strategies
While Instagram Guides are unavailable, these brands and individuals exemplify alternative strategies for curating engaging content.
Post Guide Inspiration (Replaced by Carousel/Reel Series):
1. Indiana University (Brand Storytelling): Instead of an Instagram Guide, Indiana University could use a Reel Series to introduce their ambassadors, providing a more dynamic and engaging introduction than static posts.
2. Sprout Social (Educational Content via Carousel):
Sprout Social can repurpose its DEI content as a carousel post, sharing findings from social media listening data and brand examples, providing key takeaways within a concise format.
Product Guide Inspiration (Replaced by Shoppable Posts & Collections):
3. Petco (User-Generated Content in Shoppable Posts):
Petco could showcase trending products through shoppable posts featuring user-generated content. This integrates product promotion with relatable, inspirational content.
4. Grove Collaborative (Values-Driven Shoppable Collections): Grove Collaborative could create shoppable collections organized around values like sustainability, linking directly to plastic-free products and campaign updates, making shopping by value easier.
Place Guide Inspiration (Replaced by Location-Based Highlights/Collaborations):
5. Hotel Whisperer (Travel Recommendations via Location Highlights): Danielle Pointdujour can create Highlights for different regions, featuring top hotels and travel tips, offering an immersive behind-the-scenes experience.
6. Explore Uptown Chi (Local Business Features via Collaborative Posts):
Explore Uptown Chi could collaborate with local businesses on posts featuring Lunar New Year traditions and stories, integrating education with user-generated content, promoting local restaurants and events.
Crafting a Compelling Instagram Strategy in 2024
Start by understanding what type of content resonates with your audience. What are they discussing on Instagram, and what information are they seeking? Align your content strategy with both your brand’s goals and your audience’s needs to create content that drives engagement and achieves your objectives.
Remember to regularly analyze your analytics to understand what’s working and what’s not. This data will help you refine your strategy and optimize your content for maximum impact. While Instagram Guides may be gone, the possibilities for creative content curation and engagement remain endless.
