2020 Instagram Features Highlight

A Marketer knows how prime Instagram is. The platform enjoys a billion super active monthly users. Even the Top Brands on Instagram have a cosmic audience size and have more engagement than on Facebook. The Social Networking application has started as a photo-posting application and has turned into a platform for generating sales for emerging businesses. Posting screenshots of tweets in Instagram stories and posts established as the most trending subject in 2020. Here are some of the prime Instagram updated features.

January 2020

Brands Collab Manager
One of the most appreciated new Instagram feature is Brands Collab Manager, which is quite similar to the Influencer Marketing platform, where brands can connect and collaborate on mutually gaining project and share campaigns. It will aid small brands and influencers in getting more viewers.

February 2020

Stories Video Trimming Tool
Instagram rolls out a new editing tool for cutting stories. This new option provides a video slider trimming tool constructed into Stories, which functions like other third-party video editing tools. It will also help brands to create more absorbed and enhanced stories.

March 2020

Live Video Sharing to IGTV
The Instagram feature allows the uploading of Live Videos to IGTV ( Instagram TV). It serves the purpose of saving live videos and earning some revenue through new content. Also, brands can boost their Instagram presence through this and maximize their content.

Read:LinkedIn Features Highlight 2020

April 2020

Stickers to Support Small Businesses
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a new Instagram feature has been introduced a sticker called ‘Support Small Businesses’ the idea behind it is to give voice to small businesses, expand their visibility, and increase their reach. Moreover, small businesses are encouraged by this initiative.

Direct Messaging Available On Desktop

Instagram initiates their crucial feature to desktop and web browsers that were earlier only limited to the mobile application; Direct Messages. Brands and creators who are steadily relying on direct messaging will find the feature more worthy and celebrating.

May 2020

Instagram Shops
Instagram features a new e-commerce terminus for its users. Instagram Shop is open to change how businesses make money on Instagram. Users will find it easy to access directly from the main navigation menu. Also, brands and creators will find it more rewarding to sell their brand line.

Instagram Guides Limited Release
Instagram floats a new feature called Guides. This feature lets creators arrange their previous posts in the form of article-like updates, videos including IGTV videos with short captions and headers to focus on specific topics. However, this feature is just limited to some influential brands and creators.

June 2020

IGTV Ads
Instagram’s feature IGTV allows the creators to create long-form videos, unlike stories. They support vertical videos. Unlike in other applications, users have to see videos in the horizontal format. Brands and creators can now monetize through the IGTV Ads feature, where they have to put Ads in their IGTV videos.

Instagram Live Badges for Content Creators
Instagram is embracing the Creators community during the pandemic. Users can buy badges to support their favorite content creators and brands during live sessions. Users with the badge will stand out in the comments and unlock some additional features.

July 2020

Ability to Pin Comments to the Top
Instagram’s new feature lets users pin comments to the top of posts to terminate browbeating on the platform. This feature encourages positive sentiments and amicable feelings among users. Brands can pin up the cachet comments to earn the audience.

Instagram Shops personalized recommendations
Instagram Shop features personalized recommendations based on the brands that users follow. Also, it includes collections held by the shop team (Instagram shop account). For brands, this is like introducing a store in a shopping center where the customers are automatically directing towards them.

August 2020

Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels is a fresh way to create and find short, entertaining videos on Instagram. It is a 15-second multi-clip video with audio, effects, and some creative tools. Later, this timeline extended to 30 seconds. Brands and creators have the moment to create short content and offer chances to be explored by new audiences.

Live Shopping
Instagram launches Live Shopping feature, where brands and creators can sell their brand line during a Live Session. This feature is available to Instagram Business accounts only that have Checkout potential. They can showcase their product, interact, and collaborate with other brands and creators.

September 2020

Facebook and Instagram Messenger Merge
Facebook Messenger and Direct Messaging services are integrating into one system. This integration allows shared messaging on both platforms. Instagram Direct Messaging gets updated with other Messenger features. To enable this feature, users have to opt for the cross-messaging setting.

Al-Powered Captioning Added to IGTV
Instagram provides automatic adding of captions to IGTV videos when a user starts watching videos on mute. To boost the engagement of the video, they provide proper subtitles. The subtitles and captions are visible only to users watching videos on mute and users who have the required account settings for the feature.

October 2020

Music Sticker
Instagram introduces music in Stories. Users can add a soundtrack of their choice to the story that fits at the moment. They provide a massive song library where users can find specific songs, genres, and tap the play button to hear a preview. Brands and creators can take the opportunity by adding the soundtrack and tagging the singer or band.

Instagram Shopping Enabled for IGTV
Instagram comes up with IGTV shopping. Users will have the chance to discover and make purchases from the IGTV section. The shopping feature was already available for feed posts, Instagram Stories, and Instagram Live. Brands and creators will be able to tag shippable products in their IGTV videos.

Read:OTT Platforms Industry – Inside Out

November 2020

Instagram Keyword Search
Instagram user’s ability to search gets upscaled. Until now, users were just able to search for content by hashtags, location, tags, and usernames. Now, users will be able to search for content with just a keyword. Brands will also have the possibility to explore and search effortlessly for new content.

Guides Launched to All Users
Instagram stretches the new ”guides” feature for all the users. Earlier, this feature was only limited to some specific big brands and creators. This feature lets brands and creators share tips, resources, and some other forms of content in a particular tab on their profile.

Vanish Mode in Direct Messaging
Instagram hurls disappearing messages feature on their platform. This feature is similar to another application called Snapchat. Users can switch on the ”vanish mode” and deliver messages that disappear immediately.

December 2020

Shopping Rolling Out to Reels
Instagram expands the shopping experience feature to a whole next level. The viewers of the Reels can view the displays of the products and services present in that short clip. Brands and creators will find a more attractive way to showcase their best product line and talents.

Conclusion:
The year 2020 has unveiled some massive changes to the Social Networking application. From introducing some New Tools to New Stickers (supporting small businesses, musical, and many more). The application got revamp from just being a Social Networking platform to a succeeding E-commerce destination. The application stayed original to its users and heedful to the emerging business and creators.

About the Author

Punya is a student at Delhi University, stoked with inquisitiveness to absorb and probe into every aspect of the social world. As a digital marketing intern at Social Buzz, Punya takes joy in learning the nuts and bolts of Digital Marketing. She loves to write and learn about marketing campaigns. When not writing, she is found strolling in the gardens near water or just gazing at the night sky.