I saw this coming…but you don’t have to worry….
Everyone is shocked about the current news that instagram is “no longer a photo sharing app.” I’m not the least bit surprised. Last month the team and I got together at @meshcowork to create batch content for REELS on instagram. I literally shared with them that Instagram doesn’t like the fact that TikTok is so popular and therefore they are going to start to want to be the number one platform in this video department. So…since instagram is playing this game…let’s just jump on board shall we?
HOW? VIDEOSHOP. Videoshop is an app I use [truly, any easy video app editing system on your phone will do].
Here are three different approaches you can take when using this app.
- PHOTO COVER + small clip. Basically ALWAYS add a cover photo to your video this way your content aesthetic stays professional and cutting edge. Set your photo timed at whatever time frame you want to photo to be viewed. For me, I simply only need it to be the cover for aesthetic purposes so I set it for like .1 seconds. Then add a little clip of whatever you want in reference to what you’re posting about or something entertaining. Honestly, a few seconds will do! Then download and it creates a video for you from these clips. Now you have an aesthetically pleasing cover, a video clip to reel people in, and the algorithm recognizes that you’ve just posted a video. WIN WIN WIN!
- PHOTO SLIDESHOW. With the same app. Upload a few photos and shorten the time to .5 seconds each photo or even 1 second. Add as many photos as you’d like to replace what you would have shared on a carousel and then download! Boom…you’re sharing your images and then instagram thinks you are sharing a video!
- PRESENTATION SLIDE. Do you want to share a few “how to’s steps” that you usually would have used on a carousel as well. Well, same thing applies! Upload all of your slides into the app and then group them and have these go at a longer pace to make sure people can read them. Set them at 3-5 seconds [check the pace because it will depend on how much text you have in each slide…which should never be a lot anyway]. Download and you have tricked the algorithm again.
BONUS: If you don’t have any of the above and only have ONE PHOTO to work with…you can add one photo into the app and just extend the time to a few seconds. Download it and again…boom…it’s a video!
You see…no need to worry, there are ways around algorithm changes and it’s easy to pivot. Remember that you should NEVER give INSTAGRAM that much power over your business. It’s a VERY EFFECTIVE tool to operate business, one I firmly believe in, but it shouldn’t be where you put all of your energy to [aka don’t put all of your eggs in one basket]. When you find yourself overwhelmed…FORGET THE ALGORITHM! I mean…pay attention to what they are saying and stay on your toes to shift, but don’t sweat it. I hear too many people blaming the algorithm! Instead of wasting your energy in areas you can’t control, just shift where possible but also…if you have a solid brand with a clear vision/direction then shifting is the easy part!
I hope these tools help you. I will be shifting to creating in this direction for myself and all of my clients in the next couple of weeks and see how it goes! Have fun playing the instagram game my friends!
