7 tips for navigating the new Instagram

Instagram turned 11 in 2021, and like any pre-teen, the social media giant is undergoing some serious changes.

Granted, the app launched in 2010 with a photo of founder Kevin Systrom’s dog—which might lead some to believe we haven’t actually come that far—but over a decade later, Instagram now sees 1.4 billion monthly users. Eighty-one percent use the app to research products and services, and 090% of users follow businesses. Eighty-three percent say Instagram helps them discover new products and services.

All in all, if your business is not on Instagram, it’s a major red flag.

To help you navigate the app’s newest developments and further optimize these features in your 2022 communications strategy, check out these tips:

1. “Add Yours” sticker helps Instagram Stories go viral.

On Nov. 1, Instagram rolled out a new, interactive “Add Yours” sticker, designed to create viral chains of content through Instagram Stories – and sparked a major opportunity to drive engagement. “Add Yours” is exactly what it sounds like; users can add their own Stories to a thread of content based on a certain topic specified by the creator, e.g., add on a photo of your favorite vacation destination.