Instagram Unveils New Creative Tools and Insights Across the App
Instagram has announced several updates across photos, carousels, Reels, Stories, and insights.
What’s New
Text to Speech: 10 new text-to-speech voices in English are now available in select countries.
Filters: New filters for photos and carousels featuring different styles and tones.
Text & Font Styles: New text fonts and styles for Stories and Reels.
Custom Stickers: Users can create custom stickers from their photos, videos, or eligible content across Instagram.
GIF Clip Hub: A library featuring clips with audio from movies, TV shows, and more is now accessible.
Improved Insights: Reels insights have a new metric in Replays (the number of times a Reel starts playing again after its initial play). In addition, the definition of Plays has been updated to include Initial Plays (the number of times a Reel starts to play for the first time in a session) and the addition of Replays. An interactive Retention Chart will soon be added, providing insights into how many people watch a Reel moment-by-moment.
The Momentum Continues
Instagram maintains momentum by delivering a new set of valuable updates for creators, following last week's marathon of releases for Reels. This time, Instagram addresses multiple experiences across the platform, but Reels is still the main focus.
New Ways for Creators to Express Themselves
New additions like text-to-speech voices, Custom Stickers, and the GIF Clip Hub empower creators with new options to express their creativity, both visually and audibly, making their content more engaging. The GIF Clip Hub is notable as it may lead to more meme-style Reels, especially for creators who review shows, movies, or comment on pop culture.
More Accurate Tracking for Reels Performance
The updates to Reels insights are noteworthy. This adjustment means that creators will now see higher metrics for Plays, as Replays are now included in the count. For brands collaborating with creators on sponsored Reels content, this translates to more accurate tracking and the potential for higher views for influencer marketing campaigns during reporting.
Both creators and brands gain a more comprehensive understanding of Reels content performance, utilizing metrics like Replays to distinguish content that garners repeat views from one-time engagements.
A Renewed Focus on Photos
In a departure from recent trends, Instagram’s launch of filters for photos and carousels suggests that it is dedicating more time to its core content format - photos, even though short-form videos remain the main priority. Another example of this shift is seen in photos being incorporated as part of Instagram’s new test of invite-only Holiday bonuses. Creators can monetize based on the number of views their photos receive, in addition to Reels.
