Do you need help to make the most of Instagram despite being one of the 2 billion monthly active users?
With Instagram’s increasing popularity, knowing which features to use to enhance your experience on the platform can be overwhelming. Many users struggle to optimize their usage, leading to a lack of engagement and growth.
Fear not, for we have compiled a list of 10 Instagram features that will make your life easier. Using these features, you can enhance your content, communication, and privacy on the platform. Whether you’re a business owner, influencer, or casual user, these features will help you make the most of your time on Instagram.
So, let’s dive in, explore, and learn how to use the features that will take your Instagram game to the next level.
Instagram features to enhance posts
1. Filters and editing options
Instagram’s filters and editing options can help you enhance the quality of your photos and videos. You can make color adjustments, crop, rotate, and add filters to your posts.
Additionally, you can use editing apps such as Lightroom to create custom filters for your content.
How to use Instagram’s built-in editing tools and filters
- Open the Instagram app and tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post.
- Select the photo or video you want to edit from your camera roll or take a new photo or video within the app.
- Once you’ve selected your photo or video, tap the “Edit” option to access the editing tools.
- You can adjust the color by calibrating the brightness, contrast, saturation, and other settings. You can crop and rotate your image or video to fit your desired frame.
- Tap the “Filters” option to add a filter and scroll through the available filters. tap a filter to preview it on your photo or video, and select the one that best suits your desired aesthetic.
- If you want to create a custom filter, you can use external editing apps like Adobe Lightroom to edit your photo or video and save it as a preset filter that you can use within Instagram.
2. Hashtags and tagging
Hashtags are a great way to increase your post’s visibility and reach a broader audience. You can use relevant hashtags for your post or your brand.
Keyhole can help track Instagram hashtags for UGC, influencer campaign, and competitor analysis.
You can also use this app for tagging other users and brands on Instagram. This can also help you get discovered by their followers and increase engagement.
How to use Keyhole for hashtag tracking and tagging on Instagram
- Sign up for Keyhole and log in to your account.
- Navigate to the “Hashtags” tab and enter the hashtags you want to track. Keyhole will then track the use of those hashtags on Instagram and provide you with analytics on their performance.
- Use the relevant hashtags in your Instagram posts to increase their visibility and reach. You can also schedule unlimited posts to find your best times for engagement with Keyhole.
- Tag other users and brands in your posts by typing “@” followed by their username. This will notify the user that you’ve tagged them in your post, and it will also appear on their profile under the “Tagged” section.
- When tagging other users and brands, make sure to choose accounts that are relevant to your post and that have a large following. This will help you get discovered by their followers and increase engagement on your post.
- With the help of Keyhole’s Instagram analytics, you can also track the performance of your hashtags and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategy.
- Suppose you’re an online university marketing and promoting a list of best online marketing degree programs. You can track how your hashtags are performing using Keyhole and make relevant actions.
3. Geotagging
Geotagging/location tagging is a great way to add context to your posts and increase engagement rate. You can tag the location of where you took the photo or where the photo was taken.
This feature is especially useful for businesses that have a physical location and want to drive traffic to their store.
How to use location tagging on IG
- When creating a new post, tap the “Add Location” option.
- Type in the name of the location you want to tag. Instagram will suggest relevant locations as you type.
- Once you find the location you want to tag, tap it to add it to your post.
- You can also search for the location by tapping on the “Search” icon and typing in the name of the location.
- Once you’ve tagged the location, your post will be discoverable by other users who are searching for posts in that location.
4. Story stickers and polls
Instagram stories offer a range of stickers and polls to enhance your content and increase engagement. You can use polls to get feedback from your audience and ask for their opinion.
Keyhole also offers exclusive story analytics, so you can track the performance of your story content.
How to use IG story stickers and polls
- Open the Instagram app and swipe right to open the camera screen.
- Take a photo or video or choose one from your camera roll.
- Once you have your photo or video, swipe up to open the stickers menu.
- Choose the type of sticker or poll you want to add to your story. Some popular options include the “Question” sticker, the “Poll” sticker, and the “Quiz” sticker.
- Customize your sticker or poll by adding text, changing the colors, or adjusting the size and position.
- Once you’re satisfied with your story, tap the “Send To” button to share it with your followers.
- You can also view your Instagram story analytics in Keyhole to see how your content is performing.
5. Reels and IGTV
Instagram’s video features, Reels and IGTV, allow you to create longer-form video content. You can use these features to showcase your brand, share tutorials or behind-the-scenes footage.
Additionally, these features provide an opportunity to reach a new audience and increase engagement.
How to use Reels on IG
- Open the Instagram app and swipe right from your home feed to access the camera.
- Swipe left at the bottom of the screen until you reach “Reels.”
- Record your video by holding down the capture button or use multiple clips by releasing the button and pressing it again.
- Use editing tools such as filters, music, and text to enhance your video.
- Once you are happy with your Reel, add a caption and hashtags to increase visibility and tap the “Share” button.
How to use IGTV
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Tap the “+” button next to your profile picture.
- Select “IGTV Video” and choose a video from your camera roll or record a new one.
- Add a title and description for your video, and choose a cover image.
- Tap the “Post” button to publish your IGTV video.
Make sure to promote your Reels and IGTV content on your Instagram profile and other social media channels to reach a wider audience.
Instagram features to enhance communication
6. Direct Messaging
Instagram’s direct messaging feature allows you to send private messages to other users on the platform. You can use this feature to build relationships with your followers, answer questions, or share exclusive content.
How to use IG’s direct messaging tool
- Open Instagram and tap the paper airplane icon in the top right corner of your screen.
- In the direct messaging section, you can either select an existing conversation or start a new one by tapping on the plus sign in the top right corner.
- To start a new conversation, search for the user you want to message and select their profile.
- Type your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen and tap send.
- You can also send photos, videos, and other media by tapping on the camera or gallery icon next to the text box.
- To create a group conversation, select multiple users when starting a new conversation and add them to the group.
- You can also use Instagram’s direct messaging to video chat or voice call other users by selecting the camera or phone icon in the top right corner of the conversation screen.
7. Video and voice calling
Instagram’s video and voice calling feature allows you to make calls to your followers directly from the app. This feature is a great way for engaging communication.
How to make a video or voice call on Instagram
- Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
- Go to your direct messages by tapping on the paper airplane icon in the top right corner of the home screen.
- Select the user you want to call from your direct messages list or start a new conversation.
- Tap the camera icon in the top right corner to start a video call or the phone icon to start a voice call.
- Wait for the other person to accept the call and start talking!
8. Live streaming
Instagram’s live streaming feature allows you to connect with your followers in real-time. You can use this feature to host Q&A sessions, share behind-the-scenes footage, or promote your brand. This is an effective growth tactic for increasing IG followers.
How to use Instagram’s live streaming feature
- Open the Instagram app and swipe right to access the camera.
- Swipe left to select the “Live” option.
- Choose the camera you want to use (front or back).
- Write a compelling title for your live stream.
- If you want, you can choose to add a location or tag other users.
- Tap the “Go Live” button to start your live stream.
- Interact with your viewers by responding to comments and questions.
- When you’re ready to end the live stream, tap the “End” button.
- After the live stream, you can choose to save the video to your camera roll or share it as a post on your profile.
Instagram features to enhance privacy
9. Restricting users
Instagram’s restricting feature allows you to limit the interactions of specific users on your account. You can restrict users from commenting on your posts or sending you messages without blocking them. This feature is a great way to protect your account and manage online harassment.
How to restrict users on Instagram
- Open the Instagram app and go to the profile of the user you want to restrict.
- Tap the three dots located at the top right corner of the profile page.
- A pop-up menu will appear, select “Restrict”.
- Once you restrict a user, their comments on your posts will only be visible to them, and you can choose to delete or approve them.
- You can also choose to restrict their direct messages. When you restrict a user, their message requests will be moved to your “Message Requests” folder, and you won’t receive any notifications when they send you a message.
- The restricted user won’t be able to see when you’re active on Instagram or when you’ve read their direct messages.
- To undo the restriction, go to the user’s profile, tap the three dots, and select “Unrestrict”.
10. Muting accounts
Instagram’s muting feature allows you to hide posts and stories from specific accounts without unfollowing them. This feature is useful if you want to avoid seeing posts from certain accounts without severing the connection.
How to mute an Instagram account
- Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
- Go to the profile of the account you want to mute.
- Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner of their profile.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Mute.”
- You will be prompted to select what you want to mute from the account: posts, stories, or both.
- Tap the option you want to mute and then select “Mute” again to confirm your choice.
- Once you mute an account, you won’t see their posts or stories in your feed or story tray.
However, you will still be able to view their profile and receive notifications from them. To unmute an account, simply repeat the above steps and select “Unmute” instead of “Mute.”
Maximize your Instagram presence
There you have it!
Instagram is packed with amazing features that can take your IG game to the next level. Whether you’re looking to elevate your posts, connect with your audience, or keep your account secure, these features will surely do the trick. With these powerful tools at your fingertips, you can increase engagement, grow your following, and make the most out of your Instagram experience.
Ready to put these Instagram features to the test?
Take your social media game to the next level. Try out the platform’s analytics, monitoring, and reporting tools and see how they can help you increase engagement, grow your following, and achieve your goals on Instagram.
Related Articles
When Is The Best Time To Post On Instagram?
How To Set Up And Optimize Google Alerts: The Ultimate Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Instagram's editing options enough to enhance my photos and videos?
Instagram's editing options are a great starting point, but if you want to take your content to the next level, you may need to use additional editing tools. Instagram offers a range of filters and editing tools, including brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustments, as well as the ability to add text and stickers.
2. How do I know which hashtags to use for my posts?
Researching relevant hashtags for your niche or industry can help you find the most effective ones to use. You can also look at the hashtags your competitors or industry influencers are using tools. Instagram offers a range of filters and editing tools, including brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustments, as well as the ability to add text and stickers.
3. Can I use Instagram's video features for marketing my business?
Absolutely! Reels and IGTV provide a great opportunity to create longer-form video content and showcase your brand or products. You can use these features to create tutorials, share behind-the-scenes footage, or highlight customer testimonials.
4. How can I use Instagram's direct messaging feature for my business?
Instagram's direct messaging feature is a great way to build relationships with your followers and answer questions they may have about your products or services. You can also use this feature to share exclusive content or promotions with your followers.
