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IGTV – NEW PLATFORM ON INSTAGRAM

What is IGTV?

IGTV is Instagram’s way of breaking away from the traditional TV experience and transitioning to a modern, mobile experience. YouTube has exploded in popularity in recent years, and mobile video content has reduced the amount of time teenagers spend in front of TV screens by 40%.

Everyone on Instagram can now open their own IGTV where they can share long videos. For now, videos can be 10 minutes long for most accounts, but 60 minutes for large accounts, and Instagram says there will be no time limit later.

IGTV puts out videos based on your interests and who you follow, and you can certainly search and watch brands and trends. Just like you can Instagram Story, you can also share IGTV video material with your friends via Instagram Direct.

There is no advertising material yet because Instagram is focused on building the platform, but it is very likely that there will be.

3 things to know about IGTV

#1 IGTV is for vertical videos only

As we said, IGTV is for vertical videos. Sure, you can technically upload a horizontal video to IGTV, but it’s not the best experience.

Vertical video makes it easy for everyone to feel like they can start creating, and instead of pushing you to create professional videos on camera, vertical video naturally encourages you to shoot with your phone.

#2 IGTV is like Youtube, not Netflix

Although you can upload videos of up to an hour on IGTV, don’t expect to be watching your favorite TV shows there anytime soon.

IGTV aims to be more like YouTube and less like Netflix. IGTV is meant more for following your favorite brands or bloggers, rather than the Hollywood elite.

Instagram is trying to take a piece of YouTube and Snapchat’s pie by appealing to IGTV, the teenagers who are popular on these platforms.

#3 IGTV is a touchable mobile experience

Although you won’t see your favorite TV shows on IGTV, Instagram is trying to make the mobile experience a replacement for traditional TV.

Just like when you turn on the TV and the show starts playing immediately, similarly when you open the IGTV app, the video will automatically start playing.

Currently there are 3 IGTV categories: “For you”, “Following” and “Popular”

  • “For you” is a collection of videos that Instagram thinks you’ll like, made up of people you follow as well as videos that Instagram’s algorithm has determined are there.
  • “Following” is a collection of videos from all the Instagram profiles you already follow
  • “Popular” contains all the videos that are trending on IGTV.

Now that you understand more about how IGTV works, you’re ready to create your channel and upload your first IGTV video!

IGTV can be a huge advantage for your business, depending on what you do.

If you want to build the awareness of people and users of INSTAGRAM and other social media in the right way , contact us NOW.

Made by Mladen Radosavljević – Senior Account Manager @Digitizer