Instagram has launched a new feature in November 2020 - Instagram Guides. It gives you the opportunity to share a longer piece of content in a blog-like format. You can use pre-published posts, product listings and places, and they include a cover image, a title, an introduction, and optional descriptions for various entries you decide to include. Here's how to create, format, publish them and a couple of ideas what you can use them for.
Picture 1. Through Instagram Guides you can share more content in a blog-like format
How to Create an Instagram Guide
To create your first Guide, tap the plus icon on the top-right of your profile page and select “Guide.” Next, choose the type of Instagram guide you want to create and select your content. You can choose from three options for guides: Places, Products, or Posts.
Places Guide
With the Places option, you can pick from a location listed on Instagram. Select that your place and upload up to five posts from the content. This could be a great way to highlight user-generated content on Instagram that showcases your business.
Products Guide
The Products option lets you pull in Instagram posts related to a single product. You can showcase your merchandise this way.
Posts Guide
If you select the Posts option, you can choose from posts on your own Instagram profile. Select the posts you want to include from either your Posts or Saved tabs. You can choose up to 30 posts to share in a single guide.
Picture 2. Museum of Illusions Doha Instagram Guides
Format an Instagram Guide
After you’ve selected the content for your guide and tap Next, you’ll get to the format page to set up the details for your guide.
Here you can:
Add a title
Add an introduction
Add Text
Add more posts (if you want to add more images in your Guide. Note: you can only add images, photos and videos that you have already posted on your feed, or that you have saved using the Instagram “Save” feature.)
Delete a post
Rearrange the order of the posts in the Guide
Post the Guide or Save draft to post later
Publishing the Guide
Once you tap Share (or Save as Draft) on your first Instagram guide, the Guide icon - which looks like a newspaper - will appear on your profile.
Once your guide is published, others will be able to view and share it.
Instagram Guides Ideas
Repurpose
Repurpose your Instagram posts (find old Instagram posts and bring them back to life)
Categorize
Categorize your Instagram posts (example: exhibits, Dilemma Games, user-generated content, tips for taking photos at the museum...)
About us
Introduce the museum and share your story with the visitors. This is great for new followers to find out more about the brand.
Reviews
You can collect the best visitors reviews and post them here
Monthly Favorites
Share some cool things and events from the museum every month.
Team
Introduce your team with the Instagram guide. This is a great way to "give" face to your
brand.