Instagram has added two new Instagram features to the popular image sharing platform that are sure to impact and change the way you use Instagram. For the better? You decide.
Is Instagram killing off organic reach just like Facebook has?
The first new feature involves the much talked about and controversial hashtag. As we know and still can’t work out why Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links on Instagram. Here at Infobunny we do have a long-standing workaround or fix if you like that will give you clickable links on Instagram.
It is the lack of post links that contribute to the controversy around Instagram hashtags. Because there are no links members tend to spam their own posts with 30 or so tags in an attempt to be found or to get visitors to the one place they do have a link and that is their profile. They also spam tags in an attempt to gain more followers, continuing their membership to the Instagram Followers Game.
Well, this could be about to change as Instagram members can now follow hashtags. Now my first thought on this is that it is a very bad idea to be given the ability to follow tags and an even worse idea to then follow tags.
Here is what Instagram has to say.
Now You Can Follow Hashtags on Instagram
Today we’re introducing the ability to follow hashtags, giving you new ways to discover photos, videos and people on Instagram. Now it’s even easier to stay connected with the interests, hobbies, passions and communities you care about.
The whole point of following members is so that you see more content from members who produce content that you like. You like what they produce so you follow them. If you follow a tag then you have no idea what is going to show up in your feed or how much of it. Members are already spamming popular tags and grasping any niche related to said tags as much as possible. It just doesn’t sound like a great idea to opt-in to witness hashtag abuse in our feeds
Where this will work is if you follow very niche subjects with small enough content pools for there to be no real tag abuse. But you are still opening yourself up to content from members you haven’t followed.
I’m sure the Instagram algorithm has a clever way of filtering what we see and showing the highest rated content. But that remains to be seen.
And this leads us to the second new feature to be added.
Recommended For You
New Instagram test adds posts your friends like into your feed
Instagram has started testing a new “recommended for you” section within the feeds of a small group of users. The new section will show you Instagram posts that your friends have liked or that the algorithm thinks will appeal to you directly in your feed, which could mark another major shift for the photo-sharing service if the feature is officially rolled out.
So yet more content hitting our feeds that we didn’t opt-in to seeing.
Final Thoughts On These New Instagram Features
Both changes will add increased clutter to Instagram feeds, resulting in more content users must scroll through to reach all organic content. So posts that are not backed by a strong paid for Instagram strategy are likely to be further buried.
The upside to all this is that discoverability should improve despite organic content sinking. Brands could fair well.by creating trend related tags that members can follow. Whereas recommended for you could also help them reach a new audience.
What do you think of these new Instagram features?
Do you like the idea of being able to follow hashtags?
Are you happy to see “recommended for you” content?
Let me know in the comments below
Regards Dexter
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Bluetechno
You mean having your own hashtag is better? So people can follow this hashtag or 1,2 hashtags similar to your profile content? Thoughts?
DEXTER ROONA
If you are a brand then your own tag and variants would be a great idea. You can also set them up for groups where the members also use Instagram
DEXTER ROONA recently posted…How to generate traffic with StumbleUpon
ravi
Hii, very good article
Thanks for sharing keep up the good work
Dexter Roona
Your welcome, did you know about these two new Instagram features?