IGTV (Instagram TV) lets brands create their own long-course video series on Instagram.

It's a great opportunity to:

  • Build engagement
  • Interact with influencers
  • Improve your Instagram marketing strategy

… among many other things!

But how practice you create an IGTV channel? And what are the best ways you can use information technology for your business organisation?

Let'south dive into the answers, and find out how you can make IGTV work for your brand.

Note: In October 2021, Instagram combined IGTV and feed videos into a single video format: Instagram Video. The IGTV contour tab has been replaced past a Video tab. All Instagram videos can now be up to 60 minutes long, and standard post editing features are available for long-form video content. Larn more about Instagram Video.

Bonus: Download a gratis checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to abound from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.

What is IGTV ?

IGTV is a long-course video aqueduct accessible from Instagram and equally a standalone app.

Instagram launched the feature in June 2018. Information technology gives brands the opportunity to make videos longer than typical Instagram Stories and posts.

In fact, verified users can mail service IGTV videos upward to an hour long. Regular users tin can upload 10 infinitesimal long videos—still much longer than normal videos!

In 2019, Instagram also allowed creators to postal service one-minute previews of their IGTV videos on their feeds to improve discoverability. That'due south perfect for getting your audience'due south attention without them having to download the app.

Instagram more recently introduced the IGTV serial feature. This allows creators to brand a regular serial of videos to be released on a consequent cadency (weekly, monthly, etc).

Retrieve of information technology like a series you'd see on television or YouTube—but all on Instagram.

Brands have been relatively slow to adopt IGTV for a number of reasons. Chief amidst them: the high costs and time investment required to produce long-class social videos.

Merely if y'all practise it right, IGTV can actually be a fantastic fashion to build appointment for your brand. Read on to detect out how.

How to use IGTV

Lookout this Hootsuite Academy video for a quick overview of how to utilise IGTV. One time you're done, read on to observe exact instructions (with visuals) below:

How to create an IGTV Channel

It used to be that if y'all wanted to upload a video onto IGTV yous needed to create an IGTV Aqueduct. However, Instagram has since done abroad with that feature.

All you lot need to create an IGTV account now is an Instagram business relationship. Your account allows you to upload videos onto IGTV via the Instagram app or the IGTV app.

If yous're reading this, there's a good chance you lot already have an Instagram account. If you don't, that'due south okay! Here'southward the directions straight from Instagram on how to create an business relationship.

How to upload an IGTV video

Uploading an IGTV video is very unproblematic—but there are a few ways to do it.

How to upload and IGTV video from Instagram

one. Tap the + button at the lesser of your newsfeed.

plus button on Instagram

2. Choose a video lx seconds or longer and tap Next.

choosing a video from your Instagram gallery

iii. Select share as Long Video. This allows y'all to post the full-length video on IGTV, while a shorter snippet of the video is shared to your Instagram feed. Tap Continue.

Long Video option for uplaoding an IGTV video

iv. Cull your video'due south embrace image from 1 of its frames. Alternatively, you lot may cull an image from your gallery. Tap Next.

selecting a cover image for your IGTV video

five. Fill out the title and description for your IGTV video. You also now take the option to Post a Preview of your video on your newsfeed and Make Visible on Facebook if y'all desire to cross promote it.

"Post a preview" toggle option on IGTV video

You also are able add the video to an IGTV series from here. If you don't already accept an IGTV series, don't worry. We're going to show yous how down beneath.

One time you're done filling out your championship and description. Tap Post in the elevation correct. Voila! You just posted an IGTV video from your Instagram app!

How to upload an IGTV video from IGTV

i. Tap the + button in the top right.

Plus button on IGTV app

2. Choose a video 60 seconds or longer and tap Side by side.

choosing a long video from your gallery

3. Cull your video'south cover image from one of its frames. Alternatively, you may choose an paradigm from your gallery. Tap Next.

choosing a cover image for your IGTV video from the app

four. Make full out the title and description for your IGTV video. You besides now have the option to Post a Preview of your video on your newsfeed and Brand Visible on Facebook if you desire to cross promote it.

post a preview option on IGTV video before uploading

You also are able add together the video to an IGTV series from here. If you don't already have an IGTV series, don't worry. We're going to testify you how down beneath.

Once you're done filling out your championship and description. Tap Post in the top right. Voila! Yous simply posted an IGTV video from your IGTV app!

Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the verbal steps a fitness influencer used to abound from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.

Get the free guide right now!

How to rails your IGTV operation

To run across your IGTV analytics in Instagram:

  1. Tap the video you desire to analyze.
  2. Tap the three horizontal (iPhone) or vertical (Android) dots at the bottom of the video.
  3. Tap View Insights.

In the app, y'all can view:

  • Likes
  • Comments
  • Direct messages
  • Saves
  • Profile visits
  • Reach
  • Interactions
  • Discovery
  • Follows
  • Impressions

IGTV Insights in Instagram IGTV Insights in Instagram

While in-app Insights will requite you a quick view of how a video is performing, it's non like shooting fish in a barrel to compare it to the rest of your Instagram content — or even the remainder of your IGTV videos. To get a more holistic view of your IGTV performance, you may desire to consider a tertiary-party social media management tool like Hootsuite.

In Hootsuite Impact, you tin view your IGTV analytics alongside all your other Instagram content. You'll be able to see nevertheless IGTV performance metrics you would go in the app, plus a customizable ROI metric that allows you to make up one's mind which IGTV videos are giving you the best return-on-investment based on your business goals.

IGTV analytics in Hootsuite Impact

You can as well customize the manner your engagement rate is calculated, if you prefer to calculate it in a different fashion than Instagram (for instance, you could choose to count merely saves and comments every bit "engagement").

Hootsuite Impact is worth checking out if you're looking for a more holistic view of your business's Instagram performance, how information technology performs in comparing to your other social networks, and how it contributes to your business's lesser line.

How to create an IGTV series

Whether you desire to create an IGTV series on your Instagram app or your IGTV app, the steps will be the same.

Hither's how to create an IGTV series:

1. Make sure you're at the window where you fill up out your title and clarification. Tap Add together to Serial.

"Add to series" button on IGTV video upload screen

2. Tap Create Your Showtime Serial.

"Create your first series" button on IGTV series screen

3. Fill out your serial's title and description. Then tap the blue checkmark in the top right.

blue checkmark in top right corner of New Series screen

iv. Make sure the series you want your video to be a part of is selected. And then tap Done in the pinnacle correct.

Screen showing a selected IGTV series called "My Series!"

That's it! You just created a new IGTV series.

IGTV video specs

Here is all the video spec information you need for your IGTV video:

  • File format: MP4
  • Video length: At to the lowest degree 1 infinitesimal long
  • Maximum video length when uploading on mobile: 15 minutes
  • Maximum video length when uploading on spider web: 1 hr
  • Vertical aspect ratio: ix:16
  • Horizontal aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Minimum frame charge per unit: 30 FPS (frames per second)
  • Minimum resolution: 720 pixels
  • Maximum file size for videos that are 10 minutes or less: 650MB
  • Maximum file size for videos upwards to hour: 3.6GB.
  • Comprehend photo size: 420px past 654px (or 1:1.55 ratio)

Pro tip: You can't edit your cover photo after you've uploaded it, so make sure it'southward perfect before you do.

5 means to employ IGTV for business

Below are five ideas for IGTV videos or fifty-fifty serial you can create for your brand.

Create tutorial videos

One not bad way to build engagement is through handy tutorial videos.

These how-to videos can cover a variety of different topics in your industry. For example, say you lot had a fitness make. You could create a series focused on conditioning tutorials, or maybe i about healthy recipes.

If your organization sells a product, yous can create a how-to video focused on how to use that product. At that place are a ton of possibilities for groovy IGTV series for your brand!

Host a Q&A session

A question and respond (Q&A) session with your audience is a great fashion to respond whatsoever pressing questions your followers might take.

It'southward also a smashing opportunity to present some solid thought leadership on your industry.

Pro tip: Make a post on your Instagram feed and Story promoting your Q&A session beforehand. Be sure to ask your followers for questions then. You tin can utilize them during the IGTV recording!

Go behind the scenes

This is a keen way to build transparency into your brand. By giving your audition a look at how your company works—whether that be by interviewing coworkers or simply touring your workspace—y'all humanize your make to viewers.

That results in more trust betwixt the audition and your organisation. And brand trust is a crucial thing for everything from marketing to sales.

Stream an event

Hosting an event similar a convention or a seminar? Share that with your viewers on your IGTV channel!

This is a great opportunity to allow those who couldn't attend a chance to "attend" virtually. Your viewers will appreciate it, and yous tin give them content they can appoint with.

Host a talk show

Ever dream of seeing your proper name nether the "Tonight Bear witness" banner? Now you can (kind of)!

Y'all can host a talk testify on your IGTV that's centered on your brand. Accept guests on who are influencers and thought leaders in your industry. Monologue about industry news. If you lot're really aggressive, you can get your coworkers together and create an in-house band.

(Okay, maybe don't exercise that terminal one.)

IGTV tips and best practices

Cross promote your video

Whenever you outset posting to a new channel, it's best exercise to inform your followers on other channels what you lot're up to, in case they desire to follow you in that location too.

This is especially true for IGTV, as some people will take to download a new app to view your content.

IGTV offers a few different cross-promotion options:

  • Preview and link to an IGTV video from your Instagram Stories (verified or business users only)
  • Share one minute previews of your IGTV videos to your Instagram feed and profile (users will exist prompted to Go on Watching on IGTV)
  • Share IGTV videos to a connected Facebook page

Outside of Instagram, consider including callouts to your IGTV channel from:

  • Twitter
  • An electronic mail newsletter
  • Your Facebook Folio

Optimize for silent viewing

Chances are if people are watching your video in the IGTV app, they'll turn their sound on. But even the videos that play automatically in the app default to "audio off".

And if you're sharing your video in your Instagram Stories or on your feed, most people volition non have their audio on.

So brand sure your video is optimized to play without sound—i.e., information technology either makes sense without sound, or has easily visible subtitles. Clipomatic can help with this.

Include the most important info up front end

People gyre through their feeds quickly. You lot only have a small window of time to grab their attention—up to a minute if yous're lucky, just fifteen seconds is probably a more realistic target.

So brand sure your IGTV video hooks your viewers as before long every bit possible. Don't let their attention slip or give them a reason to swipe through to the side by side matter.

This is especially truthful if yous're sharing a preview to your Instagram feed, where viewers will exist prompted to "proceed watching" on IGTV later on one minute.

Recall of the first minute of your video as an introduction to a blog post. No matter how flashy and engaging your video is, yous'll demand to respond the following questions:

  • What is this video almost?
  • Why should you lot keep watching?
  • Optional: Who is this video for?
  • Optional: How long will it be?

Answering these questions as soon as possible will guarantee longer and higher quality views.

Use relevant hashtags in your description

Search functionality on IGTV has received some criticism. As of April 2020, you can but search for profiles rather than videos on a specific topic (retrieve: how you lot search for a YouTube video).

But Instagram is said to be working on changing that

.IGTV video called "Art timelapse: This is the extended version of my #coverpage for March" from @thegraytergood

In the meantime, ensure your videos are also seen past non-followers by including relevant hashtags in your description. Your videos will evidence up on the corresponding hashtag page on Instagram, where people following that hashtag can discover your content.

hashtag page for photos with #bulletjournal, including the video from the previous screenshot

But post content that warrants a longer format

IGTV isn't just a place to be cantankerous posting your Instagram Stories. If you want people to follow you on both channels, you demand to make certain they have a skillful reason to practise so.

This ways developing new content that fits a longer format. While your Instagram Stories are designed to fit within snappy 15-second clips, what would yous do with more than than 15 seconds? Lean into that space and brainstorm.

Like YouTube, long-course tutorial content is popular on IGTV. But some brands accept fifty-fifty adult entire TV series for the app.

Obviously what y'all choose to do depends on your budget and your brand, just here are some long-form video content ideas to become you lot started.

Use your brand colors, fonts, themes, etc.

But considering it's a different app doesn't hateful you're presenting a different make. It can already be a jarring experience to leave i app to lookout content another, so make the experience as smooth as possible for your followers. Let them know you're the same old you, just on a different aqueduct.

That ways sticking to the same colors, tone, and vibe as usual. Bonus: this volition aid your IGTV content fit into your feed likewise.

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