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Influencers and brands have always dreamt of producing in-depth video content for their fanbase. However, ridiculously short time-limits on Instagram posts and stories have come in the way time and again, because it really is hard to showcase your vision and talent within 15 seconds. Fortunately enough, Instagram introduced IGTV, which became a dream-come-true for content marketers and influencers alike. With technology on the rise, 78% of people watch online videos every week. And that led IGTV to become one of the most powerful mediums for video storytelling. If you want to scale up your content through effective video marketing strategies, IGTV is a platform you MUST explore.
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This post will provide you with a detailed breakdown of IGTV, what it is, and how you can download and upload your content on IGTV.
IGTV – What Is It?
Instagram TV, also known as IGTV, is an extended video platform that enables you to share long-form content on Instagram. With a minimum aspect ratio of 4:5 and a maximum of 9:16, IGTV allows users to upload videos in MP4 file format.
If you’re a regular user, your content should at least be 1 minute long, and you will be allocated a maximum time length of 15 minutes. Verified users and larger accounts can use up to 60 minutes to craft their content. This gives businesses a lot more exposure and a chance to meaningfully engage with their audience through compelling stories.
Why Do You Need IGTV For Your Business?
The average person spends 100 minutes every day watching online videos. That being said, engaging with your audience through compelling video content has become more important than ever.
In fact, 96% of consumers have viewed an explainer video to know more about a certain product or service. And 84% of consumers mention that they have been convinced to buy a service or product after watching a brand’s video.
Besides, social media trends are on the rise with zero signs of slowing down. At the same time, Instagram has been incorporating everything and more into its platform. There are rumors of a TikTok-styled video response option, and the growing popularity of Instagram suggests that IGTV might become one of the most important platforms for marketers. That being said, if you’re thinking of ramping up your video marketing strategies for your brand, you can’t do without IGTV.
Moreover, video marketing has been considered the king of engagement for a while now and is thus seen as a powerful medium for boosting conversions. Your brand now has more scope for showcasing its creativity without a 60-second time limitation. With the help of IGTV, you can provide an in-depth analysis of your product or service, demonstrate its use, craft how-to videos, and so much more. IGTV also enables you to include links in your video description. This means you can direct your customers to your landing page and create a compelling call-to-action.
And that’s not all. Long-form videos do a better job of building a strong connection with your community. This wasn’t the scenario a while ago. Earlier, short videos of around 2 minutes were considered ideal. With the change in trends, this scene changed, too. There is now an increasing interest in long-form videos. IGTV not only facilitates crafting long-form videos but grants you the chance to build a meaningful relationship with your consumers.
How To Download IGTV
Downloading and using IGTV on your mobile/desktop is fairly easy. Here’s a complete rundown of downloading IGTV for your mobile and desktop.
IGTV For Mobile
You can either download the IGTV app separately or use it directly on Instagram. To access IGTV on Instagram, all you need to do is go to the Instagram app and click on the search icon at the bottom of your screen. You’ll see IGTV listed there, among several other options.
1. Select the ‘+’ icon at the bottom of your Instagram Feed.
2. Select a video longer than 1 minute and then tap ‘Next’.
3. Tap on the option ‘Long video’ to continue.
4. You can select a certain video frame to use it as the cover photo of your IGTV video. Moreover, you can also upload a cover photo from your photo gallery. Once you’re done choosing a cover photo, select ‘Next’.
5. Lastly, select a title and fill up the description section of your video. This step also enables you to customize your video settings. You can edit the profile cover and preview, add the video to your IGTV series, and so much more. When you’re done, select the ‘Post’ option, and you’re good to go.
IGTV For Desktop
Using IGTV on your PC is pretty easy. The first step is to go to Instagram, click on your profile, and select the option ‘IGTV’.
Fill out the next section accordingly. Select a cover photo, add the title and description of your video content, and choose where your video will appear.
Alternately, just go to the App Store and download IGTV from Instagram. And you’re all set to use the app.
IGTV For Desktop
To access IGTV on desktop, just go to Instagram and click on your profile. Select ‘IGTV’, and there you have it.
How To Upload To IGTV
Now that you know the basics, let’s dive into how you can use this feature. Because Instagram prioritizes offering a high-quality experience to everyone, following Instagram’s Community Guidelines is a must. Otherwise, your video may be removed, and you may even be penalized.Â
While uploading your content, make sure you also adhere to the IGTV requirements. Information regarding video file format, aspect ratio, video size, and IGTV video dimensions are all listed here. For your convenience, here’s a summary:
- Video file format: MP4
- Minimum aspect ratio: 4:5
- Maximum aspect ratio: 9:16
- Maximum file size (10 minutes or less): 650 MB
- Maximum file size (up to 60 minutes): 3.6 GB
IGTV For Mobile
You can either download the IGTV app separately or use it directly on Instagram. To access IGTV on Instagram, all you need to do is go to the Instagram app and click on the search icon at the bottom of your screen. You’ll see IGTV listed there, among several other options.
Alternately, just go to the App Store and download IGTV from Instagram. And you’re all set to use the app.
IGTV For Desktop
Using IGTV on your PC is pretty easy. The first step is to go to Instagram, click on your profile, and select the option ‘IGTV’.
Fill out the next section accordingly. Select a cover photo, add the title and description of your video content, and choose where your video will appear.
Once you’re done, you can either post your content immediately or save it as a draft. You can also schedule your video to post it at a suitable time of the day to ensure maximum reach.
And that’s it. You’re now set to use IGTV and brandish your skills in front of your audience.
1. Ensure Quality Content
While uploading content on your IGTV, you need to ensure good quality. Constantly uploading subpar videos may annoy your audience and lead you to lose viewers. When you upload content of stellar quality, there is better engagement, a boost in conversions, and a dedicated fanbase. This paves your way toward creating a powerful IGTV channel.
2. Add A Personalized Cover
When you create content, you not only have to ensure it’s overall quality but also make it ‘click-worthy’. This is where a personalized cover comes into play. A clear and eye-catching vertical cover will attract more audience than a hazy video-frame. So, make sure you use a cover image with a clear resolution. The ideal size for your cover photo is 420 x 654 pixels.
3. Use A Vertical Frame
Most users prefer to view IGTV videos vertically. Hence, go with the 9:16 aspect ratio and stick to 1080 x 1920 pixels for the best possible quality. Remember that the maximum size of a 10-minute long video is 650 MB. Keep this in mind while creating your video.
4. Create Content That Caters To Your Audience
This may sound pretty obvious, but just like your YouTube channel, your IGTV should reflect what your brand is about and what your followers want to see. Creating interesting videos that are nowhere pertinent to your brand values will make your video marketing efforts worthless. Hence, make sure your videos cater to your followers.
While creating relevant content, try out different layouts, ideas, and structures to see what attracts your viewers the most.
5. Add Links In Your Video Descriptions
Adding links to your video descriptions on IGTV is a great way for influencers and brands to promote their product or services. Add a link to your website, a shop you visited, or a freebie you are offering. You can not add links to Instagram posts, but you can certainly use this IGTV feature to increase your traffic and boost conversions.
6. Add A Link On Your Instagram Story
Although Instagram does send an alert to your followers every time you upload an IGTV video, this notification may disappear quite fast if your followers are following a large number of people who have also uploaded an IGTV video lately.
So, to ensure that your IGTV video reaches a maximum number of people, link the video to your Instagram story. A short clip from your IGTV video will intrigue your audience to see what you’ve come up with. Note that links in your Instagram story, both external and to IGTV videos, are only available for users who have at least 10,000 followers.
7. Engage With Your Audience
IGTV offers you a great opportunity to engage with your community. Reply to the comments your followers leave on your videos to create interactive sessions. This will lead your followers to believe you actually care about what they think.
8. Create And Post Consistently
This is a timeless tip that goes a long way. It is crucial for you to create quality videos and post those consistently in order to create a devoted fanbase. Posting one stellar video and going on hibernation for three weeks will not cut it. If you want to scale up your video marketing efforts through IGTV, consistency is a must, both in terms of quality and time interval.
9. Add Hashtags to your IGTV descriptions
Just like Instagram posts, make sure you’re using the right hashtags for your IGTV video descriptions. IGTV hashtags do show up in search results, so this little trick may get you a lot of viewers.
10. Schedule Your Posts
IGTV is still a relatively new platform. Hence, to ensure maximum reach, you need to know when your target audience will be engaged the most. For instance, let’s say you own a bakery page and you intend on sharing a few tips for making soft and chewy cookies with your viewers. As such, you can create and schedule the IGTV video for a weekend evening as most baking enthusiasts try out new recipes around that time.
Hence, scheduling your posts aligned with your followers’ interests makes it easier for you to reach out to maximum viewers.
Final Words
COVID-19 has brought about a drastic change in marketing strategies. As such, everything that’s digital has taken off, and IGTV has grown with the same trend. Hence, moving forward, it is even more important to incorporate IGTV for your video marketing strategies.
Of course, IGTV is still in its early stages. But with the addition of a few more functions and features, this platform has the potential to become something great. That being said, integrating IGTV into your Instagram marketing strategy can be a brilliant way to further boost your digital presence and meaningfully interact with your audience. The best way to go about it is to give IGTV a try and see what wonders it’s capable of.
