Instagram launched Guides in May of 2020. Initially only health & wellness Content could be used to make a Guide, but now, due to user demand, Guides can be leveraged by any Instagram user to create, you guessed it, a guide to help your followers better engage with or understand particular Content.
Essentially, Instagram Guides allow users to group & categorize Content in a manner that “guides” their followers in an educational or otherwise enlightening way.
Guides may be created for 3 broad categories by Instagram users, namely:-
- Places
- Posts
- Products
Creators can add elements from their own feed, or curate Content from other users’ profiles so Guides are a great way to share tips & tricks recommendations, what-to-do in an area lists, or a product to use that might get a problem sorted in a step-by-step fashion.
Creating Instagram Guides
As with adding any content to Instagram click the “+” button to initiate then select the type of Content you want to create from the dropdown menu. To create a new Guide, select “Guides”. If you don’t see the option to create a Guide, simply go to a user’s account where the “Guide” icon(looks like an open book) is displayed & scroll to the bottom of any Guide where you’ll see the option to create your own.
Places
Creating a Guide for a location is great for businesses that rely on their location to attract clients such as guest houses, restaurants or sightseeing services. For instance, a guest house might use a Guide to highlight the best things to do, & where to do them in an area, along with videos & images of their own establishment. To initiate a Places Guide, select “Places” from the menu & Instagram will prompt you to add a location. Once you’ve selected a location you’ll be presented with a set of options from the general Instagram feed for that location, which you can add to your Guide.
Products
If you select products as your Guide type, you’ll only be allowed to add 1 particular product per Guide & that product must be selected from an approved Instagram Shop. After selecting the Product Guide tab, Instagram will present you with a list of Instagram Shops to choose your product from, & accounts you follow will be at the top of the list. Users also have the option to add a product from their own Instagram Shop. Once selected the creator can add associated images, videos & so on, from the general Instagram feed.
Posts
For the Posts Guide type, creators can select from their own posts or bookmarked, saved posts from other users’ accounts.
The Method
Elements added to any Guide you create will be featured in chronological order. Instagram will automatically select a “cover image” for the Guide & you have to add a title to the main image before you can publish your Guide. Additionally, you can add a title & a description to each element selected. You can add up to 30 elements to a Guide, depending on the type selected.
If your unhappy with the cover image, Instagram gives you the option to change it & you can also adjust the order of any elements selected.
That’s all there is to it, so armed with this “guide” you’re all set to make your Instagram profile far more interesting.
