25 Amazing Instagram Features Every Marketers Should Know

Instagram features are constantly evolving, making it more than just a platform for pretty pictures. For marketers, it’s a treasure trove of tools that go way beyond filters and hashtags.

Whether you’re editing videos, setting up a shop, or engaging with followers through stories, Instagram’s built-in features offer endless ways to boost your presence and connect with your audience.

In this post, we will be showing you some Instagram cool features you probably don’t know exist – or have not been taking advantage of.

If you are ready to level up your Insta game, then let’s check out some amazing Instagram features every marketer should know in 2024.

 

Fresh Instagram Features

Instagram just keeps getting better, and these new features are absolute game-changers!

If you want to keep your audience engaged and your content fresh, these updates are for you.

Add music to your carousels

Love adding tunes to your reels? Well, now you can do the same for your carousel posts!

Bring your images to life by throwing in your favorite jam. It’s like creating a mini slideshow with a personalized soundtrack. Who wouldn’t love that?

To do this:

• Just open your Instagram app and move on to create your carousel post.
• Select your photos for the carousel
• Now, tap on the music icon and add your favorite song
• Choose the perfect segment of the song to complement each photo
• Adjust the volume of each slide to create a harmonious blend of visuals and music.
• Share your masterpiece with the world.

 

Music on your Instagram profile

Feeling nostalgic for the Myspace days? Now you can relive them by adding a personal anthem to your profile.

Just hit ‘Edit Profile,’ tap ‘Add Music,’ and choose your go-to song.

Pick a 30-second snippet, and voilà! Your profile now has its very own theme song. Talk about setting the vibe!

Comment section polls

Want to make your comment section more interactive? Instagram’s got you covered with a new feature – comment section polls!

Now you can poll your audience right in the comments, and get instant feedback. It’s a fun and easy way to boost engagement.

Only available on mobile for now, but we’re crossing our fingers for a desktop rollout soon!

Map search: Find hotspots near you

Instagram has upped its location game with improved map search features.

Now, users can explore popular tagged spots around them. This feature is perfect for finding trendy cafes, must-see murals, or hidden gems.

You can even filter by categories like restaurants or salons, making it super easy for people to find businesses in their area.

AI-generated stickers

Can’t find the perfect sticker? Now, you can create your own!

Instagram’s new AI sticker feature lets you generate stickers by simply typing in a term and letting the AI work its magic. Your creativity just got a serious boost – perfect for adding that extra flair to your stories.

Collabs on reels and carousels

Want to triple your audience? With Instagram’s collab feature, you can now team up with up to three other users on a single reel, carousel, or feed post.

This means your content appears on all your collaborators’ profiles, helping you reach a much bigger audience.

And the best part? All engagement is shared, so everyone wins!

 

Instagram Business Features

Running a business on Instagram? These features are about to make your life so much easier.

From tracking your performance to engaging with your audience in real-time, Instagram has built a suite of tools that’ll help your brand thrive. Here are some of these features you should start using now:

Professional Dashboard

The Professional Dashboard is like your Instagram HQ if you have a Business or Creator account. It gives you all the performance metrics you need, plus helpful tools to improve your content.

The “Grow Your Business” section is packed with tips and insights to help you take your Instagram game to the next level. Think of it as your very own Instagram success coach.

Interactive bio

Your Instagram bio just got smarter. With the interactive bio features, you can add clickable information like your business address and phone number. This makes it super easy for potential customers to find you.

Don’t forget about that crucial link in bio – you can either paste your website or get fancy with a linktree to direct traffic to multiple spots.

Make sure every click leads somewhere valuable!

Desktop publishing

If you love the precision of desktop editing, you’ll love desktop publishing.

No more being glued to your phone – now you can create, schedule, and post content straight from your computer.

And if you’re really serious about organizing your content, try pairing this with OnlySocial to plan ahead, find the best posting times, and keep your Instagram feed looking flawless.

Instagram Live

Want to make real-time connections with your audience? Instagram Live is where the magic happens. You can go live, chat with viewers, invite guests, and even showcase shoppable products.

Whether you’re collaborating with creators or hosting a Q&A session, Live gives your brand that authentic, personal touch.

Plus, the split-screen format means you can have more interactive conversations with your audience.

To learn more about Instagram Live and how you can use it to your benefit, check out this Ultimate Guide to Instagram Live!

Instagram Collabs

If you’re partnering with influencers or other businesses, Instagram Collabs is your secret weapon.

This feature allows two accounts to share the same post across both of their feeds, showing both handles and pooling all the likes and comments in one place.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved, increasing visibility and making collaborations crystal clear for your audience.

 

Instagram Messaging Features

Instagram isn’t just about posting and scrolling – it’s also a hub for connecting and chatting privately with your audience.

With these messaging features, you can make your DMs more interactive, engaging, and fun.

Direct Messages

Need to have a one-on-one convo? Direct messages (DMs) are your go-to for private chats.

Whether you’re answering customer inquiries or chatting with a follower, DMs are the best way to keep things confidential.

It’s your personal inbox for all things Instagram, perfect for those behind-the-scenes conversations.

Pinned Comments

Got a comment you want everyone to see first? Pinned comments are the answer!

You can pin positive feedback, highlight important info, or just share a funny remark right under your post. It’s a great way to guide the conversation and make sure your audience sees what matters most.

Instagram Notes

Think of Instagram Notes like a sticky note for your followers. Pin a short message to the top of your Messenger for 24 hours.

This could be a reminder about an upcoming event, a special promo, or just a quick hello. Notes simply help keep you top of mind without needing a full post.

Polls, Quizzes, GIFs, and Stickers

Why settle for just plain text when you can add some fun to your DMs? Instagram Messenger lets you send GIFs and stickers to spice up your chats.

And if you’re in a group message, try out interactive polls or quizzes. It’s a fun and easy way to engage multiple people at once, whether you’re gathering feedback or just having a laugh.

Simply tap the sticker icon in any chat and let the fun begin!

 

Instagram Story Features

Instagram Story Links

Want to send people straight to your website or latest blog post? Now you can, thanks to Instagram Story links!

This feature is available as a sticker, allowing you to add clickable links directly into your Story.

Just tap the link sticker, add your URL, and let your followers swipe their way to wherever you want them to go.

Interactive Story Stickers

Get your audience involved with interactive stickers. From polls and quizzes to questions and countdowns, these stickers allow your followers to engage directly with your content without ever leaving the app.

Want feedback? Pop in a poll. Need ideas for your next big project? Ask a question. It’s a fun and effective way to keep your Stories engaging and interactive!

“Add Yours” Sticker

One of Instagram’s coolest new features, the “Add Yours” sticker, turns your Stories into a photo-sharing challenge.

You post a prompt (like “Your favorite vacation spot” or “You as a teenager”), and anyone on Instagram can join in by adding their own photos.

These prompts can go viral, with hundreds of thousands of people joining in on the fun – and your brand gets to be at the center of it!

 

Instagram Shopping Features

Instagram isn’t just for pretty pictures – it’s also a full-on shopping destination!

With Instagram’s shopping features, your followers can go from admiring your products to purchasing them in just a few taps. Whether you’re a retailer or a shopaholic, these tools are a game-changer.

Product Tags

If you’re a retailer, product tags are your best friend. These tags let you showcase your products directly on your posts, turning your feed into a shoppable experience.

Followers can tap the tag to see product details and – wait for it – buy the product right there in the app!

It’s like window shopping, but from the comfort of your couch. For shoppers, it’s a one-stop paradise. See it, want it, buy it – no need to leave Instagram!

Instagram Checkout

If you think product tags make shopping easy, Instagram Checkout takes it to the next level.

With this feature, users can complete their purchase directly within the app. No need to navigate away to another site – just find what you like, add it to your cart, and check out in seconds.

It’s fast, it’s convenient, and yes, it’s probably a little dangerous for your wallet!

 

Hidden Instagram Features

See past posts you’ve liked

Ever liked a post and thought, “I’ll remember that!” only to forget it completely later? Don’t worry – it happens to the best of us.

But Instagram has your back! You can view all the posts you’ve liked. It’s simple and fast. Just:

• Head to your profile
• Tap the hamburger menu (those three stacked lines)
• Select Your Activity, then Interactions, and finally Likes.

Voilà! All your liked posts, neatly gathered in one place.

Control comments and likes on your posts

You have total control over who interacts with your content. Want to hide or delete comments? Or even turn off likes? You can do it! Here’s how:

• To filter offensive comments: Go to Settings > Privacy > Hidden Words. Toggle on Hide Comments, or add your own custom filters for messages, comments, and posts.
• To delete comments: Tap the speech bubble under the comment, swipe left, and hit the trash can icon.
• To disable comments on a post: While posting, tap Advanced Settings and toggle Turn Off Commenting for that post. Boom, no more unwanted comments!

Clear your Instagram search history

We’ve all made some questionable searches. Thankfully, Instagram lets you wipe your slate clean.

Just go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu, select Your Activity, then Recent Searches, and hit Clear All. Say goodbye to any embarrassing or misspelled searches!

Add a special font to your bio

Want your bio to stand out with cool, unique fonts?

You can use third-party websites like Picsart to generate special fonts. Type out your desired bio text on the website, choose your favorite font style, copy the text, and paste it into your Instagram bio. You’ll have a bio that screams “cool kid” in no time.

Create quick replies to common messages

If you’re running a business account, you’ve probably received the same questions over and over again. Save yourself time with Quick Replies!

Go to Business in your Settings, tap Quick Replies, and create shortcuts for frequently asked questions.

For example, use “returnpolicy” as a shortcut to quickly send a detailed response about your return policy. When you need to respond, just type the shortcut or tap the Quick Replies icon – easy peasy!

 

 

Why Should Marketers Focus on Instagram?

With so many shiny new platforms and trends emerging, including hello, TikTok and Discord, it might be tempting to jump ship from Instagram and dive headfirst into the latest craze.

But hold on! Before you abandon Meta products, there’s a strong case for keeping Instagram at the heart of your marketing strategy. Here’s why.

Instagram is where influencer marketing was born, and it’s still thriving there. In fact, 78% of consumers say creators play a major role in helping them discover new brands.

Nearly half of Instagram users shop on the platform weekly – yes, weekly! It’s no surprise that big brands like Estée Lauder invest 75% of their marketing budgets into influencers on Instagram.

But here’s the kicker – most influencers and creators still call Instagram home.

While TikTok is growing fast, 96% of brands and 88% of creators regularly post Instagram Stories, compared to much lower numbers on TikTok.

This means that key opinion leaders aren’t ditching Instagram anytime soon. They’re staying put because Instagram is where their community is deeply rooted.

So, if you want to connect with influencers, tap into consumer shopping habits, and keep up with where the top creators are spending their time, Instagram remains a must for marketers.

It’s still one of the most powerful platforms to grow your brand and engage with your audience.