So Instagram, as we know are always keen to make changes but more often than not we know they are coming and have time to prepare, not on this occasion! The changes to the grid happened across the globe showing the Instagram grid now in portrait format. In reality this wasn’t unexpected as they have been working toward the posts being more portrait than square for some time, and I have been creating posts for mine and my client’s account in portrait format for a year or two, with the proviso that they would still be square on the grids so careful where we put important info, so changing to the portrait format for the gird (for me) was a welcome change as everything looks a little less squashed.
However it has impact further down my feed where I have used multiple posts to create a large format setup, but moving forward that isn’t going to be an option so (goodbye to Giant Square, my handy app)
In addition to the grid changes the bio was moved around a little and we have had some further suggestions for Adam Mosseri the CEO of Instagram that further changes are coming too, for Stories etc so as always watch this space.
So to outline some of the other changes please read on ….
From the top:
Grid changes
Instagram has updated its grid layout, changing from square previews to a rectangular format.
This change affects how posts appear on users’ profiles, shifting from a 1:1 aspect ratio to a 4:5 ratio.
Some users appreciate the new grid layout, noting it gives a more polished look and allows for better planning of feed aesthetics (and compatible with Stories and Reels).
However, many users are disappointed with the change, especially those who meticulously curate their grids. Some feel the new layout is less visually appealing and more challenging to manage.
What do you think of this change? 🤔👇
Insight changes
They has also been some changes on the Instagram insights to prioritise “Views” as the primary metric across all content formats like Reels, Stories, photos, and carousels, meaning the main metric you’ll see in your insights will now be how many times your content was viewed, rather than different metrics depending on the format; this change aims to simplify how creators understand their content performance across the platform.
Key points about the change:
- “Plays” are now “Views”: For Reels, the “Plays” metric is now called “Views”.
- Consistent metric across formats: “Views” will be the primary metric for all content types, not just Reels.
- Focus on viewership: This change signifies Instagram’s emphasis on how many people actually watch your content, regardless of format.
Other changes
- Instagram Reels are now twice as long. Up to 3 minutes in length!
- Users can see a feed of Reels their friends have liked or added notes to in the Reels tab.
- Instagram is testing a “Reset suggested content” feature.
- Instagram is considering adding search filters to DM requests.
I always recommend you follow @Mosseri on Instagram directly as he helps share the updates in terms everyone can follow. His recent series of videos have been very illuminating in explaining how the different ways you post on Instagram can create more engagement for different audiences, for example.
If you wish to keep in the loop, then please do follow me on social media, or arrange a 1-2-1 with me and I can help you navigate through the changes. Drop me a message to find out more.
