{"id":6737,"date":"2019-03-29T13:57:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T20:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=6737"},"modified":"2023-07-12T20:23:39","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T03:23:39","slug":"marketers-guide-to-igtv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/business-and-marketing\/marketers-guide-to-igtv\/","title":{"rendered":"A Marketer’s Guide to IGTV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It should come as no surprise that in 2019, video reigns supreme. In fact, a whopping<\/span> 45 percent of people watch an hour or more of video on Facebook and YouTube per day, and 43 percent of consumers say they want to see more video content this year. Video is a great medium to invest in if you want to connect with and engage your audiences\u2014and let\u2019s be honest, who doesn\u2019t?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the social media outlets of today make it easier than ever to offer video content to your followers. Instagram TV (or IGTV) was launched in June 2018 and has become a valuable platform for brands across the globe. This article will discuss why your business should consider IGTV and how to best use it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image via <\/span><\/i>pikwizard.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is IGTV?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Instagram Stories, IGTV allows users to upload uninterrupted 10-minute-long videos (or 60-minute-long videos for verified accounts). Instagram TV is accessible via the main Instagram app or the separate IGTV app, and each IGTV account links to a corresponding Instagram profile (similar to the relationship between Facebook and Messenger). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like your TV at home, IGTV has channels that users can scroll through. According <\/span>to Instagram<\/span><\/a>, this feature allows brands to use \u201clonger, permanent video for deeper storytelling\u201d and to \u201cbuild stronger connections with potential customers as you showcase other dimensions of your business without being limited to one type of content, length or format.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instagram TV combines the best of both worlds: a powerful social media network (Instagram) with a highly effective medium (video). Instagram <\/span>boasts<\/span><\/a> 500 million daily active users and 1 billion monthly users, with 32 percent of all worldwide internet users active on the platform. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For businesses, Instagram is a wise investment of time and money. <\/span>Engagement with brands on Instagram is 10 times higher than on Facebook, 54 times higher than on Pinterest, and 84 times higher than on Twitter. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining the influence of Instagram with the strength of video is a wise, if not necessary, move for marketers in 2019. Seventy-nine percent of consumers <\/span>prefer watching<\/span><\/a> a video to reading about a product, and 84 percent of consumers have bought something after watching a video. Instagram TV offers another useful tool for marketers trying to expand their brand reach.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagrammable<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image via <\/span><\/i>pikwizard.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I set up my IGTV channel?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you reap the benefits of Instagram\u2019s exciting new offering, you will obviously need to know how to use it correctly. Like all things, mastering IGTV will come with time, but here are some basic steps to get you up and running.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can set up your Instagram TV channel from right within your existing Instagram app! To do this, tap the IGTV icon in the upper-right corner of your feed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Setting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the next screen, tap the gear icon and select \u201cCreate Channel\u201d from the popup menu once it appears. Then, simply complete the prompts that follow. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Creating<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also possible to create your channel from a desktop computer. First, sign in to your account as normal at instagram.com. Next, navigate to your profile page and click on the IGTV logo.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Setting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the next window, click the blue \u201cGet Started\u201d button and follow the prompts, hitting \u201cNext\u201d until your channel is created.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I browse and share videos on IGTV?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your channel is up and running, you can start sharing videos and wowing your audience! Most accounts must share videos that are <\/span>between 15 seconds and 10 minutes long<\/span>. Verified accounts and accounts with a larger following are usually able to share videos that are up to an hour in length. Generally speaking, if your video is on the longer side, you\u2019ll want to upload it from your desktop computer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To share a video from within the Instagram app, click the IGTV icon on your feed page like you did when creating your channel. From this next screen, you\u2019ll be able to browse or share. To browse the channels, hit the magnifying glass icon to the left and, when the search bar appears, type in the channel you\u2019re looking for. Here, you can also see videos from accounts you\u2019re following, popular videos, your video history, or videos that are recommended for you. To share a video, tap your profile picture icon. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sharing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next screen will have a + icon on the right side. Tap this and you will be prompted to upload a video. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once you select the video you\u2019d like to share, hit \u201cNext\u201d and you\u2019ll be able to enter the title and description details. You can also edit the preview photo for your video. Once you\u2019ve completed these to your satisfaction, hit \u201cPost\u201d and your video will go live. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sharing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To share video from within the IGTV app (downloadable via your phone\u2019s app store), open the app and tap the \u201cBrowse\u201d button on the bottom-right corner. Here, you can also browse for channels the same as you can from within the Instagram app (by hitting the search button\/magnifying glass and typing in the channel you want to view). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Browsing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To share a video, hit your profile icon and then select the + button on the next screen. The following steps are the same as those described above, for sharing a video from within the Instagram app. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sharing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To upload an IGTV video from your desktop, log in to your account and go to your profile page. Once here, tap the IGTV icon and then hit \u201cUpload.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"upload<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the next screen, you\u2019ll be able to upload your video file, enter your video title and description, select your cover photo, and finally, post. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IGTV<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you have detailed edits to make to your video, make them before uploading to IGTV. As you can see, the editing options available to you within Instagram are minimal. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some <\/span>things to remember<\/span><\/a> when sharing videos:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n