What Does The Instagram Community Really Want?

Check out the features I think Instagrammers are waiting for.

Last month, we created a ‘leaked’ Instagram interface with our predictions of what we think Instagram should do next. In this blog, we look at the features that we think would make Instagram better for brands and individual users. Check out the video below to see our new interface in action.

Since its humble beginnings in October 2010, Instagram — the app-based photo-sharing social network- has gone from strength to strength and now boasts over 200 million active monthly users. Instagram last month announced some minor tweaks to its interface, including infinite scroll added to the Explore tab, new follow suggestions and the ability to login using Facebook details. It also announced an analytics feature for Instagram Ad users, but our predictions and concept images/footage show these minor updates could be just the beginning.

We predicted a major redesign of its interface to accommodate some brand new features, including the ability to ‘ReGram’, save pictures without publishing, add music and stickers to photos and a feature that allows promoted photos, dubbed the ‘PromoGram’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4JrofrwGCc

The features in detail

The new features would certainly give Instagrammers a whole lot more to play with and more options for businesses using the social network.

Arguably the most anticipated update to Instagram is the ability to promote photos and videos (using what we dubbed as PromoGrams.) Instagram has now allowed users to create sponsored content – released shortly after we originally posted this blog.

By implementing this addition, Instagram is opening up their revenue channel and taking a major step towards recouping the one billion dollar investment made back in 2012.

Through the use of PromoGrams (sponsored content), businesses can target users and show them relevant content, with the accuracy and precision of the recent ‘Dark Post’ feature added to its big brother platform, Facebook.

As yet we are unclear how exactly sponsored content will work for the majority of business users on Instagram, our predictions explored options to target by hashtag, and the ability to see how many users your promoted content it likely to reach, based on your chosen hashtag and bid per impressions.

Targeting options

By monetising the platform in a similar fashion to the recent ecommerce upgrade in Twitter, some might speculate that the usership will be set to skyrocket as Instagram becomes much more commercially viable for brands to invest time and resources building an Instagram community.

Analytics

Another feature which we think will make Instagram all the more attractive to businesses and brands, is the ability to access in-app analytics – allowing users to note the number of impressions, ReGrams and engagement with their photos. Instagram revealed this feature last month, but our predictions showed a slight update to the features announced; the information is in a graph format and can be accessed in-app once you’ve set up a PromoGram. Being able to track and analyse content performance establishes Instagram as a serious platform in which businesses can viably track their performance with users and develop strategies based on the results.

Buying/selling photos

We predict that in the future, users will have the ability to buy and sell high definition versions of their photographs, opening up in-app-commerce opportunities for users producing highly desirable photographs/images. Only verified Instagram users will be able to sell HD versions of their photos, but all users can make a purchase. Becoming a verified user also alienates the copycat problem brands face when using a social network. Sources close to Instagram have also suggested that users will have the option to donate part of their in app revenue to charity, which would make this new royalty free image market place all the more attractive.

Verified users

Call to action

In a similar move to that of its big brother platform Facebook and more recently Twitter, the ability to add links to photos/videos, with the option to add a call to action button is something we predicted will soon be appearing within the Instagram platform. The call to action button will aid businesses and brands in directing users from the app, onto their own websites or specified online destinations.

Alongside the business focused features, we think the Instagram Community is clamouring for some more playful options.

The Regram

ReGramming has been a long awaited function within Instagram, and is a feature which the Instagram Community have proved they would be receptive to (there is already a App which is based primarily for this function). The ReGram feature will allow users to extend their reach and make strategic connections with other users without the pain of having to screen-shot and manually repost images. The feature also helps make the interface design look more streamlined; in comparison to the current version operating on our devices, we would see a full set of options underneath photos in our timeline.

More editing options

The photo-sharing network is relatively static and other than basic editing features there has not been much room for users to experiment with their imagery. We predict new features, which include the ability to add stickers and text to photographs and the ability to add a soundtrack to videos (from a royalty free, user generated library), offering users a new dimension in personalisation of photo/message-sharing.

The ability to see a thumbnail image of your image with the filter applied may seem a minor update, but nonetheless is something which Instagram should have implemented sooner. Instead of having to click each individual filter to test it, we would love the ability to see a preview, first – cutting down the amount of steps needed before publishing.

Direct share

We also explored options for a direct share feature; allowing users to share a photo or video with one swipe, to a desired user. This feature would allow for instant and direct messaging via photos or videos with your followers and would allow you to share and promote your photos quickly, again removing many of the steps currently involved – enhancing user experience.

Saving direct to camera roll

Another feature which we think should be implemented is the option to save your image straight to your camera roll, instead of publishing to your followers first – so you can use your beautifully edited images on other platforms, or simply send them on to friends and family before publishing.

We can’t wait for Instagram to start implementing some of these features! If you agree, or have any other suggestions, tweet us @phcreative!