WHAT IS INSTAGRAM TV, AND WHY SHOULD MY BRAND BE ON IT?
Remember when YouTube was so started? It took a while before people could REALLY see the value in YouTube. It’s possible that when it first started there wasn’t much value to be had, only because NO ONE was watching YOUTUBE. However, it did take off fast and slowly value started to build due to the fact that there was a growing audience that was ready to consume VIDEO CONTENT.
I remember when anyone could post a video in 2006 and get a million views in a month. The ability to GROW your subscribers, SUPER EASY. Man! How I wish I was part of that era. Too bad I didn’t catch it in time
So… What’s going on today?
Instagram TV.
IGTV specifically, has become what YouTube was just 13 years ago: A virgin platform with MASSIVE ATTENTION.
I’ve been talking about this since June of last year, and I told everyone to take it seriously. I was right. Facebook invested heavily in the platform in their attempt to steal large amounts of traffic from YouTube, just like they did to Snapchat with Instagram stories and Facebook stories.
If you already have an existing following on Instagram, you can currently create videos up to 60 minutes in length and upload them on IGTV with links, descriptions, and thumbnails. The best part, Instagram will send an ENORMOUS amount of organic traffic to it. I’m talking about 40% plus organic traffic not seen since the days of 2010 Facebook pages. (IMPORTANT Note: you must toggle the button that says “Provide preview on Instagram”. Otherwise, you will not get this reach).
You can upload videos up to 10 minutes in length directly through your mobile, and up to 60 minutes in length through a computer on the actual Instagram website.
If you currently DO NOT have a following yet, You MUST focus on building a following on Instagram as a first step and the way you currently do this is by driving people to your profile on Instagram. As you grow this, your reach across Instagram TV videos will explode.
As with all worthwhile endeavors, It’s a process. And you have to go through it.
It is also an OPPORTUNITY.
And it’s a MASSIVE one at that.
Trust me on this.
The wave is here, and I’ve already hopped onto it. Are you going to ride it with me? Who will? I’m part of the 1%. Are you?
Or…
Are you going to be one of those people who end up kicking themselves and saying: “Man! If only someone would have told me. These guys are so lucky. It’s too late in the game for me. I wish I would’ve have done more. It was so easy before.”
Believe me when I tell you that this is not speculation. This is based on OBSERVATION.
If you don’t believe me look at it yourself!
If any brands are at all skeptical about IGTV, they only need to look at the businesses that are finding success on IGTV.
Look at existing Instagram TV channels. Look at the brands I manage like Dr. Eric Berg, MetabolismoTV and my own. Look at the numbers of followers and the amount of attention these channels get and you will see what I’m talking about.
Here’s another interesting fact: in early February, Instagram announced that IGTV previews would now appear in the regular Instagram feed, along with videos being shared to Instagram profiles. Since that change, views on IGTV videos have skyrocketed across the board, increasing by 300–1000%, providing a strong indicator that IGTV is ON THE RISE.
IGTV holds a lot of potential for brands to engage with their followers through video on Instagram. There are thousands of people who use IGTV every day, and many brands are thriving by posting and creating content specifically for IGTV.
Some prominent video creators have continued to invest in IGTV and make it their priority for social video marketing — people like singer John Mayer, 14-year-old actress Jayden Bartels and others. There is also a host of YouTube vloggers who also use the IGTV platform to catapult their following on Instagram.
Overall, tremendous opportunities on IGTV exist for brands and content creators alike. But it definitely takes time, consistency, and sharing to your Instagram feed.
As far as Instagram is concerned, IGTV is here for the long haul. As we’ve already seen from their new sharing feature, even small changes can have a big impact. One thing is clear: the decision to share IGTV videos to the main Instagram feed has resulted in a massive increase in IGTV videos.
Here are a few more reasons why YOU should be using Instagram TV for your brand:
New platform with limited content
For businesses, IGTV presents a unique way to market their brand. The fact that IGTV isn’t as big as YouTube yet can actually help the businesses that act quickly and decisively, and establish themselves relatively early on in the game.
A new way to market with Influencer
IGTV also presents businesses with another way to team up with Influencers. You can redesign your Influencer strategy by including IGTV. The platform presents Influencers with the chance to post videos from the unboxing of your products, reviews, and how to use videos. They can also highlight the benefits your products or services have on their daily life.
Ad-free videos can lead to more viewership
The best part about IGTV is that it is ad-free. This makes viewing videos for users a lot easier and some may even prefer it over YouTube because of this sole reason. Businesses should think of jumping on the IGTV bandwagon as soon as possible. Don’t wait, cause many big brands have already started their IGTV campaigns.
In fact, big brands immediately jumped onto the IGTV ship from the moment it launched. From Netflix, to Mercedes, National Geographic to Louis Vuitton, you can find content from most major corporations on IGTV. The wonderful thing is that you can take advantage of the massive opportunity to use IGTV to your advantage as well, just like I have, as well as some of my most successful clients. We’re creating HUGE impacts and expanding our reach like never before. I want the same thing for YOU.
In conclusion, IGTV is another platform that presents businesses with a chance to market their services and products. It is fairly new, but Instagram has been huge for businesses so there is no second-guessing the impact and benefit of IGTV. Just be sure to follow my tips and launch a well-thought-out strategy. In no time you will gain viewership and make your mark on IGTV.
Come and ride this wave with me! There’s room for all of us to succeed!
