How to Use Instagram Guides

Brade TylerFebruary 7, 2024Last Updated: February 14, 2024

Using Instagram Guides is like discovering a hidden treasure in the world of social media. This feature, often overlooked by casual users, holds immense potential for businesses, influencers, and everyday Instagram users alike.

Instagram Guides offer a unique way to share curated, scrollable content with your audience. Whether you’re a seasoned influencer aiming to share your favorite spots around the city, a brand showcasing your products, or a fitness enthusiast sharing workout tips, Instagram Guides can elevate your Instagram game.

This article will serve as your compass, guiding you on how to use Instagram Guides effectively. We’ll explore what Instagram Guides are, how to create them, and how to optimize them for maximum engagement. By the end of this journey, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to use Instagram Guides to their full potential.

So, let’s embark on this exciting journey and unlock the power of Instagram Guides together. Stay tuned for a comprehensive guide that will transform the way you use Instagram. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Understanding Instagram Guides

Instagram Guides is a powerful feature that allows users to create a series of posts with commentary, which can be about places, products, or posts. This feature was initially introduced in 2020 to provide resources for mental health, but it has since expanded to all users and can cover any topic.

There are three types of Instagram Guides: Places, Products, and Posts. Each type serves a unique purpose and can be used in different ways:

Places Guides: These guides allow you to recommend places to your followers. You can share your favorite local businesses, travel destinations, or any place that you think your audience will find interesting.
Products Guides: If you’re a business or influencer, this type of guide is perfect for you. You can showcase your products or share reviews about products you love. This is a great way to drive sales and engage with your audience.
Posts Guides: These guides allow you to curate your posts around a specific theme or topic. This can be a series of tips, a collection of your best posts, or a step-by-step tutorial.

Understanding how to use these different types of Instagram Guides effectively can significantly enhance your Instagram strategy. Now, we’ll dive deeper into how to create and optimize each type of guide.

How to Create an Instagram Guide

Creating an Instagram Guide is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app on your device and navigate to your profile.
Access the Guides Feature: Tap on the ‘+’ icon at the top right corner of your profile. From the options that appear, select ‘Guide’.
Choose the Type of Guide: You’ll be presented with three options – Places, Products, and Posts. Select the one that suits your needs.
Add Content to Your Guide: Depending on the type of Guide you chose, you’ll be prompted to add relevant posts, products, or places. You can add content that you’ve shared on your profile, or content from other users if it’s a Places or Posts Guide.
Write Your Guide: Each item you add to your Guide can have a title and a description. Use this space to provide valuable commentary or instructions.
Publish Your Guide: Once you’re satisfied with your Guide, tap ‘Next’ in the top right, then ‘Share’. Your Guide is now live and visible on your profile!

Remember, Instagram Guides are all about providing value to your audience. Whether you’re sharing product recommendations, travel tips, or educational content, make sure it’s high-quality and relevant.

Optimizing Your Instagram Guides

Optimization is key to making your Instagram Guides more effective and engaging. Here are some tips to optimize your Guides:

Choose the Right Title and Description: The title and description of your Guide are the first things your audience will see. Make sure they are catchy, informative, and include relevant keywords.
Use High-Quality, Relevant Images: Images play a crucial role in attracting and retaining your audience’s attention. Ensure that the images you use in your Guide are of high quality and relevant to the content.
Select the Best Posts or Products for Your Guide: The posts or products you choose to include in your Guide can make or break its success. Choose posts that are popular, relevant, and align with the theme of your Guide.
Update Your Guide Regularly: Instagram Guides are not a ‘set it and forget it’ feature. Regularly updating your Guide with new content can keep it fresh and engaging.
Promote Your Guide: Don’t forget to promote your Guide on your Instagram Story, in posts, and on other social media platforms. The more visibility your Guide gets, the more engagement it’s likely to receive.

Promoting Your Instagram Guides

Once you’ve created and optimized your Instagram guide, the next step is to promote it. Here are some effective strategies to increase the visibility of your guide:

Share Your Guide on Your Instagram Story: Instagram Stories are viewed by a large portion of Instagram users daily. Sharing a preview of your Guide on your Story can pique your followers’ interest and drive them to check out your Guide.
Promote Your Guide in Your Posts: You can create a post about your new Guide. Use an engaging image and caption to attract your followers’ attention.
Cross-Promote on Other Social Media Platforms: If you have a presence on other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, don’t hesitate to share your Guide there as well. This can help you reach a wider audience.
Collaborate with Other Influencers or Businesses: Collaboration is a powerful tool on social media. Consider partnering with influencers or businesses in your niche to promote each other’s Guides.

Analyzing the Success of Your Instagram Guides

Understanding the performance of your Instagram Guides is crucial for improving your future content. Instagram provides a range of insights that can help you measure the success of your Guides.

Views: This metric shows how many people have viewed your Guide. A higher number of views indicates that your Guide is reaching a wide audience.
Shares: This shows how many people have shared your Guide with others. If your Guide is being shared widely, it means that your audience finds your content valuable and worth sharing.
Saves: This metric indicates how many people have saved your Guide for later. A high number of saves suggests that your Guide is considered a useful resource by your audience.

By regularly monitoring these metrics, you can gain valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t for your audience. Use this data to refine your strategy and create more engaging and effective Instagram Guides.

Conclusion

We’ve embarked on a comprehensive journey exploring how to use Instagram Guides effectively. From understanding what Instagram Guides are, to creating, optimizing, promoting, and analyzing them, we’ve covered it all.

Instagram Guides are a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your Instagram strategy. They provide a unique way to share curated, scrollable content with your audience. Whether you’re a business, an influencer, or an everyday Instagram user, Instagram Guides offer immense potential.

Remember, the key to success with Instagram Guides, as with any social media feature, is to provide value to your audience. Choose high-quality, relevant content for your Guides, optimize them for maximum engagement, promote them effectively, and regularly analyze their performance to refine your strategy.

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge and confidence to use Instagram Guides, it’s time to start creating! Unleash the power of Instagram Guides and transform the way you use Instagram.