Instagram Gets Into The Long Form Video Game With IGtv

What a great time to launch IGtv with the news of Instagram reaching 1 billion users.  Instagram is finally ready to compete with YouTube in the long form video game.  You can access IGtv  from a button inside the Instagram home screen, and also a standalone app.  IGTV will showcase popular videos from Instagram celebrities.  Instagram is letting everyone who wants to be a creator become one, not just celebrities on Instagram.  Almost everyone will be able to create up to one hour long videos, but accounts that are new or have smaller followings can not create hour long videos, but in the future will be able to as well. If you aren’t on Instagram get on and at least try the features. With rapid changes and additions to the app, your target audience is most likely spending time on this social media platform.

Instagram will be letting creators build Instagram Channels that are made up of their different videos for people to subscribe to.  You will be able to link from IGtv video descriptions to destinations of your choice which adds additional value.  You can also promote IGtv videos through Instagram Stories by linking to videos from stories to cross promote with Story teasers of the videos and link directly to be able to view more.

On the dedicated IGtv app the whole experience will be focused on featuring the videos.   You will be able to browse through different types of long form videos in the dedicated app.

Right now there aren’t any ads on IGtv so enjoy while it lasts.  Eventually, Instagram will offer a way to monetize videos for creators.  Instagram will not be paying creators for videos directly like Facebook has been doing.

The advertisers will be lining up with spends moving away from traditional TV ads.  Going where the attention is a time proof marketing strategy.  In shear volume of content IGtv may not catch YouTube, but it is promising for creators that are offered another popular avenue to promote their long form content.