Instagram recently introduced the ability for users to share up to 10 photos in a single post. Available for ads and organic content alike, it rolled out to users Feb. 22.
With this update, you can select up to 10 images or videos to include, similar to how albums work on Facebook. Galleries are marked with a series of gray dots at the bottom of the first image. Users swipe left to view additional photos or videos, and likes and comments apply to the whole post.
Previously, sharing such a high volume of content at once would clog followers’ feeds — a big no-no that’d lose you followers, especially for businesses.
It’s a straightforward update, but it allows businesses to leverage visual content to keep their viewers’ attention like never before. Want some inspiration before you try it out? Read below for examples of how your business can take advantage of this new storytelling feature:
Use multiple photos to tell a story.
A picture’s worth 1,000 words, right? Well, now you can multiply that by 10. The best content on Instagram tells a story without just relying on captions. Provide context to your content with before-and-after shots or fleshed-out storylines.
Example: NCAA’s March Madness account detailed NKU’s record-breaking tournament run.
,
Highlight a product or service.
Let your product or service speak for itself. With this update, you no longer have to choose the single best photo or video to show off your newest menu item or latest classic car repair job. Top-notch video-editing skills are no longer necessary to feature multiple angles or zooms in a single post.
Example: Levi’s showed off their 1976 501 Mirror Jean from the silhouette down to the rivets.
,
Showcase user-generated content or your team.
As on other social networks, your followers and team members love the recognition they get from being featured by you. Give a shout out to any group that contributes to your online presence or behind the scenes at your business each day.
Example: Pottery Barn Kids featured customer photos to celebrate #InternationalWomensDay.
,
Get your followers involved with contests.
Previously, you could feature multiple photos using Layout or another clunky collage-making app. That method could, at best, leave your photos looking pixelated and, at worst, come off as campy. Still, they were a necessary evil for many contests. Now, treat your followers to a gallery of voting options, tied together by an overarching caption with instructions.
Example: Murad Osmann posted the finalists’ photos in their #FollowMeTo competition, asking followers to weigh in.
Which business do you think is using Instagram’s new gallery feature best? Leave a comment below to tell us how you’ll be incorporating this strategy into your Instagram content plan.
