Instagram has announced another new feature that people are really going to like. Users will now be able to follow specific hashtags on the widely popular social media platform. This, along with being able to follow profiles, with posts using those tags appearing in your main feed, is going to open up new opportunities for Instagram being a discovery engine.
Instagram explained it like this:
“Following a hashtag is just like following a friend. To get started, search for a topic you’re interested in or tap on a hashtag from any post. You’ll see relevant hashtags displayed in your search results along with related accounts. When you find a hashtag you like, open the hashtag page and tap on the ”Follow” button. You’ll begin seeing top posts from that hashtag in your feed and some of the latest stories in your stories bar. You can always unfollow a hashtag at any time.”
What does this mean?
Being able to follow hashtags directly in Instagram will allow communities to find each other better. It also will allow customers to find specific products or services that they are in need of, without hassle. This may also lead to people being more specific with their hashtags. For instance, instead of just using #marketing, it would be smarter to use #marketingtips or #marketingadvice. The more popular a hashtag is, the more likely your post will get lost in the shuffle. Being more specific will hit a smaller audience who is more likely to follow your page and hashtag.
Why the change?
Instagram is also looking to expand. Although the platform is photo-based, it wants to show users that it can offer more than a pretty picture. Instagram for marketing is on the rise. Users, marketers, and influencers are active and Instagram has taken notice. They want to expand into realms that we aren’t even aware of yet.
Instagram is constantly testing new features and adding new functions to the mobile-friendly social media site. This is only the beginning for the changes that we can expect from Instagram in 2018, especially with a video being the main focus.
Are you excited for all the changes Instagram is making?
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