Understanding and Monetizing IG Guides
Instagram Guides are available to explore! That is, for users who know what Guides are and how to make money using Guides. This post is for brands and creators who want to understand what Instagram Guides are, and how Instagram Guides can be used to monetize content.
What are Instagram Guides?
I’ll explain the new feature and provide tips for monetizing your Guides. This post is for brands and influencers looking to understand and monetize with Instagram Guides.
Long-form content sharing curated by the user.
“Scroll down” flow of content.
Simple and easy was to share and consume helpful recommendations and tips.
3 different Guide formats to create:
Places
Products
Posts
For the first time, brands and creators can create long-form content similar to a blog post, without adding the oh-so-tired phrase, “link in bio” to caption text.
Instagram Guides is an excellent feature for creators who share tips and advice on Instagram. It is incredibly excellent because creators don't need to redirect traffic to a blog or another website.
If you want to learn more about a specific post, just tap on the image or video to view the original Instagram post. You can also share your Guide or another account’s Guide to your story by tapping the share button.
Less than four days ago, Instagram Guides became available for all users to create. (See my first Guide below!)
3 Different Categories
Instagram Guides have a list presented to the user by choice from different types of guides, and they are available in three different types: "Guides Types," "Guides of the Day," and "Guides of Instagram.”
3 Different Formats
Posts Format: Used to curate a thread of Instagram posts, with catchy headlines, and commentary.
Products Format: Used to curate products available in the Instagram Shop and promote them.
Places Format: Allows people to share location-based recommendations, from city guides to shops and bars.
Whether you choose to create a post, product, or places Guide, Instagram Guides should resemble a blog post by having text, photos, galleries, and videos illustrating the topic. Guides can contain photo galleries or videos accompanying the text to explain the topics discussed.
Monetizing Guides
For Brands and Influencers looking to understand, create, and monetize with Instagram Guides, read on.
Brands, these monetization tips are for you:
For brands working with influencers to build their social presence, brand authority, and revenue, Instagram Guides will make influencer marketing tactics dramatically easier.
For brands not currently working with influencers, try reaching out to industry and niche-specific influencers to share your Guide. You may pay a niche influencer a fixed amount to simply share your Guide in their Stories.
Brands can also ask influencers to create a Guide featuring their brand products.
Influencers, these monetization tips are for you:
For influencers currently engaged in contracts with brands, use Guides as an opportunity to give them added value. Try sharing one of your brand’s Guides on your account via Stories.
Make sure you tag the brand and DM the brand the Story so they are aware of your “above and beyond & unpaid” effort. (This should only take about 1-2 minutes.)
For influencers looking to partner with new brands, try creating a Guide specifically on the target brand’s products.
Remember to bring the Guide to the brand’s attention via DM and tags so you grab their attention.
Add a message in your DM along with the Guide you created for free. Never miss an opportunity to share your voice and express your love for the brand.
Decide how much money you want to charge to create a Guide for a brand. This is especially important as holiday shopping is already upon us.
Web Traffic or Instagram Engagement?
Will web traffic decrease as engagement increases with Instagram’s newest feature, Instagram Guides?
As much as I love this new feature as a marketer and an influencer, I do worry about what we will lose in order to gain with Guides. Instagram Guides keeps users on the Instagram platform. Instead of having a link in your profile directing users to a specific website your post caption points them to, Guides provides the user with everything they need (even the ability to purchase!) without leaving your feed.
Guides will certainly increase engagement and reach. But, will it decrease website traffic overtime? For now, let’s discuss what Instagram Guides are, and make an analytics prediction later.
Guides viewers will see curated posts and videos that combine helpful tips and advice from the creators. If you have any questions about Instagram Guides, please share them in the comments below. Starting today, you can try out a new way to discover people's recommendations on Instagram.
About Hailey Feldman
Hailey Feldman photographed in her West Palm Beach, Florida apartment before going to dinner in Palm Beach.
Hailey Feldman is a Brand Marketing Influencer specializing in brand positioning strategy writing that take businesses, brands, products, services, and personalities to market. Hailey’s personal website and blog offers free content about branding and marketing. Hailey’s website also provides content about her life in West Palm Beach, Florida, her competitive show jumping, classic chic style, passion for high-end fashion, and more.