Instagram Guides

the easiest feature you have to try

By Tonneli Grüetter 

What Is Instagram “Guides”?

“Guides” on Instagram is an effortless way to reshare existing images and videos, sorted in curated collections, that can be displayed right between the icons for long-format IGTV videos and tagged images at top of your profile home screen. In short, “Guides” is part blog and part highlight reel. Best of all, “Guides” does not require you to create new content, and it is so easy to use you will wonder why you may have not already adopted this new feature.

FIVE WAYS TO HAVE FUN WITH INSTAGRAM “GUIDES”

1.  LOVE THY NEIGHBOR(HOOD)

Using the “Places” feature, you can make a Guide for shopping the neighborhood surrounding your business. Try it by first typing in your own business name or a location your business is frequently tagged at. Next, select up to five geo-tagged images that represent you best. Repeat with at least one other neighborhood business such as a café or storefront that has supported your growth. On the cover page, craft a bold title to lure in new viewers, and finish in the description with a short caption or blog entry hyping all the best-kept neighborhood secrets highlighted in your Guide.

2. CLAIM YOUR SHARE OF TOURISM-BASED TRAFFIC

The next time there is an exciting event scheduled in your area, get ahead of the ball by creating a visitor’s Guide titled to entice travelers with a catchy and to-the-point headline. Using the “Posts” or “Places” options, select a collection of content to complement the event. Be sure to include yourself! Next, create a blog-post-style description for your Guide designed to interest tourists who will certainly look to social media for tips when planning their visits.

3. HIGHLIGHT YOUR PORTFOLIO

In the deeply visual world of Instagram, there is nothing wrong with a little self-promotion. Create an enticing “Posts” Guide using pictures you have already shared of your favorite floral designs, or select from saved posts shared publicly by customers highlighting your work, to create a portfolio that shows off your capabilities. Use the caption area to display strength in customer satisfaction, creative process or technical expertise.

4. BUILD BUZZ AROUND AN UPCOMING HOLIDAY

Big summer holidays like Fourth of July and Canada Day are just around the corner. Get a leg up on your competition by creating the perfect gift list that is shoppable right in-app. By utilizing the “Products” Guide feature, you can learn how to capture new customers who value convenience. You can also curate tailor-made shopping collections for a variety of seasonally relevant themes or staggered price points. Suggesting well-paired items together from your business can lead to higher check-out totals, boosting your bottom line.

5. GIVE THE GIFT OF EDUCATION

Take control of customer satisfaction by creating a “Posts” Guide highlighting your favor- ite flower-care-themed posts. As florists, we all know the vital role that proper care and handling plays in ensuring that our blooms last as long as possible, but passing on this important knowledge to customers is not always so easy. Teach your customers about using clean vases, trimming stems, using flower nutrient solution and changing it often, and more, without ever lifting a finger to create a photo or video of your own. To highlight expert flower-care advice, start by hitting the “Save” bookmark icon on posts themed to keeping flowers fresh, then collect into a flower-care Guide. Pro Tip: Visit the profiles of your favorite flower-care product pages, such as Chrysal USA and FloraLife, to find picture-perfect posts on this topic already made and ready to share.