There are so many different ways to share content on Instagram these days- posts, reels, and stories. It can be hard to keep track of all the differences between them! In this blog post, we will break down each format and discuss the pros and cons of using them. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of which format is right for you and your business!
Post – Horizontal Format,
Up To 60 Minutes.
Posts are the traditional way of sharing content on Instagram. They appear in your followers’ feeds and can be up to 60 minutes long and include 10 images. You can also add filters, tags, and locations to your posts. The big advantage of using posts is that they are familiar to everyone who uses Instagram.
In 2021 Instagram got rid of IGTV and extended the length of videos you can post on your feed from 60 seconds to 60 minutes. While this allows your videos to be accessed in the same place as photos this update increased the production time for creating feed content.
The downside of posts is that they can be easily missed in users’ feeds. With the introduction of reels, posts are starting to feel a little bit old-fashioned. They are also limited in terms of format. All images and videos must be sized appropriately for Instagram.
Reels – Vertical Format, Up To 60 Seconds.
Better For Entertaining Content.
Reels are a newer way of sharing content on Instagram. They are similar to posts, but they can be up to 30 seconds long and include music, effects, and other creative elements. Reels are designed for people who want to create fun, entertaining content. They are perfect for businesses that want to show off their products or services in a new and exciting way. Like its competitor TikTok, the Reels feature is great for getting your content in front of a new audience. High-performing Reels can help you attract new followers and even bring in new customers if you’re posting from a business profile. Meta recently announced that Reels is the “fastest-growing content format” on Facebook and Instagram — meaning that it’s growing more quickly than older features like Stories, Watch, and feed posts. The company says Reels is also now the biggest contributor to engagement growth on Instagram — meaning it is where people’s likes, comments, and shares are increasing the most.
The downside of Reels is that they are designed for shorter content which means they are not ideal for relaying detailed information. While it may be a great way to show putting together a charcuterie board it would not be a good option for a technical explanation. Additionally, Reels are only available on the Instagram app- so your desktop users may miss out on your content.
Story- Vertical Format, Up To 15 Seconds.
Disappears After 24 Hours.
Stories are a way of sharing content that disappears after 24 hours. They can be up to 15 seconds long and can include photos, videos, effects, and stickers. Stories are perfect for sharing quick updates or behind-the-scenes content. Unlike posts and reels, stories do not appear in your followers’ feeds. Instead, they are accessed by clicking on your profile picture.
The advantage of using stories is that they are less formal than posts and reels. They are also more likely to be seen by your followers since they appear at the top of their feed.
Stories are a way of sharing content that disappears after 24 hours. They can be up to 15 seconds long and can include photos, videos, effects, and stickers. Stories are perfect for sharing quick updates or behind-the-scenes content. Unlike posts and reels, stories do not appear in your followers’ feeds. Instead, they are accessed by clicking on your profile picture.
Summary
| FORMAT | LENGTH | LOCATION | LIFE SPAN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POST | a width of at least |
Picture |
Followers feed & on Profile |
Permanent on Profile |
| REELS | aspect ratio of 09:16 |
30 Seconds |
Reels Tab |
Permanent on |
| STORY | 1080 pixels wide by |
15 Second Video or Picture |
Top Feed |
24 Hours |
So, which format should you use? It depends on your goals and what kind of content you want to share. If you want to share quick updates or behind-the-scenes content, stories are a great option. If you want to share creative, entertaining content, reels are the way to go. And if you want to share traditional, in-depth content, posts are still the best option. No matter which format you choose, make sure your content is engaging and informative! Your followers will appreciate it.
Do you have any questions about using Instagram for business? Please reach out via the form below.