Let’s take a look at what’s changing, how it impacts you, and tips to make the most of each update for your small business!
• What’s Changing: You’ll soon see view counts on all posts—not just Reels. You’ll get insights into how your photos and carousels are performing too!
• Why It Matters: This is a game-changer for planning your content strategy. You can track what’s working and what’s not across all formats.
• Try This: Experiment with different types of content to see what resonates most with your audience. And don’t worry - you’ll have the option to turn off this feature if you’d rather keep it private.
• What’s Changing: Instagram will now notify users when someone takes a screenshot of their DMs.
• Why It Matters: This adds an extra layer of privacy and might make everyone think twice before snapping that chat!
• Try This: Keep things professional in your messages - it’s a good habit anyway! And remember your customers privacy before sharing a conversation.
• What’s Changing: It’s an end of an era! We’re saying goodbye to square posts and your feed will soon shift to a 4x5 portrait format, taller than the usual 4x4 square.
• Why It Matters: Taller posts take up more screen space and will be more dominant on a feed which could boost engagement.
• Try This: Start resizing your visuals to fit the upcoming layout so you’re in the habit and your posts are optimised when this rolls out.
• What’s Changing: No more circle highlights under your bio! Highlights are getting their own tab, just like Reels.
• Why It Matters: It’s a neater, more organized way to showcase your story content. Perfect for businesses to create themed albums!
• Try This: This is a good time to reassess your story highlights and plan them strategically - think product categories, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes content. What content collections do you want users to be able to browse through seamlessly?
• What’s Changing: You’ll soon be able to schedule direct messages.
• Why It Matters: Perfect for planning follow-ups, reminders, and promotions without lifting a finger in real-time.
• Try This: Use this feature to send messages during peak engagement times or to follow up after events and campaigns. Something like a new product launch can be a intense time but you don’t want to miss out on Someone has shown interest in your upcoming product launch - schedule a direct message to be sent to them right after you share the product launch.
• What’s Changing: A new feature lets you test Reels with a random group of users before fully publishing.
• Why It Matters: It’s a chance to tweak your content based on feedback before it goes live.
• Thoughts: While testing is helpful, don’t overthink it! Posting authentically is better than waiting for perfection. Even if your content doesn’t resonate with everyone, it will with the right people.
• What’s Changing: New fonts and text animations are coming to Reels!
• Why It Matters: These updates make it easier to create visually engaging content.
• Thoughts: New creative tools are always exciting but wouldn’t it be great if Instagram let us save brand colours and font presets for easy, on-brand content creation? Fingers crossed!
Instagram’s updates for 2025 are setting the stage for even more creative and strategic opportunities for small businesses. Whether it’s experimenting with new content formats, optimising your feed for the upcoming layout changes, or using tools like scheduled messaging to stay ahead, there’s something here for everyone.
Remember, these updates aren’t just about adapting—they’re about growing. Use them to connect with your audience in meaningful ways, showcase your brand’s unique voice, and elevate your overall presence on the platform.
As always, the key to success on Instagram is staying authentic. Test, tweak, and try new things, but don’t forget the value of genuine interactions and storytelling.
And If you’d like to get organised with some content prep, why not dedicate some time and make a booking for the Native Space Studio? You can book a slot for our Peterborough studio here!
