your November trends and news recap

Oh November! What a fun month–between Friendsgivings, time with family, and (of course) prepping for the holiday season, I'm sure we can all describe ourselves as 'busy.' So, because I know how *busy* we all are, I'll cut to the chase and catch you up with our trends and news so you don't have to spend time digging around!

trend alert: responding with a REEL

We know that boosting your engagement is a consistent goal each month. One way we’ve found to do this is by responding to comments with a REEL. This allows your audience to get answers or feedback directly from the source. It also lets you show your personality to potential customers or clients!

how to use it:

Instagram has made responding with a REEL foolproof. You just go to your comments and hit “Reply with REEL.” Then you can video yourself answering their questions, using it as a prompt for a series, or as a way to introduce a new product.

trend alert: work-life balance

I've been seeing a lot of work-life balance content on my feed recently. Whether it's a REEL showcasing pre or post-work routines, or carousel posts with time stamps of someone's day, people have been prioritizing showing the other side of their life–not just work.

how to use it:

Create a REEL titled 'my 5 to 9 after my 9 to 5,' and show your audience what your after-work routine looks like (that you're comfortable with sharing). Film yourself cooking dinner, going on your evening walk, watching your favorite show, etc. This will build trust with your audience!

Instagram update: post boosting

Instagram has expanded its post-boosting capabilities, offering even more ways to boost your posts. Previously, certain posts were ineligible for boosting due to Meta’s system limitations and copyright considerations. But now, Instagram has opened the door for a wider range of content to be boosted directly in the app, allowing you to reach even more potential followers and customers.

how to use it:

Head to your profile and select the post you'd like to boost. Tap the “Boost” button located below the post, and you'll be prompted choose your goal, define your audience, and select a budget. Once all the details are filled in, you can boost your post as if it was an ad. This is a great way to get started with advertising without jumping into the murky waters of Meta Ads Manager, and literally takes 5 seconds to do!

Instagram news: video quality

In a recent Q&A session on Instagram Stories, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared insights into how video quality for stories and REELs is adjusted based on engagement levels and user connection speed. Instagram aims to provide the best possible video quality, but if a video hasn't been watched in a while, the platform may reduce its quality since most views happen shortly after posting. 

how to use it:

Video quality is something we never want to suffer. Some things to keep in mind are making sure your connection is good to go and the internet speed is high, another is to boost engagement. My favorite way to boost engagement is simply responding to comments. This may seem simple but it is effective! This makes your audience feel included and wanted by you on a personal level. Encouraging them to keep commenting on your posts.

And just like that, we can wrap up November in a cute little orange bow. Wishing everyone the happiest start to their December and I’ll be back next month to do this all over again!