We could write a “New Features” blog each month, but instead, we’ll save you the reading time and compile the latest goodies into one article – and share how retailers can use the latest tools appearing on social media!
When we see a platform investing resources into a channel, feature, or content type, we think it’s a good idea to have a heavier focus on that thing! This shows the platform that we are watching and listening to what they are investing in, and we’re happily using the new features/content types that they have worked hard to develop. This often also means that there aren’t a ton of social media users using this new feature or content type yet, which may help to get your content some extra eyes. The algorithm tends to push posts that are using the features they want more people to use to the top of the feed, as it helps get some eyes on their latest feature.
Today, we are covering 4 new engagement stickers on Instagram:
A.I. Backdrop, Frame, Notify, and AI Stickers!
A.I. Backdrop
I’m starting with this one because it is my favorite right now! The A.I. Backdrop tool allows you to replace portions of your Story image with your own prompts. Let’s say I upload a picture holding a beaded handbag: I could use the A.I. backdrop tool to replace the background of the image with a scene of a sunny beach, using a prompt. This is essentially an easy and fun way to place your products or your team members in any setting you’d like, giving you a personalized stock-image feeling with a fun twist!
TIP: Use this tool to help place the product in a realistic environment, to help the customer imagine it in their own lives. Whether that product will be heading to the beach, or placed on a shelf, you can customize your product images to look more realistic!
Frame
This is the newest feature of the bunch, and I first noticed it in April 2024! This sticker allows you to choose an image from your camera roll, and it will add a polaroid-style frame to the image, where you can also add a caption. The user will have to gently shake their screen to “reveal” the image you have posted to your Story, which is a great way to “stop the scroll” and have the user do an action to view the content!
As a retailer, this could be a great way to showcase items you snap photos of at market, and share in the caption when they are expected to land in your store. You could share throwback images of your store or team, or just upload pictures around town! Remember, the date the photo was taken appears on the Frame!
Notify
You’ll often hear this sentence at the end of a YouTube video: “Tap Subscribe and click on the notification button to get notified when I post new content”. Well, Instagram users are in luck, as there’s now an engagement sticker that allows viewers to easily click to get notifications when your account posts new content! Add the Notify sticker to Stories and ask your followers and mega fans to tap it to never miss a post!
A.I. Stickers
This feature is a great way to create personalized stickers for your Stories to help create unique content that also uses a new feature! I first noticed this new feature in October 2023. So, check your Story engagement stickers to see if you have this feature yet. If you don’t, it should be coming to you soon!
You can combine any number of words to create personalized icons to place on your Story, essentially like GIFs that no one else has used! We have used some funny prompts and the sticker spits out a selection of pretty accurate icons to go along with our request, including “Giraffes Pulling Santa’s Sleigh”, “Daylight Savings on Main Street”, and “A.I. Helping To Market Main Street!”
If you don’t have one of the stickers mentioned above, you can always check to see if you have the latest version of the app. Go to your app store and search “Instagram”. If it says “Update”, you can proceed to update your app and see if this loads the latest new features. If it says “Open”, then you have the latest version, and you’ll have to sit tight until this feature is released to you. Features often get released in batches, and I normally see them on my personal Instagram, even weeks or months before receiving them on the Crystal Media Instagram! They are going to a phone near you soon enough!
What I Want You To Take Away From This Blog:
- Using new features can help you gain momentum in the algorithm.
- Using A.I. features can help make content creation easier and quicker.
- Use engagement stickers weekly to engage your followers.
Okay, over to you…
Which of these new engagement stickers on Instagram have you already tried out! Let us know in the comments below!
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