Instagram is expanding its commitment to creators with a series of updates to its professional dashboard. The platform is introducing new tools to facilitate creator collaborations and broadening its Threads bonus program.
By allowing creators to publicly express their interest in partnerships, the platform is committed to build a more connected community.
The photo-sharing app has introduced an “Open to Collaborating” feature to help creators connect and collaborate. By toggling this option in their Professional Dashboard, creators can signal their availability for partnerships. This visibility, both on their profile and in direct messages, makes it easier to find potential collaborators and build new connections.
Accessible through the Professional Dashboard, this tool simplifies the search for potential collaborators and can lead to innovative content, drive user engagement and increase platform growth.
Let’s look into the specific features and how they benefit both creators and the platform.
Creator Collaborations
Housed under the ‘Your Tools’ section, the new collaboration feature allows creators to indicate their openness to collaborations, similar to LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Work’ function. By toggling on this setting, creators can increase their visibility to potential collaborators through both their profiles and direct messages.
The platform hopes this tool will streamline the process of finding compatible partners and build new creative connections.
Purpose
Using the ‘Open to Collaborating’ status, finding creative partners on Instagram will be easier for creators. This feature is designed to seek new collaborations and expand opportunities for content creators.
How To Enable The ‘Open to Collaborating’ Status
To activate the ‘Open to Collaborating’ status, follow these simple steps:
- Access your Instagram Professional Dashboard.
- Locate the “Collaboration” option.
- Select “Open to collaborating.”
- Confirm your choice by selecting “Set status.”
Top Benefits of Collaboration
Collaborating with other creators offers a powerful way to expand reach and audience growth. By partnering with individuals who have different follower demographics, creators can introduce their content to new audiences and get more followers and engagement.
How does Instagram simplify the process of finding partners? By matching you with similar profiles, Instagram helps boost creative innovation, increase user engagement, and strengthen its position as a hub for content creators.
As the feature rolls out to a wider creator base, the platform and its users will gain valuable insights into its impact on collaboration and community building.
Reels Best Practices
In light of its recent algorithm update prioritising “sends-per-reach,” Instagram is equipping creators with essential Reels insights. Accessible within the professional dashboard’s ‘Your Tools’ section, alongside the new collaboration feature, these guidelines offer a roadmap to Reel success.
Instagram recommends a consistent posting schedule of at least 10 Reels per month, focusing on deeper engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments. Authentic, relatable content is key, while adhering to a 30-60 second format and leveraging trending audio can boost visibility. High-quality video is also emphasised as a crucial factor.
By following these best practices and exploring the detailed guidance available on the dashboard, creators can optimise their Reels performance and capitalise on Instagram’s evolving algorithm.
Threads Bonuses
Threads is expanding its creator bonus program beyond the initial test phase. The platform has confirmed it’s inviting a wider pool of creators to participate, aiming to incentivise content creation and boost platform engagement.
However, the program is facing some hurdles. While previous guidelines indicated a 2,500-view threshold for bonus eligibility, recent invitations suggest a lower bar of 750 views. This discrepancy has left many creators confused about the program’s requirements.
According to an email sent to Andrew Curry, VP of Digital Strategy for LA Magazine, Instagram told Curry “You’re eligible to earn money by posting threads with text that receive 2,500 or more views each.”
But if you look a few lines below, the email also claims creators can “earn up to $500 by posting threads that receive at least 750 views each.”
Instagram’s Help Centre does state “the details of the bonus programme may vary by participant.” But the stark contrast between 2,500 views and 750 is puzzling, to say the least.
Threads is doubling down on engagement strategies as it touches its first anniversary. Still grappling to carve out a distinct identity beyond its Twitter-like origins, the platform is facing pressure to retain and grow its user base.
Meanwhile, Instagram’s creator collaborations seems to be picking up pace not just among individual creators but also brands and company pages.
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