Sometimes progress can boomerang. Gen Z is bringing back bootleg jeans and “vintage” butterfly hairpins (please don’t let low-rise jeans come back). SNES emulators have become a hit thirty years after their initial launch. And now Meta has brought back traditional one-way radio-style advertising in the form of broadcast channels.
In this article, we’ll take you through how broadcast channels work, how to join and create them, and how they can help creators and social media managers connect with your audience.
What are the broadcast channels?
Broadcast channels are a public, one-way communication tool for creators to message their followers on Instagram.
Posts on broadcast channels are like a mix of a standard post and a custom message. It’s public like a post but more casual like a DM. They feel a bit like a one-sided Instagram conversation, like Instagram notes that don’t disappear.
Broadcast channels can be used to disseminate news, updates, thoughts or insights to the public using texts, photos, videos, voice notes, and polls. Followers can interact by reacting to content and voting in polls.
Meta has started rolling out broadcast channels on Instagram, but stay tuned: new feature will Press Messenger and Facebook. There is no official timeline for Meta channels yet, but Zuckerberg and his team assure that it won’t be long.
In addition, after the first announcement of Instagram’s broadcast channels, it did not take long for them to open.
How broadcast channels work
Broadcast channels work as a one-way form of communication. Creators post updates on their broadcast channels, and followers can react to news using emojis or vote in the published poll. Most importantly, followers cannot comment on any updates.
Currently, you must be a content creator to post on Instagram. And you can access broadcast channels only from mobile, not desktop.
When you create an Instagram feed channel, your followers will receive a notification to join your channel. You’ll also have access to a “join channel” tag in case you want to promote your channel in your Stories. And you will get a link that you can share, so make sure you pin your link to your profile.
Creators with subscriptions can set their audience. You can either choose “all followers” or create a special channel for your paid subscribers.
How to join a broadcast channel
As long as you follow the creator, you can join the broadcast channel.
Step 1: Find the channel you want to join
You will receive a notification when someone you follow creates a broadcast channel. Tap this notification to go to the broadcast channels section.
You can also find stream channels in creators’ Stories or occasionally on their profiles. Alternatively, you can have a friend send you an invite link to a creator’s channel you want to join.
Step 2: Go to the creator’s channel you want to join and tap it
Step 3: Shoot Join the broadcast channel
When you join a channel, you can find it in your Instagram inbox alongside your other threads.
Step 4: Interact with emojis
If you want to react to a channel update, you can press and hold the message you want to reply to. Then select an emoji you want to reply to.
Step 5: Share your favorite channels with your friends
You can share broadcast channels with others, just invite link icon in the top left to copy the invite URL.
How to create a broadcast channel?
If you are a content creator, you can create a broadcast channel for your followers. It’s as easy as sending a DM, but instead of slipping into that sweetie in the blog’s messages, you’re sending your thoughts to all of your followers.
Step 1: Go to your message center
Go to your message center by pressing the button. aeroplane symbol
or word bubble
in the upper right corner
Step 2: Create a message
shoot me pen symbol
in the upper right corner
Step 3: tap Create broadcast channel
This will open a new broadcast channel.
Step 4: Personalize your channel
Choose a channel name, your target audience, and whether you want to advertise your channel on your profile.
Step 5: Go live!
Hit Create broadcast channel at the bottom of your screen to broadcast your channel.
Step 6: Start publishing content
It’s time to start sharing this exclusive content with your followers! Remember, they can’t reply to you, so make sure your updates are clear and easy to understand.
Frequently asked questions about broadcast channels
Broadcast channels are fairly new, but that’s what we can answer right now!
What features do Meta’s broadcast channels have?
Currently, creators can use text, voice notes, photos, videos, and polls. Soon, creators will be able to invite another creator to the channel for discussion and collect questions from viewers, for example, for an AMA.
When will broadcast channels be available to everyone?
It’s unclear whether Meta will give non-creators access to post their own Instagram channels. But in the past, they’ve made popular features available to everyone, so we’ll have to wait and see!
Save time managing your social media presence with Moyens I/O. Publish and schedule posts, find relevant conversions, engage your audience, measure results, and more, all from a single dashboard. Try Moyens I/O for free today.
