Instagram TV (IGTV) is Instagram’s long-form video platform and can be a great tool for your brand’s Instagram marketing strategy.

Launched in June 2018, IGTV has a few different elements that make it stand out:

  • Longer than Instagram stories. Normal users can upload videos up to 10 minutes long. Verified users can upload hours of videos.
  • Standalone platform. You can watch IGTV videos through your Instagram app, but it comes with its own standalone app designed for creators who really want to take advantage of the platform.
  • Improved discoverability. In early 2019, Instagram allowed its creators to share one-minute previews of IGTV videos in their feeds. This allows users to grab the attention of their audience without having to leave the Instagram app.

One of the best ways to take advantage of IGTV? Create an IGTV series. This is a regular series of videos that your brand will release on a schedule every week, month, or (if you really like to post content) every day.

Instagram announced its new series tools in the fall of 2019.

It allows brands and influencers to create different series (just like on TV) and post them on a separate IGTV page. Like YouTube’s video notifications, followers and fans can sign up to be notified when a brand they follow uploads a new video.

Let’s go over exactly how you can set up a series on IGTV, make it a success, and run through a few examples of great IGTV series in 2020.

Note: In October 2021, Instagram merged IGTV and feeds the videos into a single video format: Instagram Video. The IGTV profile tab has been replaced by the Video tab. All Instagram videos can now be up to 60 minutes long, and standard post editing features are available for long-form video content. Learn more about Instagram Video.

How to set up a series on IGTV?

To help you set up your IGTV series, start with this short, helpful video on how to use the platform through Moyens I/O Academy.

There are three ways to set up a series on IGTV:

  • Via the Instagram app
  • Via the IGTV app
  • via your desktop

Let’s move on to how to do both.

How to set up IGTV via Instagram app

tap on cross button under your homepage feed.

You will be sent to your photo and video gallery. Select a video longer than 60 seconds that you want to add to your IGTV series.

Instagram then gives you two options to share your video:

  • Short video. These are videos of up to 60 seconds that you can share on your profile.
  • Long video. These are videos longer than 60 seconds that you can share on IGTV. A preview of it will appear in your feed.

To choose Long video and click Go on.

Then you will be able to choose the cover image from the video itself or from your gallery. This will appear as a thumbnail of your video in your audience’s IGTV feed.

After choosing your cover image, tap . Next.

Fill in your video’s information, including a title and description. From here, you can also add it to your series by tapping on it. Add to Series. Do it now.

If you don’t have an IGTV Series yet, create one by tapping on it. Create Your First Series.

Fill in information about your directory, including its title and description. Next blue check mark in the upper right corner.

After you fill everything out and add it to your series, you can edit the preview and profile cover in your Instagram feed. You also have the option to make it visible on Facebook and Facebook Watch.

When you’re done, tap . to mail in the upper right corner and voila! You just created your first IGTV series and uploaded your first video in one go!

How to set up IGTV in the IGTV app

This process will look pretty similar to the Instagram app. Start by going to your IGTV app.

From your home feed, tap . cross button in the upper right corner.

Select a video longer than 60 seconds that you want to add to your IGTV series.

Then you will be able to choose the cover image from the video itself or from your gallery. This will appear as a thumbnail of your video in your audience’s IGTV feed.

After choosing your cover image, tap . Next.

Fill in your video’s information, including a title and description.

From here, you can also add it to your series by tapping on it. Add to Series. Do it now.

If you don’t have an IGTV Series yet, create one by tapping on it. Create Your First Series.

Fill in information about your directory, including its title and description. Next blue check mark in the upper right corner.

After you fill everything out and add it to your series, you can edit the preview and profile cover in your Instagram feed. You also have the option to make it visible on Facebook and Facebook Watch.

When you’re done, tap . to mail in the top right corner and you’re done!

How to set up IGTV on desktop

go Instagram.com and login to your profile.

Then go to your profile and click. IGTV.

click To upload Under “Upload a Video”.

From here you can choose a video between 1 and 60 minutes to upload to your IGTV series. Choose a cover photo for your video, along with a title and description. When you’re done, click on to mail and you’re done!

Elements of a successful IGTV series

While there are many different elements to make a good IGTV series, here are three that we recommend you implement to engage your viewers.

Get their attention fast

To engage your audience, you need to engage them. Do this by getting their attention in the first 30 seconds of the video.

According to Wistia, this is the time that matters most in videos.

Put something appealing or irresistible in front of your video. Perhaps you are asking an interesting question? Or maybe you’re making a promise to your audience that they’ll learn or see something if they keep watching?

The possibilities to be creative are endless. As a result, they depend on your audience and the goals of your videos; this is us…

Plan ahead

While it may be tempting to just turn on your camera and start shooting, good storytelling is all about planning and plot.

That’s why you need to make sure you know what you want to convey in your video and how it will affect your audience.

Draw the beginning, middle and end of your video. Maybe even make a script?

Include the setting, what you really want to say, and who will say it. This way, you’ll create videos that engage and excite your viewers, while conveying a clear message.

Use relevant hashtags

As of January 2020, you can’t just search for a topic on Instagram and find a video on that topic. Instead, you have to search for channels or specific brands.

It’s annoying, yes. But there is a way around it: Hashtags.

By adding a relevant hashtag to the description of your series’ videos, you ensure that your videos appear on the hashtag page on Instagram and are discovered by non-followers.

5 of the best IGTV series in 2020

Looking for IGTV series to inspire you? Here are five we recommend watching:

So delicious

So Yummy is a food channel that shows its followers how to create delicious recipes through engaging and beautifully shot videos. Really. Three seconds into any of these videos and your mouth will be watering all over your phone.

(Sorry, too gross?)

They also have more than 10 million followers due to a small portion of their videos.

BBC news

BBC News has a wide variety of videos, from Royal Family drama to climate change to designer prosthetic legs. Each of their videos is also great at getting viewers to be part of the conversation with CTAs that encourage them to comment. Not bad for an almost century-old public service broadcaster.

Lele Pons

Former Vine star, YouTube and Instagram personality turned Lele Pons boasts nearly 39 million followers, many of whom watch her fun and engaging IGTV channel. A series to note is the cooking show “What’s Cooking With Lele Pons,” in which it gives a comedic twist to your typical recipes.

NASA

It’s no surprise that the agency dedicated to exploring the depths of space is brimming with Instagrammable material. What’s surprising is the fantastic IGTV assets, especially “What’s Up?” sequences. this provides viewers with videos that focus on different “stars, comets, planets, and other celestial events” occurring that month.

Buzzfeed

Buzzfeed is another brand that always highlights great and engaging content. IGTV series are no different. A series to consider: Buzzfeed Animals. So, come on. See this content:

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