Instagram Trends You Need to Know This Year

Instagram is constantly evolving, and staying on top of the trends can be overwhelming. The platform is expected to reach 1.2 billion users by 2023, making it a crucial marketing channel for businesses and individuals alike.

Reels have become a staple on Instagram, with users creating and sharing short videos that can range from 15 to 60 seconds in length. Did you know that Reels can increase engagement by up to 22%?

Instagram's algorithm favors content that performs well in the first few hours after posting, so timing is everything. If you post during peak hours (12 pm - 4 pm), you're more likely to get noticed.

Influencer marketing is still a key player in the Instagram game, with 71% of marketers using influencer partnerships to reach their target audience.

Here's an interesting read: Viral Marketing Trends Tiktok Instagram

Using trending audio is a great way to increase your chances of being favored by Instagram's algorithm. It's simple to find and can be used for just about any Instagram content.

To find trending audio, use Instagram's native Reels publisher or browse the Reels feed and Explore page, where you can watch for repeating audio, formats, or effects.

You can also check your professional dashboard, specifically the Inspiration section, to see reels tailored to your niche. If you have a business or creator account, this is a great place to start.

If you want to get ahead of the game, you can scout TikTok for early trends, using their Creative Center or browsing trending videos to spot formats and audios before they reach Instagram.

If this caught your attention, see: Seo Trending

Instagram regularly updates interactive Story stickers, so be sure to check-in on the new features available to stay up-to-date.

Frames, Cutouts, and Reveals are some of the latest Instagram trends, making your content more engaging and helping to communicate a message or call to action.

To experiment with Story stickers, test out multiple kinds of stickers to see what works best with your audience. This will help you determine what stickers your viewers respond most to.

Use an analytics tool like Hootsuite to track those metrics and see which stickers are performing well.

Broaden your view: How to Add Stickers on Instagram Stories

On average, users post 15 times per month on Instagram, which is a lot of content to sift through. Instagram users have a short attention span, with the average watch time for videos being just 8 seconds.

Most content on Instagram is visual, with 48% of posts being photos, 34% being videos, and 18% being carousels. If you're looking to stand out, consider using a mix of these formats in your posts.

Only 9% of posts include caption links, so make sure to include a link to your website or other relevant content in your posts. Collaborations are also rare, appearing in just 1% of posts, so don't be afraid to partner up with other accounts to reach a wider audience.

Most posts on Instagram don't include mentions, with a staggering 84% of posts not including any mentions. This means you can get creative with your captions and not worry about tagging other accounts.

Here's a breakdown of the types of content on Instagram:

This data is based on a study of 45,700+ Instagram profiles and 4.4 million posts from 2024.

To create engaging content on Instagram, consider using short-form video reels and photo dumps. These formats cater to the audience's preference for bite-sized content, making them a strategic component of effective Instagram strategies.

Video reels should be not only entertaining but also informative or educational about your products or services, experimenting with different formats like behind-the-scenes clips or how-to guides.

For photo dumps, curate a series of images that tell a story or capture candid moments related to your brand, maintaining a balance between high-quality, well-edited reels and more authentic, spontaneous photo dumps.

Adding audio to your images is a great way to make them more engaging and increase your chances of being favored by Instagram's algorithm. You can find trending audio to use with your images, just like you would for videos, by using Instagram's native Reels publisher or by scrolling through the platform.

Trending audio is simple to find and can be used for just about any Instagram content. You can add music to your images to make them more engaging for viewers. Keep in mind that songs don't have to be new to be a great fit - you can use older songs too.

Additional reading: How to Find Reels on Instagram

Here are some benefits of adding audio to your images:

Remember, adding audio to your images is a great way to stand out and increase engagement on Instagram.

Captured Moments Collage is a creative way to share your brand's story. Instagram has made it easy to create a collage of captured moments by allowing you to upload a series of images as a carousel.

You can curate a series of images that tell a story or capture candid moments related to your brand. For example, a photo dump can showcase a behind-the-scenes look at your product development process.

A collage of captured moments can be a great way to share your brand's personality and showcase your products or services in a more unfiltered way. By sharing a collection of images, you can provide a quicker glimpse into your world and keep your content fresh and engaging for your audience.

To create a collage of captured moments, experiment with different formats and keep a balance between high-quality, well-edited images and more authentic, spontaneous shots. This combination will help you stand out and keep your audience interested in your content.

Curious to learn more? Check out: How to Share Instagram Reels

Creating engaging content for social media platforms can be as simple as sharing a photo of your outfit. The "Outfit Of The Day" trend has been around for years, with people sharing their daily fashion choices and using hashtags to connect with others.

You can start by taking a snap of your outfit in front of a mirror, just like you would take a selfie. The key is to be authentic and have fun with it.

The best part of sharing your outfit is seeing the trends over the years by trawling back through the hashtags. You might laugh at some of the outfits you thought were cool back in 2009, but who knows, maybe overalls will make a comeback again.

Inspirational quotes are a wildly popular trend on Instagram, where people crave authentic quotes that connect with them on a deeper or funnier level.

To tap into this trend, you can create quotes that resonate with your audience, whether it's about breakups, empowerment, or encouragement.

Remember, the goal is to create content that makes your audience feel understood and connected to you.

Here are some benefits of using inspirational quotes in your content:

Captions often play a bigger role than we give them credit for, carrying the conversation and adding depth to your content.

Research shows that the optimal caption length for Instagram is over 300 characters, earning 70% more comments than shorter ones.

The conventional wisdom that today's audience only wants bite-sized content is actually flipped on its head, with the highest-performing captions telling a mini-story and ending with a question that feels natural to answer.

A great caption doesn't just share, it invites, getting your audience thinking, feeling, and wanting to join the conversation.

Starting with something attention-grabbing, delivering value, and finishing with a question is a winning formula for engaging your followers.

A caption is your chance to spark a connection, start a conversation, and ask questions that feel genuine.

Keep it human and be mindful of your followers' experience.

Intriguing read: Caption for Instagram Reels

Videos have a significant edge over photos on Instagram, reaching 49% more audience on average, as opposed to carousels and photos, which only reach 34.08% of the content.

The reason for this is that videos get shared more, and when your content gets shared, more people see it. Brands share content that surprises, entertains, or provides value quickly, like a funny meme or a new trend.

To make the most of this, design your reel like a Super Bowl commercial – make every second count! Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds with a bold question, surprise, or energetic statement that makes them want to share it.

Aidan Brannigan, Founder of No Boring Brands, has seen this firsthand, growing The Marketing Millennials from 19k to 145k followers using 66.67% Reels and the rest with carousels and single-image posts. Reels are the ultimate growth driver for Instagram accounts.

In fact, videos between 60 to 90 seconds long perform the best, getting shared 24% more and reaching way more feeds than their shorter or longer siblings. This perfectly timed videos are crushing it, and it's not too short, not too long, just right!

A unique perspective: Instagram Not Uploading Stories

Feed Posts are a great way to share content on Instagram, and they can be very effective in getting your message across. A single image can be a powerful way to convey a message, especially if it's a high-quality photo.

To make your Feed Posts stand out, don't be afraid to get a little silly and include memes, just like the adorable baby hippo meme that went viral. This can be a fun way to entertain your audience and make your content more engaging.

Including alt text when sharing memes is also a good idea, as it makes your content more accessible to a wider range of people. This is a simple step that can make a big difference in how your content is received.

Here are some tips for creating effective Feed Posts:

By following these tips, you can create Feed Posts that are both entertaining and informative, and that will help you connect with your audience.

Not every current Instagram Reels trend is worth your time. If a trend feels forced or totally off-brand, skip it. The goal isn't to go viral at any cost – it's to show up in ways that feel smart, authentic, and true to what you're all about.

Trends are tools, not a to-do list. If you're feeling stuck, ask yourself a simple question: Is this something I'd want to send to a friend? According to Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, the platform values and pushes reels that people find worth sharing.

Using trending audio can be a good idea, but only if it makes sense for you. If a trending audio feels forced, don't use it. Instead, focus on creating content that connects with your followers. Consistency is key, as we'll explore in the next section.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before jumping on a trend:

Remember, the goal of content creation is to show up in ways that feel smart, authentic, and true to what you're all about.

Hashtags can be a powerful tool for getting discovered on Instagram, but they're not as effective as they used to be. In fact, research shows that posts without hashtags reached 23% more people than those packed with them.

You can use hashtags to organize your content or make it more discoverable, but less is more. Try using 1-2 relevant hashtags per post, and focus on writing an engaging caption that captures your audience's attention.

If you're looking for hashtag ideas, you can use tools like Owlywriter AI or Hootsuite's free AI hashtag generator. You can also explore relevant hashtags by looking up keywords like #bicycle or #cycling, and scrolling through the results to see what's trending.

Here are some tips for using hashtags effectively:

Using relevant hashtags is a great way to increase your brand's visibility on Instagram. You can find out what kinds of trends other brands in your industry are hopping on by doing a deep dive into hashtags.

For example, if you're a bike shop, you can explore hashtags relating to bicycle content like #bicycle, #cycling, #mountainbike, #gravelbike, and #bikelane. This will reveal the hottest trends in your industry.

You can use tools like Hootsuite's free AI hashtag generator to get relevant hashtag ideas. Simply input your brand's niche or keywords, and the tool will suggest a list of relevant hashtags.

Here's a list of some popular hashtags in the bike industry:

Remember to keep your hashtags relevant and don't overload your posts with too many. Using 1-2 relevant hashtags per post is a good rule of thumb.

Tagging others on Instagram can significantly boost your reach and engagement. Posts with mentions increase your reach by 2x and drive 30% more engagement.

Mentions signal to Instagram's algorithm that your content is valuable, which increases its chances of being shown in feeds and explore pages. This interaction is the social media equivalent of word-of-mouth.

Tagging the right people can double your reach and increase the visibility of your business. You can see how your industry is doing on Instagram by checking the article.

Instagram carousels are a great way to boost engagement, and now you can add up to 20 images and photos per post.

To keep your audience engaged, make sure your carousel content is thoughtful and diverse. If the first few images are too similar, you'll likely lose their interest.

Carousels outperform videos and images, with 22.73% higher engagement, making them a great way to keep your audience swiping and learning.

Here are some tips to increase engagement with your Instagram carousels:

Boosting engagement on Instagram requires creative and thoughtful content. Instagram carousels are a great way to do this, and now you can add up to 20 images and photos per carousel post.

The more images you include, the more opportunities you have to engage your audience. In fact, Instagram now allows up to 20 photos and videos per carousel post. This means you can create a mini-story with every slide, keeping viewers interested and engaged.

To avoid losing your audience's interest, make sure your carousel content is thoughtful and diverse. If the first few images are too similar, you'll likely lose their attention. Try posting a photo dump that shows your brand's authentic and fun side.

Here are some key tips for creating effective carousels:

By following these tips, you can create engaging carousels that keep your audience interested and swiping.

Something to take the edge off is all about showcasing self-care, relaxing routines, or unwinding moments. These can be humorous, like @marksmith22 opening and smelling a new can of tennis balls – if you know, you know.

Effective for: Wellness, humor, low-stakes joy

Difficulty level: 4/10 – Lean into the weird and wonderful

Posting on Instagram is all about finding that sweet spot. Consistency builds trust, but it's quality that matters more.

You might be wondering how often to post, but the truth is there's no magic number. Our data shows that posting 5 or 15 times a week doesn't make a substantial difference in reach or interaction.

Recommended read: How Are People Posting 15 Pictures on Instagram

Posting too often without meaningful content can overwhelm your audience, so it's better to post as often as you can create quality content. Whether that's three times a week or once a day, consistency and variety in what you post are key.

Trust is built when you consistently share quality content that connects with your followers. It's not just about how often you post, but about being top of mind and interacting with your audience.

Lily's words ring true: "Consistency builds trust, but quality matters more. I prioritize value over frequency." She's right, the power of your content lies not in its quantity, but in its depth and substance.

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Building a strong brand and community on Instagram involves several key strategies. One effective way to increase your brand's perceived value is by leveraging user-generated content (UGC) through branded hashtags. For example, jewelry brand Mejuri uses #mymejuri, and users tag their content the same way.

To cultivate a brand community, engage in genuine interactions with your audience. Respond promptly to comments and direct messages, showing your audience that their voice matters. This can be done by creating exclusive content for your most engaged followers or hosting live sessions and using interactive story features like polls and question boxes.

Brands can also expand their reach by doing brand collaborations and partnership posts. This involves co-creating content with other brands or influencers and sharing it on their respective Instagram accounts. By tapping into each other's audiences, brands can broaden their appeal and engagement.

Being sustainable is a trend that's here to stay. People are embracing values like co-consciousness, supply chain ethics, and sustainability, and it's a good thing to show how your brand is walking the earth-friendly talk.

Make sustainable choices whenever you can, and share the behind-the-scenes details to encourage others to do the same. This is exactly what the influencer did in the example Reel, and it was very successful on social media.

You don't need to be up-to-date on pop culture references to be sustainable – you just need to be mindful of your environmental impact. This trend is easy to follow.

Some trends are okay to fake, but this one isn't. Be sure you're actually making the sustainable choice that you say you're making, because social media detectives will always uncover the truth.

To make sustainable choices, consider the following tips:

The secondhand T-shirt merch made by the influencer was a great example of a sustainable choice that was very successful on social media and sold out in real life.

Creating a loyal and active community on Instagram is key to making your brand more relatable. Engaging with your audience meaningfully fosters a sense of belonging, making your brand more relatable.

Respond promptly to comments and direct messages, showing your audience their voice matters. This is especially important for creating a loyal and active community on Instagram.

For your interest: When Are People on Instagram the Most

Engage in genuine interactions to cultivate your community. You can create exclusive content for your most engaged followers, perhaps via a "Close Friends" group or through special giveaways.

Consider hosting live sessions and using interactive story features like polls and question boxes to enhance engagement, including AMAs (Ask Me Anything). This can help you understand your audience better and create content that resonates with them.

If monitoring audience engagement consumes too much time, consider using social media customer service software. This software integrates seamlessly with Instagram and all your other social channels through an API, allowing you to manage and attend to your followers efficiently.

Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind:

Short-form content is a game-changer for brands. Video reels have emerged as a dynamic way to showcase personality, products, and services.

Engaging and brief presentations, these quick, creative videos cater to the audience's preference for bite-sized content. They're a strategic component of effective Instagram strategies.

Photo dumps promote spontaneity and authenticity by sharing a collection of images in a single post as a carousel. This provides a more unfiltered, genuine, and quicker glimpse into the brand's world.

To excel in this trend, create reels that are both entertaining and informative. Experiment with different formats, like behind-the-scenes clips, how-to guides, or product highlights.

Your reels should be high-quality and well-edited, while your photo dumps should feel more authentic and spontaneous. This combination will keep your content fresh and engaging for your audience.

In 2024, incorporating direct links within Instagram content has emerged as a critical social media strategy. You can now tag your products and services via direct links in posts and stories to guide followers to product pages.

This functionality bridges the gap between discovery and purchase, making it easier for users to buy the products they see and like on Instagram. To master this trend, leverage Instagram's shopping features.

Ensure your products are correctly tagged in posts and stories, providing a direct pathway for immediate purchases. Keep your product catalog updated and integrate your website or eCommerce platform with Instagram.

Use compelling visuals and creative storytelling techniques in your posts and stories to make your products irresistible. This not only simplifies the shopping experience for your audience but also significantly boosts your sales potential.

Here's a quick rundown of how to get started:

Collaborations can multiply your reach on Instagram. Absolutely, as per our insights, posts with 4-5 collaborators have 3.8 times higher reach than standard posts.

The best collaborations happen when both sides believe in the same values but offer different strengths. This can be seen in a fashion brand pairing with a photographer or a fitness coach working with a nutritionist.

Aidan says, "Our ClickUp partnership reached 3M accounts monthly; timeliness and relatability were key." This speaks to the power of strategic collaborations when done right.

In 2024, brands have realized the importance of collaboration and partnership posts to expand reach through shared traffic from mutual followers. These collaborations involve two or more brands or influencers co-creating content and sharing it on their respective Instagram accounts.

Partner posts can vary from joint promotions, challenges, and giveaways to co-branded content or shared experiences. These collaborations often lead to enhanced engagement, as they bring together diverse followers to participate in branded challenges and contests with overlapping interests.

Memes have become a staple of social media, with 55% of 13-to-35-year-old individuals sharing them every week and 30% sending them daily.

To succeed in meme marketing, you need to stay current on trends and understand the humor that resonates with your audience. This will help you create or share memes that align with your brand voice.

Creating or sharing memes that align with your brand voice is key to connecting with your followers more personally and less formally. This approach showcases your brand's personality and keeps it relevant and attuned to contemporary internet culture.

Incorporating your products or services subtly into these memes can boost engagement and enhance brand recall. The aim is to be relatable and entertaining, encouraging shares and discussions among your followers.

To avoid ridicule, make sure your memes are tasteful and appropriate. This will help you build a positive relationship with your audience and establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry.