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Ksenia is a Russian woman who loves food and cats, so she’s decided to bring them together using her Photoshop skills. It started as a hobby, but now has become an Instagram account with more than 87,000 followers.
Check out an assortment of her finest furry creations:
If you like what you see, it’s worth following her Instagram account: @cats_in_food.
We recently reported that Facebook will start adding interactive elements to video content, and it seems that Instagram is also going to start doing something similar. Passively consuming content from social media can have an adverse effect on a person’s wellbeing, so Facebook believes drawing users in and making them active participants in the content will have a positive impact.
Android Police reports that the interactive elements will come via a new questions feature in Instagram Stories. Yes/no polls have been a part of Instagram Stories for some time now, but according to the report Instagram is testing open ended-questions. Rather than just clicking to answer, users will be able to type out custom responses to the questions posed.
Instagram has recently rolled out a brand new app, IGTV, for long-form video content, and Instagram Lite for use on older or slower smartphones. That isn’t all, the Stories feature also received a pretty massive update with the addition of music stickers that play officially licensed music from the world’s top acts. This newest addition would fit into a recent trend of Instagram innovation that has seen the app break through 1 billion active monthly users.
These interactive questions are still very much in a test phase, and Instagram is yet to comment officially on their implementation. They haven’t rolled out around the world yet, and they may see some changes before they’re released to a wider audience. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Instagram Stories has been an incredible success for the hippest of all the social networks. Stories has grown a monthly active user base of over 400 million people. People love sharing their Stories on Instagram and the social network has responded by continuously adding more and more features. Stickers, locations, GIFs and more have been added over time and Instagram is adding a really cool new Stories feature. You can now post stickers on to your Instagram Stories that play officially licensed music.
Instagram promises that the biggest songs from the biggest acts are available via the Music sticker and that more and more songs will be added every day. Putting licensed music into your Instagram Stories couldn’t be easier. Let’s walk you through it.
When your friends see your story, they’ll hear the part of the song you picked. They’ll also see the music sticker telling them the name of the song and artist.
Will you be adding some officially licensed music to your Instagram Stories?
We have Android Go, and the subsequent release of lighter Google Go apps like Gmail Go and YouTube Go. We also have Facebook’s versions, Facebook Lite and Messenger Lite. These are all meant to be stripped down versions of the most popular apps, optimized to work on less powerful devices and take up less storage space. We can now add Instagram Lite to the mix, which has just been released by parent company Facebook.
The regular Instagram app takes up 32MB of space on a mobile phone, but the new Instagram Lite comes in at a mere 573KB. 32MB might not sound like a lot, but if you’ve only got 8GB in total, minus the space needed for your operating system, you’ll be grateful for every single byte of space you can squeeze out of your apps.
In terms of features, the Lite version of Instagram gives users the ability to upload and view photos and Stories. Lite users will also have access to Instagram’s Explore tab. On the flip, there is no ability to share videos on Instagram Lite, and there is no direct messaging option. These exclusions will no doubt be because the app is likely to be used on devices with limited storage capacity, slow access to the internet and restrictive data plans. The core Instagram experience is there, however, which will be great news for social sharers with low-end mobile devices.
For now, Instagram Lite has only received a limited release so that testing can continue. It is currently only available in Mexico, with a spokesman telling Tech Crunch:
“We are testing a new version of Instagram for Android that takes up less space on your device, uses less data, and starts faster.”
The rest of the world will see the app later this year, and there is a chance Instagram might add more features like messaging and video, depending on how the early tests go.
We’ve explained how to earn money on Instagram by attracting sponsorship from businesses and brands. Today, we’re going to look at the figures: how much can you earn?
Since it was created in 2011, Instagram has been one of the fastest growing social media platforms. With over 800 million accounts, and a reported 500 million daily users, Instagram is a marketer’s dream.
Brands continue to pour more money into sponsorship and advertising as they reach out to Millennial and “Gen Z” audiences. Currently, the influencer market size is estimated at $1 billion, and expected to double by 2019.
Those with more than 100,000 followers can earn $700-$900 per post. Those with 500,000 followers can command $2,000 to $3,000 per photo. To understand how, let’s take a look at some examples.
With 2.8 million followers, veteran travelers Jack and Lauren are the epitome of high-flying influencers. Their account documents their journey to destinations all over the world, and with that sort of reach and engagement, they can work with anyone they want.
Morris told Cosmopolitan he once earned $9,000 for a single post on Instagram. He added that he won’t post for less than $3,000, and will only work with brands that resonate with him.
With 2.3 million followers across social media, Elma (former lawyer) and her sister Amra (former economist) have built an Instagram empire based on travel and fashion. They told Business Insider that when they started back in 2013 they were charging around $99 per post. Now, with each of their posts averaging around 30,000 likes, they say they can charge brands up to $20,000 for a sponsored link.
With 181,000 followers, Emily & Corey aren’t quite as big as the accounts above, but they have an extremely dedicated fanbase who love #vanlife, and are moved by Emily’s inspirational attitude. Quitting their jobs and buying a van to travel across the world, the couple has worked with many different brands, promoting chocolate, probiotic drinks, and kettle chips.
While they might not be able to charge as much as others, their super-engaged audience means they can earn between $1,000-$2,000 per post. More importantly, GoWesty, a parts supplier for the VW van that the couple drive, sponsors their vehicle and does all the repairs for free, making their lives on the road that much easier.
How to earn money with Instagram
Launch your influencer careerAlthough it might seem random, there is science behind a post’s potential value, and a formula for working it out. According to Social Media expert Eduardo Morales, the breakdown is:
Instagram post’s potential value = Engagement Rate + Follower Growth Rate + Follower Demographic and Lifestyle Match – Sponsored Post Promotion Rate
A simpler way of working out your potential value is to plug your handle into the Instagram Money Calculator.
If your followers are far fewer than the examples above, you can still earn money on Instagram as a micro-influencer.
How to become a brand ambassador on Instagram
Find out nowVery few of us will earn a fortune for posting pictures of our dinner. However, brands and businesses often find themselves priced out of the market with Instagram’s highest paid superstars.
Enter the micro-influencer.
If you’ve got 20k followers and a high engagement rate, you’d be surprised how many businesses would be eager to speak to you, particularly if the demographic and lifestyle of your followers is in line with the brand’s own values.
There are some great examples of micro-influencer campaigns from brands like Banana Republic.
It’s not just about the cash. Growing your influencer base and working with brands and businesses might result in you grabbing some free merchandise, or getting the opportunity to test products before everyone else. If you have a brand that you love, getting all of their stuff for free is a pretty sweet deal.
In a bid to make sure you never leave Instagram for a minute, the social network now offers you the ability to video chat with your friends. Here’s how it works…
First, go to your Instagram inbox. A quick right-swipe takes you there. Then use the search box to locate your friend or just open any previous message thread. Tap the camera icon in the upper right corner. Your friend’s phone will ring and the video chatting can begin.
Instagram says you can video-chat with four people at once. What’s interesting is that you can minimize the video chat and do other stuff on Instagram, like send messages to other friends, browse your feed, or post a story. So if you see your pal on the video chat looking really distracted, that’s because she’s looking up the latest Kardashian post instead of paying attention to you. It’s 2018. If you’re not multitasking, you’re missing out.
And speaking of the Kardashians, you can’t initiate a video call with Kendall unless she follows you on Instagram, too. Sorry.
Instagram is launching IGTV, a new hub where content creators can showcase up to 60 minutes of video content. IGTV is not supposed to be to be a direct competitor to the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or HBO; but rather an attempt to take on YouTube. The onus will be on well-made user-generated video content created by the people who are most familiar with the Instagram platform.
We first reported on Instagram’s plans for video at the beginning of the month when a report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that the social network was thinking of removing video time limits. Since then, Tech Crunch reported that the platform will be launching today, June 20. Instagram has been meeting content creators all week to discuss the creation of videos that are much closer to the 10-minute length commonly found on YouTube.
SCOOP: Instagram launching Snapchat-like vertical video TODAY
Video length: 15s to 60 mins
File size: upto 3.6GB
File type: .MP4
Video size: 9:16
Video thumbnail / cover image: .JPGLikely to be officially launched @ 6pm UK (Wed 20 June) pic.twitter.com/bEcMp9fLjG
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) June 20, 2018
Tech Crunch also revealed various details about the types of videos that Instagram will on allow on IGTV. Videos will be vertically oriented, and content creators will be able to upload 4K videos up to an hour in length. They’ll be available in a centralized hub, which we know will be called IGTV. There’ll also be options for creators to link out to their own social media and web platforms, but the social network will also offer a revenue sharing system. More info will follow on the partnerships Instagram has fostered over the last week, and examples of the types of content we’re likely to see on IGTV
Instagram Stories are the photo-sharing social network’s attempt to muscle into Snapchat territory. Stories allow users to post temporary images and videos of their shenanigans that disappear once they’ve been displayed. They enable people to share more risqué experiences than they’d share on their permanent timeline. To ensure this added level of privacy, in February, Instagram began testing a feature that notified users if their Stories had been screenshotted and who had done it. Instagram has now announced that this feature is no longer active.
This means that all you have to do if you want to screenshot somebody’s Instagram Story secretly is follow your phone’s regular screenshot process.
Instagram hasn’t said why this change has happened or explained whether the feature was popular or not. There are two ways to look at this. You’ll either be happy if you’re the type of person who enjoys capturing those moments that people think shouldn’t be given away permanently. Or, If you enjoy knowing that you can share videos and images on Instagram Stories as a one-time deal, then this news might creep you out, and affect your sharing habits.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this development. Are you a sharer or a lurker? Let us know in the comments below.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook is considering removing video length limits on Instagram. The change would mean that people publishing videos on Instagram could start sharing videos up to an hour in length. This is yet to be confirmed, however, as the report in The WSJ says that the big wigs at Instagram are still on the fence and may decide against the change.
At the moment, there is only one way to share videos longer than a minute on Instagram, and that is by live streaming. Other than that, videos in Instagram Stories can be up to 15 seconds, with main feed videos having the one minute limit.
Instagram Stories has been very successful, with Tech Crunch reporting over 300 million daily active users of the feature back in November. The Stories feature allows users to upload temporary narratives that can include images, stickers, and videos. Many people see it as a direct knockoff of what Snapchat offers, and it looks now like Instagram might be about to start copying YouTube too.
This move towards longer video makes sense for Instagram, and The WSJ reported that they’ve already started discussing partnerships with professional content producers. Facebook has long been pushing premium video content, but with younger users preferring Instagram to Facebook, these efforts will have escaped millions of social media users. If Instagram decides to push ahead and remove video time limits, it’ll surely be a bid to recapture this younger audience and earn the higher yield ad revenues that come with longer video content.
The decision is still very much up in the air, but according to the WSJ report, if Instagram does make the change, users won’t need to download a new app. The longer form videos will be hosted on the main Instagram app.
Would you like to see longer videos on Instagram?
In an increasingly digital world, there are countless ways to earn some cash on the side, and maybe – if you’re lucky – turn a passion or hobby into a full-time job. Anything from blogging to drawing webcomics can earn you a fortune if done right. Even posting on Instagram.
Yep, you read that right. You can earn money just from posting your pictures on Instagram. Seems crazy, but it’s simply a case of finding your niche, and marketing it well.
So, could you earn money from your Instagram posts? While it’s unlikely you’ll reach the dizzying heights of the world’s highest-paid Instagram stars (unless you’re planning on becoming a Hollywood A-lister anytime soon) it’s still possible to monetize your Instagram feed with a bit of planning.
Almost all of the cash that’s earned on Instagram comes from sponsored posts, where brands and businesses pay a user to promote their product in a paid-for post. So, how can you get a slice of that action? Let’s look at some helpful tips on how to earn money from your Instagram posts.
An obvious point, but you must have a large number of followers to be considered by sponsors. But how large is large? The biggest and highest-paid stars have 1 milion+ followers, but you don’t necessarily need that many to get paid. Recently, we have seen the rise of the micro-influencer, smaller accounts with less than 20k followers, which brings us to our next point.
How to become a brand ambassador on Instagram
Find out nowAlthough followers are important, what’s more important is your followers’ engagement – the number of people who view your posts and click the links. If you’ve only got 20k followers, but your engagement rate is 5 percent, that can be very appealing to businesses and brands. They would pay less to advertise and get a higher rate of return than an account with a million followers but only 1 percent engagement.
Businesses are even more interested if you have a well-defined, dedicated, and unique fan-base. But how do you get these fans?
You’ve got to…
According to figures released by Instagram, the app has over 500 million daily users. Why should any of them check your account? You have to stand out. This means putting some thought into your profile, and what you post on it.
Choose a profile picture that really encapsulates your channel, and make it pop. Write a strong bio, that sums up who you are and what you do. Why not use some emojis on your bio? Pictures tell a thousand words, and a carefully placed airplane emoji has more impact than writing “I fly around the world in airplanes”.
Next, think about your channel’s purpose. Cooking tips? Traveling advice? Yoga instruction? What makes you different from all the other users who post stuff exactly like you? You need something to differentiate you from everyone else, while still being familiar enough for people to latch onto. This can be as simple as an open attitude to travel and health, or as complicated as only posting pictures of floors or doors.
What’s important once you’ve found your niche, is to be consistent. If you only post pictures of doors, don’t suddenly switch it up to cats – your users will wonder what’s going on. Businesses want to give money to reliable accounts that deliver consistent results, and one of the best ways for them to find you is if you’ve become a consistent source of great content.
People either overlook hashtags, or do them badly – #blessed #lit #justsaying – but when used well, hashtags can help grow your fanbase, and connect you with businesses and brands.
Using the five dot trick, you can hide those unsightly #tags from your post, but still include as many as you like. This helps your posts reach the widest possible audience. Remember, mix it up – try adding ten general tags, five to connect with other accounts, five for the location of the picture, and five for the picture itself. Get creative, but try not to go too over the top, #k?
Remember: be patient, and be consistent. If your content is great, and you keep on working to connect with more fans and followers, eventually businesses will begin to reach out to you, and you might be one of the lucky people who get paid just for posting pictures. Good luck!
