I just got back from Instagram unfiltered in NYC, and wow—there’s a lot of exciting stuff happening on the platform that you need to know about! 

This is part one of two posts so make sure you look out for the next one on this site. 

Instagram invited me to get up to speed on all the latest things including their new Best Practices hub inside of the app, Meta AI and they also commissioned me to create a Reel all about the event (look out for that soon!) 

Here’s the scoop on what’s working right now, so you can make the most of your time on IG:

Carousels Are King (With a Twist):
Video-first is the way to go! Start your carousels with a video, add some music, and mix in photos. This combo keeps people swiping and engaging with your posts. 📲

I tried that with this NYC dump and it worked really well for me!

Stories are like your close friends circle
Think of Stories as chatting with your friends and family. Keep it real and relatable. And if something does really well there, turn it into a Reel or share it on Threads! And don’t forget the Notify sticker—it’s a great way to let your followers know when you’ve posted again!

Reels = New Audience Potential:
Reels are perfect for reaching new people and sharing behind-the-scenes moments. 🎥 You don’t need a perfectly curated grid anymore—just focus on making content that others can recreate. The sweet spot? 30-45 seconds. And make sure to reply to comments in those first few days—more engagement means more reach!

If you’ve got any questions or want to chat about how to make the most of these updates, just let me know! 

Catch part 2 HERE.