New Grid Layout

Instagram updates have officially shifted things from the familiar 1:1 aspect ratio to a 4:5 format for photos and graphics, with the recommended size now 1080×1350. This long-awaited update has disrupted many content strategies, leaving older graphics cropped or poorly formatted.

Moving forward, ensure your photos and graphics are sized at 1080×1350, while the grid view will display them at 1012×1350.

• Reels remain at 1080×1920 with a grid view of 1080×1440.
• Stories stay at 1080×1920 with a safe area of 1080×1610.

If these Instagram updates haven’t appeared on your profile yet, make sure your app is updated. However, keep in mind that Instagram often rolls out changes gradually.

Before vs. After the Instagram Updates

Other Updates You Should Know:

Reels Can Now Be Up to 3 Minutes Long

Video content is the new trend, especially with the growth of TikTok over the years. Now, on Instagram, you can upload a Reel that is up to 3 minutes long. Most experts recommend keeping your Reels shorter (ideally between 15 seconds and 1 minute) since longer videos tend to have lower engagement due to shorter attention spans on social media. 

However, having the option to post a 3-minute Reel gives you more room and freedom to share whatever you’d like, especially if it’s a compelling story.

Notes Feature for Instagram Stories

Back in 2022, Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, announced that users post more stories and send more DMs on Instagram than they do traditional feed posts. However, from a business standpoint, posting to your feed is still important, according to Mosseri:

“For the vast majority of creators, posting to Feed is going to be the best way to reach as many people as possible because Stories are designed to connect people with their friends.”

But then, Instagram also revealed that 50% of feed posts are generated by AI. So, does posting on the feed still help you reach more people?

Stories are a great way to engage with your audience and share timely content. It never hurts to give it a shot and check your stats on the backend. The more engagement your stories receive, the higher they’ll appear in users’ stories displays, which in turn drives even more engagement. Over time, this can be a powerful way to strengthen connections and build a stronger community on the app.

Instagram Will Now Show Your Friends Which Reels You’ve Liked

Instagram updates have introduced a new feature that allows users to see which Reels their friends have liked. This is particularly important for businesses and creators who engage with content from other accounts. Be mindful of your interactions, as they are now more visible to your audience.

Instagram’s New Editing App: Edits

The TikTok ban that has been put in place also includes banning CapCut, a popular app used by creators and businesses to edit Reels. Since the future of TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance is uncertain, Instagram has introduced a new app similar to CapCut to help users edit their Reels. This app is called Edits. It is expected to launch on March 13th and will feature the following:

At launch, Edits will allow users to:

• Capture videos up to 10 minutes in the app and store drafts.
• Edit using a playback timeline for more precise control.
• Find additional inspiration for their clips, including trending audio insights and a real-time overview of what’s popular in the app.

Things can change quickly in the world of social media. That’s part of its appeal – it’s always a gamble, but it’s also a crucial part of any modern marketing strategy.

At Krush, we are dedicated to keeping up with social media’s ever-changing landscape. This ensures our clients are informed and ready to adapt to whatever comes next.

KRUSH is a full-service strategic marketing firm and advertising agency. We specialize in SEO, branding, graphic design, media planning, photography, social media, videography, as well as website development & design. Our focus is to create strategic and innovative marketing & advertising that will surpass your expectations. Our methods will grow your brand and your bottom line. We are your strategic marketing partner. Check out our portfolio of work and contact KRUSH today!