On June 20, 2018, developers added a new feature called IGTV to Instagram. It allows users to share interesting and lengthy videos with their followers. This channel can be used to promote a business profile. In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide on how to create a page for publishing 15-minute or hour-long videos. Let’s get started!
What is IGTV – how it works
So, what is IGTV on Instagram and what does this feature represent, and how does it work? IGTV (Instagram TV) is a service from the developers of the social network Instagram, which is very similar to the well-known YouTube. Typically, you create your own channel in it, and then place vertical videos there. They can be viewed, commented on, and even shared with other users.
The difference from regular stories or short videos in the feed is that in Insta TV, it is quite possible to add an hour-long “movie”. So, finally, you can talk as much as you want and advertise your product.
Useful to know. The service does not have a function that would allow you to edit a video file, for example, make a mask or add text. Therefore, process it in an external utility in advance.
Technical specifications for uploading videos to IGTV
Before adding IGTV to Instagram and creating a channel, make sure to familiarize yourself with the system requirements for the published material. Namely:
- The video format is predominantly vertical, with an aspect ratio of 9:16. Horizontal format with an aspect ratio of 16:9 can also be uploaded.
- The duration of the video should be at least 1 minute and no more than 15 minutes (from a phone) or no more than 1 hour (from a computer).
- The file size for a video up to 15 minutes long should not exceed 650 MB; for a video up to 1 hour long, it should not exceed 3.6 GB.
- The file type must be exclusively mp4.
It is important to remember that the content of your “film” should comply with the allowed content on the social network. Otherwise, the first complaint will be the reason for its removal.
Note. Make sure to have a beautiful cover for your post. Its preferred size is 492 x 762 pixels.
How to upload your video to IGTV from your phone
Let’s move on to the main part of our article, how to upload a video to IGTV. First, let’s see how to do it from a mobile phone. You will need:
- A recorded and edited video;
- An Instagram account;
- The IGTV app downloaded from the AppStore or Google Market;
- Some free time.
Since the steps for iPhone and Android users may differ, we will focus on each separately.
On Android
To start, it is advisable to begin with a guide for “alien” owners. To upload a video to IGTV, you need to:
- Unlock your smartphone screen and go to the Play Store.
- Click on the search bar and enter the query “IGTV”.
- Install the corresponding utility and wait for the virus check to complete.
- Launch it.
- Tap on “Continue as (your username)” or manually log in to your account.
- Click on the “plus” icon and give the service permission to access the file system of your device.
- Select a suitable file from your gallery. Confirm with the “Next” button.
- Choose a cover by uploading it from your smartphone or selecting a favorite still frame.
- Give the video a title and description.
- Optionally, publish a preview on your page in the form of a post.
- Share the recording.
Interestingly, if the “movie” is in horizontal format, you need to click on the icon that looks like “four corners”. This will allow you to switch to full-screen mode.
On iPhone
To add a video on an “apple” smartphone, follow the step-by-step instructions below:
- Open the AppStore and download the IGTV app on your device.
- Launch it.
- Log in using your username (nickname/mobile number/email address) and password from the Instagram social network.
- Tap on the icon with the image of your avatar, and then on the “+” sign.
- Select a file from the iPhone gallery, give it a name and description.
- Check the “Share on Facebook” box if you have a linked page.
- Add a cover.
- Click on “Publish”.
Note. When logging in to IGTV, there is no need to register a new channel. However, if the service requires it, click on the “gear” and “Create Channel” buttons.
How to upload a video to IGTV from a computer
Now let’s figure out how to share a video clip on IGTV in Instagram on a computer. There are two ways to do this:
- via a browser;
- using the BlueStacks 4 emulator.
For convenience, let’s describe each one in more detail.
Through the browser
Adding videos through a browser is very easy. You just need to:
- Open the browser version of the photo network – Instagram.com.
- Log in.
- Click on the “person” in the upper right corner of the web page and go to your page.
- Tap on “IGTV”. It is located next to the “Publications” and “Saved” tabs.
- Click “Upload” and attach the appropriate video material.
- Select a cover, add a description, and turn on Facebook display.
- Publish the post.
Through an emulator
If you don’t have access to a browser, connect an emulator. This is a special utility that allows you to load Android games on your personal computer. The most popular among them is BlueStacks 4. To use BlueStacks for publishing, you need to:
- Install the emulator from the official source.
- Launch it.
- Log in to your Google account (gmail).
- Open the Play Market and enter “IGTV” in the search bar.
- Download the appropriate application and enter it.
- Enter your Instagram login and password.
- Click on the “plus” sign and add the video in the usual way.
Interesting. The IGTV app in the emulator has exactly the same interface as the Android version on the phone.
How to view statistics for your videos on IGTV
After posting a video on Instagram TV, it is important to monitor its statistics. This allows you to analyze the preferences of your followers, draw conclusions, and improve your content. To see the number of views, you need to:
1. Select the published video.
2. Swipe up. A page with likes, views, and comments will open.
3. Click on the “three dots” in the upper corner of the screen and select “Statistics.”
In addition to the basic characteristics, there will also be a graph showing audience retention. This shows how long users watch your clip.
Useful to know: A video is considered viewed if the viewer watched for more than 3 seconds.
How to delete your IGTV channel
If you don’t like the post you’ve uploaded and want to delete a video from IGTV, follow these steps:
1. Open the appropriate video and tap on the “three dots” in the upper corner of the screen.
2. Select “Delete”.
If you’re completely tired of this activity, it’s possible to delete the channel. However, this will require completely getting rid of your Instagram account. You can do this through the help center.
IGTV on Instagram is a useful feature that allows your profile to become more well-known on the social network. Be sure to use the tips from the article and try yourself as a director.