Instagram has just launched a new video service called IGTV which allows users to post video content from 15 seconds up to 60 minutes. Previously users could only share up to 60 seconds. IGTV is set to rival YouTube as a home for mobile video.
There are two ways to use IGTV. The first is from your Instagram account, where a little button will pop up, at the top right of the screen if people you follow have posted something new.
The second option is to install the separate app, this is where IGTV really lives and where you can explore and watch videos from people and accounts that you follow.
Within the IGTV app or in the original Instagram app you can create your own channel, here you can upload videos for your followers to watch. Videos can be up to 10 minutes long to start, with larger accounts able to post hourlong videos. Over the long term, the company expects to let all users post videos of unlimited length.
Setting up your own IGTV Channel
Here’s a step by step guide on how you can create your own IGTV channel.
Step 1. Install the IGTV app, It’s available on both Android and iOS, you will need to login to your existing Instagram account.
Step 2. When you’re into the IGTV app, click on the round settings symbol in the centre of the screen on the far right. This will take you to a menu where you can hit the ‘Create Channel’ option.
Step 3. The app will take you through a couple of basics for the videos and tell you that IGTV is built specifically for full-screen vertical videos. Hit ‘next’ on each tab and ‘create channel’ and your channel will be created.
Step 4. Your IGTV channel is now created. You can tap on ‘view your channel’ and start uploading videos.
You also have the option to create your channel through the Instagram App. You can do this by going to the home page and tapping on the IGTV icon in the top right corner. This will take you to IGTV and then the same steps previously mentioned will apply.
Unlike Instagram, IGTV doesn’t include any features for actually making the videos you want to upload. Instead, you’ll have to record the video somewhere else and share it from your camera roll.
IGTV Web Uploads
It is possible to upload video content to your channel from the web. Simply log in to Instagram via the web and you will see ‘IGTV’ here you can upload videos to your channel.
IGTV Advertising
There are currently no advertising options available on the new video platform, but this is likely something that will be developed very soon.
IGTV has only just been released and is rolling out globally, if you don’t have the option to use it yet, you will very soon!
