Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for businesses. With over one billion users, it offers a great opportunity to reach potential customers and grow your brand. As the platform continues to evolve, new features are being added regularly to help businesses make the most of their potential. 

In this article, we'll look at some of Instagram's latest features and how you can use them to expand your business. We'll also discuss some pros and cons of each feature, so you can decide which will be most beneficial for your goals.

Stories Highlights

Stories Highlights is a great way to keep your content visible even after it has been posted. This feature allows you to save stories in collections that stay on your profile forever, rather than disappearing after 24 hours like regular stories. This way, you can show off your best content and keep it visible for longer periods of time.

Pros:

• Easy to organize stories into collections; helps keep content visible for longer periods of time a great way to showcase products and services.

Cons:

• Not all content is suitable for Stories Highlights; takes time to organize stories into collections.

Shopping Tags

Shopping Tags are a great way for businesses to promote their products directly on Instagram posts. This feature allows users to tag products in photos or videos with links that direct viewers back to their website or an online store. It's an easy way to boost sales without taking up space in captions or comments.

Pros:

• Easy way to promote products; helps increase sales; enhances user experience.

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to set up; requires an online store or website.

IGTV Ads

IGTV Ads are video ads that appear before IGTV videos start playing on the app. These ads are a great way for businesses to reach out to their target audience in an engaging format while also driving traffic back to their website or online store.

Pros:

• Highly targeted ads; engaging format; increases traffic back to website/store

Cons:

• Ads must be optimized correctly; takes time and resources.

Direct Messaging (DMs)

Direct Messaging (DMs) is a great way for businesses to engage with their followers in real-time conversations about their products or services. This feature allows users to chat through text messages directly within the app which makes it easier than ever before for businesses and customers alike to interact instantly with each other about any topic related to their business.

Pros:

• Real-time conversations, are a great way to build relationships with customers, help answer customer questions quickly.

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to keep up with conversations; requires resources to monitor and respond.

Reels

Reels are short 15-second video clips that users can create using various tools such as audio recordings, music tracks, special effects, etc. These clips allow businesses to show off products or services in an engaging way which encourages viewers to take action e.g., visit a website, make an inquiry, etc. It's also a great way for businesses to connect with their target audience by creating entertaining content which resonates with them!

In-App Shopping Experience

The In-App Shopping Experience allows users to browse products directly within Instagram itself without ever having to leave the app - they simply click on an item within an image or video post which takes them directly through the purchase process all within the app itself! This feature is perfect for businesses who want to make shopping easy for their customers - it eliminates any friction points between browsing items online and actually buying them thus increasing conversion rates!

Instagram Live

Instagram Live is a great way for businesses to connect and engage with their followers in real time. This feature allows users to broadcast live videos that can be seen by anyone who follows them on Instagram. It's an interactive way for businesses to show off their products or services, answer customer questions, and create relationships with followers.

Pros:

• An interactive format is a great way to engage with customers and helps increase brand awareness.

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to prepare for live broadcasts; requires resources.

These are just some features Instagram has recently released that can help businesses grow and reach more potential customers. When used correctly, these features can help businesses get the most out of the platform and reach their goals faster. So if you're looking for ways to maximize your presence on Instagram, make sure you take advantage of these new features!