The IGTV craze has officially started, leaving a lot of people wondering how to upload videos to IGTV.
Lucky for you, Instagram has made the process super easy!
In the following post, we explain how to upload videos to IGTV in just 4 simple steps. It’s so simple, that by the time you’re done reading this, you’ll be a bonafide pro!
Haven’t heard of IGTV yet? You might want to check out our Ultimate Guide to IGTV first! It’s packed with useful information on what IGTV is, how it works, and how to use it.
How to Upload Videos to IGTV Step #1: Create an IGTV Channel
While you can watch IGTV videos on the regular Instagram app (the feature is currently being rolled out, so don’t worry if you don’t have it yet!), if you want to create your own IGTV videos, you need to download the standalone IGTV app on iOS or Andriod(or upload directly from the Instagram web app).
Done? Now it’s time to create your channel.
Start by signing into your Instagram account, and then taping on the settings (gear icon) in the top-right corner, and selecting “Create Channel.”
As Instagram describes in their announcement, channels on IGTV are a lot like a regular TV channels, the major difference being that on IGTV, the creators are the channels.
Basically, when you follow a creator (or account) on IGTV, their IGTV channel will show up for you to watch — but you can also browse other channels, including popular ones and channels that Instagram curates based on your interests.
How to Upload Videos to IGTV Step #2: Upload a Video to Your Channel
With your IGTV channel set up, it’s time to upload your first video!
Start by navigating to your channel by tapping on your avatar from the main screen.
Next, tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner to add a video to your channel.
You’ll then be prompted to upload a video from your camera roll. As we mentioned in our Ultimate Guide to IGTV, IGTV now supports both vertical and horizontal videos, so feel free to test out both!
In terms of specs, Instagram recommends that vertical IGTV videos should have an aspect ratio of 9:16, while horizontal videos should be 16:9.
IGTV videos can also be up to an hour long, so keep that in mind when creating your content!
How to Upload Videos to IGTV Step #3: Add Your Copy & Creative
Just like YouTube, your videos on IGTV need both a title and description. And while the search function on IGTV only allows you to search for channels at the moment (as opposed to being able to search for specific videos by keywords or hashtags), it’s still a good idea to write relevant descriptions that truly capture the topic of your videos.
On the plus side, you can also add clickable links to your video descriptions! Meaning, when someone clicks on the link in your description, they’ll be taken to a webpage outside of the Instagram or IGTV app!
With your title and description written, it’s time to add a cover photo for your video.
Here you can either upload your own custom cover photo or choose a thumbnail from your video.
The cover photo is what will show up on your channel page and in the IGTV categories, so make it catchy!
How to Upload Videos to IGTV Step #4: Publish & Check Your Analytics
You’re all set to publish! Tap “Post” and crack open a bottle of bubbly because you just shared your first video to IGTV!
But don’t get too sauced! As with all things Instagram marketing, your job isn’t done when you hit the publish button… Now it’s time to monitor how much engagement your video gets and respond to any comments!
To view your IGTV analytics, all you have to do is tap the ellipsis (“…” icon) beside the like, comment, and share buttons on your IGTV video
From here you can click “View Insights” or copy the link to your video (you can also delete your video here if you need to).
When you click on “View Insights” you’ll be able to see your engagement stats, including views, likes, and comments.
You can also check out your audience retention rate, which is how many people watched your video all the way to the end. Your IGTV analytics also includes a drop-off graph, which shows you at what point people are swiping away from your video.
This is a handy feature when creating new content because it basically tells you what parts of your videos people find the least engaging — especially if your graph shows a sudden drop-off!
And that’s it! You’re now armed with everything you need for your IGTV debut! Just remember: as with all things Instagram, quality is way more important than quantity. In other words, don’t get caught up in creating hour-long video content right away. It’s better to focus on your craft and work your way up to longer-form video content.
Have any questions or opinions about IGTV? Let us know in the comments!
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