We’re halfway through 2020, so we decided to share with you some trends that seem to have surfaced so far this year— especially trends we see staying a while!

With Instagram really diving into the e-commerce world, carousel posts, IGTV taking off, and even branded AR filters, a lot has (already!) happened in 2020.

We have a list of great trends that will keep your business a head of the game when it comes to Instagram:

1. Instagram Shopping

Introducing tools like Instagram Checkout, where shoppers can buy products on Instagram without leaving the app, and Facebook Shops, which allows businesses to build online stores on both Facebook and Instagram, shopping has become an even bigger part of how people both view and use Instagram in their day-to-day lives. Covid-19 has forced some businesses to move into more of an online presence, and Instagram released more e-commerce tools than they did all of 2019!

Thanks to all of these features, businesses can build immersive digital storefronts to promote and sell their products directly on the app.

They can also market their products by partnering with influencers (via Instagram’s soon to be released Shopping for Influencers feature), getting products featured on the Explore page, running Instagram shopping Ads, or by sharing posts/stories with product tags.

Best part?! They WORK. According to internal data, 130 Million Instagram accounts tap on a shopping post to learn more about products every month.

2. Carousel Posts Level Up their Information Sharing

Instagram has always been a place of inspiration, but in 2020 we’re seeing a real shift in informational content coming through!

And the best way to share detail-dense content on Instagram? With Carousel Posts (Swipe Through Posts). With the ability to share up to 10 images in one post, carousels are the perfect tool for storytelling, as well as breaking down heavy information into digestible bites. Carousels posts have long been popular with brands looking for a fun, yet detailed, way to show off their products.

Throughout May (and beyond!) the #BLM Movement saw millions of informative and educational posts on Instagram. And the carousel post has never been more valuable for mass information sharing.

We’re seeing brands, creators, and influencers alike use Instagram as a place to educate, and we predict this “destination education” trend is going to stick around!

From how to support small business through COVID-19, to brand’s social missions, and deep-dives into detailed topics, the carousel post has been a great asset.

We totally think that Instagram is the new place to blog with this tool!

So if you’re a blogger, vlogger, or creator, it might be time to invest in carousel posts on Instagram and start micro-blogging your content!

3. Instagram Live Goes Mainstream

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to force people to stay inside, some pretty interesting trends have emerged on Instagram — like how everyone is suddenly flocking to Instagram Live. And no, it isn’t just you! According to Facebook data, Instagram Live views increased by 70% from February to March 2020. Instagram Live broadcasts are one of the best ways to connect with your followers in a direct, transparent, and authentic way — especially when real-life get-togethers are impossible.

As brands and creators look for new ways to interact with their followers during lockdown, Instagram Live offers a practical, easy, and effectively way to keep in touch.

4. IGTV Takes Centre Stage

IGTV has been on the up for some time now, but 2020 is the year the long-form video platform takes center stage!

Part of this can be linked to the improvements that Instagram made to IGTV last year, like allowing users to cross-promote their IGTV videos on Instagram and providing support for both vertical and horizontal videos.

But another major factor that is certain to drive-up usage even further is that creators can now start making money from IGTV with ads!

This is big news for the platform as it’s the first-time creators will be able to make money directly from IGTV since its launch in 2018.

According to Instagram, the 15-second long IGTV ads will begin showing up in IGTV from a select group of partners and advertisers in the US with plans to continue expanding globally.

But even if you aren’t a creator, IGTV is a great channel to reach new audiences, grow your engagement, and even capture leads!

5. Branded AR Filters

Ever since Instagram opened Spark AR Studio in mid-2019, the platform has become inundated with artists and designers creating their own unique effects for Instagram Stories. And the results have been, well, pretty amazing!

In case you’re unaware, Spark AR Studio is an augmented reality platform for Mac & Windows that allows you to create AR effects for mobile cameras. Think of it like Photoshop or Sketch, but for augmented reality.

Until last year, if you wanted to submit your own custom AR Designs you had to be accepted to the closed beta program… but now anyone can create and submit effects!

And one of the biggest trends to emerge from this is branded AR effects.

There are many reasons why AR can be a powerful marketing tool for businesses — but one of the biggest has to do with freedom of creativity.

There are countless applications for the technology: cosmetics brands can use AR to let their followers virtually “try on” makeup, furniture brands can use AR to show what their products would look like in people’s homes, and fashion brands can use AR to create virtual fitting rooms, allowing people to try on shirts, sunglasses, or entire outfits to see how it fits their shape and style.

We hope this blog sparked some creativity, and you’re feeling ready to level-up your feed aesthetic! Start experimenting with new content for your audience, everyone!

Five 2020 Instagram Trends