Hi everyone, I am sure you have heard of the newly launched app by the creators of Instagram called the IGTV app. It is quite exciting since it is a great combination of YouTube and Instagram. I downloaded it and tried it out. And I must say that it is good to have a mobile video platform like YT that allows people to film in the portrait mode! After trying it and reading about it, I decided to create this comprehensive guide for IGTV app for you. I hope you find it helpful.
What is IGTV app?
This app allows users to upload and share videos anywhere from 15 seconds up to 10 minutes. Instagram users with more followers can upload videos of up to 60 minutes (1 hour).
If you love watching videos, it eliminates the need to bother with the photos at all. Just open the IGTV app to watch videos (in portrait mode like Instagram Stories) on your phone. The best part is that unlike Instagram stories, the videos uploaded to this app can be longer than 1 minute (which is the length of a typical Instagram story).
You can use this IGTV as a feature in your Instagram app without even downloading the app. Just go to your home page on Instagram and click on the “TV” button on the top right to access videos.
I will be talking more about this app in the coming days. Subscribe to my blog and YouTube channel to get the notifications (email subscription form on the right in the sidebar)
Follow me on IGTV: http://instagram.com/ritukt13
Before I go into further details about the app, I would invite you to take a look at this quick tutorial on how to use the IGTV app:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QwtVDS-3f9Q
How to Use the IGTV app
This app is available for iOS and Android phones. Download it and register.
If you have Instagram app logged in, you do not need to do anything since it will use your Instagram handle.
If you want to upload videos on IGTV app then you need to download it from the App Store/Play store.
If you only want to access IGTV videos, just access it from the Instagram app. In the video above, I have shown how to access IGTV from Instagram.
How to Watch Videos on the IGTV App?
There are two ways in which you can watch videos on the IGTV app in your phone.
- Instagram app: Go to your Instagram Home screen (by pressing on the home button). Click on the IGTV (tv icon) on the top right corner. And watch videos on IGTV!
- IGTV app: Download and register for IGTV (linked to your Instagram account). Open the app and enjoy watching videos.
Check out the video I shared in this article to know how to see the IGTV videos.
How can I upload my videos to the IGTV app?
A: It is quite easy to upload your videos. If you are used to Instagram and YouTube, then you will find the app relatively easy to use.
Here are the steps you need to follow to upload videos on IGTV app:
- Download the app, if you haven’t already from your App store/ Play store.
- Register for the app (if you already have an Instagram account, just open the IGTV app and it will auto-register using your Instagram details)
- Open the IGTV app and click on your photo (profile photo) near the settings button.
- A new screen will open. Then, click on “Upload video” at the bottom.
- It will prompt you to select a video from your library. Choose the video from your photo/video library.
- Then, you will see a screen with “Edit Cover”, Title and Description option.
- Add your video title to make it easier for people to find your video on IGTV and add a description.
- You can edit the cover of your IGTV video too (a video coming up soon). *Answer on how to edit the cover in the FAQ section below.
I am making a Youtube video on this topic and will be posting it soon.
Update: Here is the IGTV video upload tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP6vdexg3AM
Advantages of the IGTV app
We will see the fate of the IGTV app in the coming few months but it appears to be promising. Here are a few things that I think make it worth a try for everyone:
- It is a new app so it means you have more chances of getting visibility as a content creator.
- It gives you an option to grow your Instagram following since IGTV is directly linked to your Instagram profile.
- You do not need fancy equipment to create videos. Just use your mobile phone and upload the video directly to IGTV (since it allows videos shot in portrait mode)
- If YouTube is too mainstream for you, IGTV is giving you the opportunity to start vlogging and experiment with the platform.
- Anyone with an Instagram can have their own IGTV channel.
- You can paste links in the IGTV video descriptions. Unlike the Instagram stories/feed. This means double the visibility. Most content creators used to complain that they cannot make their followers go to their blogpost, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube video from their Insta feed. Now they can share links easily in the description of their IGTV video
- You are getting another platform to connect with your potential audience. You can use IGTV to showcase behind-the-scenes or your personal side to your followers.
Disadvantages of the IGTV app
This app offers several advantages but there are a few disadvantages of it as well, depending on how you look at it:
- It is yet another platform to keep up with to make sure that you are not left behind. It is relatively easy for large businesses to deal with new social media platforms since they have dedicated teams to manage their accounts. For solopreneurs, this means more work than just handling Instagram since the content for IGTV needs a different approach than Instagram Stories and Instagram Live.
- Tying in with the point mentioned already, the portrait-video mode also means that you cannot directly share your YouTube videos to IGTV and vice-versa. You need to edit them or record them for two ratios. It means more work in editing if you want to share the same video on both platforms.
In my humble opinion, the app appears to be more promising despite its disadvantages and you may want to give it a go if you want to strengthen your online presence especially on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions about the IGTV App
In addition to the information given in this article, there are a few questions many people are asking about IGTV. Here are my answers to a few of them:
Q: Are Instagram Stories and IGTV videos the same thing?
A: No. Instagram Stories is a feature in the Instagram app but IGTV is an app as well as an Instagram feature. You cannot see Instagram stories other than inside the Instagram app. You can see IGTV videos by click on the IGTV icon in the top right corner on your Instagram homepage and also by going to the IGTV app.
Q: Do I need to download the IGTV app?
A: Yes and No.
If you have an Instagram account, you can watch IGTV videos directly in your Instagram app by going to your “home” screen and clicking on the IGTV icon (looks like a tv). The IGTV feature will open and you will see IGTV videos uploaded by the people you follow on Instagram. You can also search the IGTV platform for videos from all IGTV content creators. You do not need to download the IGTV app to watch IGTV videos (if you have Instagram).
If you want to upload videos on IGTV and grow your Instagram/IGTV following then you need to download the app. Since IGTV is directly linked to Instagram, you need only 1 minute to set up IGTV!
Q: How are Instagram Stories different from IGTV videos?
A: Instagram Stories are videos shared on the Instagram app that can only be 1 minute long. The IGTV videos can be anywhere from 15 seconds to 10 minutes long. For people with more followers, the time limit for the video is 60 minutes.
Also, the Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours unless you add them to a collection. IGTV videos are forever, just like YT videos. One difference between YouTube and IGTV videos is that IGTV videos are made for videos shot in the portrait mode (like on a mobile phone).
Q: How to Edit Cover of my IGTV video? Can I upload a customized thumbnail to my IGTV video?
A: Yes, you can. When you are uploading your video, you will see the Edit Cover, Title and Description options once you select the video.
Click on “Edit cover” and you will see two options:
- Select from the camera roll (photo library)
- Select from the video
If you choose the first option, you can upload a thumbnail aka cover for your video from your photos. If you choose the second option, the IGTV app will show your video and you can select the frame that you want as your thumbnail. Choose the option you want and edit your IGTV video cover.
*Video coming soon.
Q: Why Should I Use this app?
A: I am thinking of making a detailed video on this topic but here is a brief answer. This app gives you the option to view videos created in portrait mode – it is ideal for people who love to consume content on their phones. For content creators, this is an option to tap into Instagram’s strength by showing their content in the long format. Whatever you do on Facebook or Youtube, you can now share on IGTV and grow as a “social influencer.” Check out the “Advantages of IGTV app” section of this article to know more.
That is it for now!
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Ask me your questions and I will answer them asap. More IGTV app videos coming up on my YT channel.
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