Instagram launched its own TV in 2018 and now it’s gaining momentum among Instagram creators and brands. Thanks to IGTV, Instagrammers can upload videos longer than one minute, which was impossible and inconvenient before Instagram TV was launched.

In June 2018, Instagram executives finally heard users’ cries and developed its own video hosting.

Together with 4K Download, let’s figure out what IGTV is and how to use it like a pro.

What is IGTV

IGTV is a standalone app and an Instagram feature that lets you upload videos from 1 to 60 minutes long.

After an Instagrammer uploads a video with IGTV, they automatically create their own IGTV channel, similar to YouTube . If you want to find a video or a channel of a particular Instagram user, just head over to their account and find the IGTV tab under their bio.

Instagram in-app IGTV feature (which is now the first icon on the Explore Tab) has the ‘Add’ button, search field and a content feed with videos selected based on your interests.

The standalone IGTV app has two content sections - Following and Popular. In the IGTV app, you can also search for creators and videos, typing any keywords or usernames, just like on YouTube.

The Following section displays the videos of the Instagrammers you follow and Popular recommends trending videos on Instagram.

IGTV settings also allow you to choose a thumbnail for your videos and upload a video preview on your Instagram grid to let your followers watch the full clip on your IGTV channel by pressing the “Keep Watching” button.

How to upload to IGTV

The most obvious way to upload an IGTV video is to do it from a smartphone on Instagram itself or a special IGTV app. To do so, follow these steps:

Open an Instagram (Explore Tab) or an IGTV app on your smartphone.
Press the “+” button.

Choose the video you want to upload and press “Next”.
Choose a thumbnail for your video. You can choose either a Library photo or pick a shot from the video.
Write the video title and come up with a description.
Post the video.

Here ends the essential part. IGTV also lets you set up other things optionally. For instance, you can post a Preview, add your video to IGTV Series, share the video on Facebook , edit a Preview and a Profile Cover.

Smartphones are not the only way to upload videos on IGTV. You can also publish IGTV videos from the web.

To do so, log in your Instagram account from a web browser. Head over to your profile, find the IGTV tab and press “Upload a Video”. Then the course of actions is the same: you will need to create a title and a description for your video, share it on Facebook, add a Preview, and add it to your IGTV Series if you like.

IGTV Requirements: video length, size, resolution

Like any other social media platform, app and content form, IGTV videos have their own requirements and specifications.

IGTV video length

As for the video length, this depends on how you upload the content - from your smartphone or desktop. One general rule is that a video must be at least 1-minute long in both cases.

The maximum video length your video can be is 15 minutes when uploaded from a smartphone and 60 minutes when uploaded from the web.

All the videos must be in MP4 format.

IGTV video size

You can upload a vertical video with an aspect ratio of 9:16 or a horizontal video with an aspect ratio of 16:9. The maximum filesize for videos that are 10 minutes or less is 650MB. The maximum filesize for videos up to 60 minutes is 3.6GB.

IGTV video resolution

Videos should have a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS (frames per second) and a minimum resolution of 720 pixels.

IGTV video thumbnail

The recommended size for cover photos is 420px by 654px (or 1:1.55 ratio) in .png or .jpg formats. As of now, you can't edit your cover photo after you've uploaded it.

How to use IGTV like a pro

Post relevant content

Publish videos that your followers and Instagram itself like. These types of content will look especially good on your IGTV channel: how-tos, tutorials, interviews, funny and entertaining videos, behind-the-scenes content, vlogs, Q&A sessions, and product reviews of any kind.

The video length required for IGTV videos is enough to fully cover any topic and share your opinion.

Leverage IGTV monetisation

Earlier this year, Instagram claimed that creators can monetise IGTV videos from the ads integrated into each clip. This update, similar to the one of YouTube, tends to attract more creators to use Instagram TV and post appealing content on the platform.

Moreover, this measure comes in handy for advertisers as well.

Utilise IGTV Series

In October 2019, Instagram launched IGTV Series, which function is similar to the YouTube Up Next videos: when a current video ends, the next one related to it is recommended to play.

Besides, you can now turn on notifications to be alarmed when a new episode of your favourite creator goes live.

Track IGTV statistics

You and your viewers can see how many likes, comments, and views your video gained, but only you can track the average percent watched by viewers and the audience retention line graph. You can find the Insights tapping on the video, then tap on three dots at the bottom of the video and press View Insights.

The bottom line

IGTV is not only an entertainment feature but a tool to promote your Instagram account and even earn some money. Hopefully, this article has given you an understanding of what Instagram TV is and how to use it to spare time and grow your Instagram follower count.

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