Instagram Notes are a new way to communicate with your followers on the app.
They’re basically like little post-it notes that you can leave for people to see. You can use them to weigh in on the state of the world, or even ask what the heck Instagram Notes are for.
It feels like a throwback to the MSN Messenger days!
Instagram Notes are great as a pseudo-soapbox, but they’re also useful for businesses and brands. You can use them to promote your products, offer customer service, or just connect with your fans.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know about this new feature.
Bonus: 14 Time-Saving Hacks for Instagram Power Users. Get the list of secret shortcuts Hootsuite’s own social media team uses to create thumb-stopping content.
What are Instagram Notes?
Instagram Notes are short notes you can post to followers (who you follow back) or to your “Close Friends” list.
You may have seen them; they sit in your inbox above your direct messages.
Instagram Notes, much like Stories, disappear in 24 hours and can only be 60 characters. Users can reply to your Notes; you’ll receive these in your DMs.
People are using Notes to make announcements, blast out news or thoughts, and complain about Instagram Notes.
The app released Instagram Notes on unsuspecting users in July 2022. The new feature was a surprise to creators and business owners everywhere.
If you’re still reeling from the news and haven’t had time to dive into Insta Notes, don’t worry. This guide explains everything.
How to make an Instagram Note
Creating your own Instagram Note is easy. In 4 simple steps, you can use Instagram as your own personal megaphone.
Step 1: Open your Instagram app
Step 2: Navigate to your inbox in the top right corner
Step 3: In the top left corner, click on the box that says + Leave a Note.
Step 4: Write your thoughts down, choose who to share with and click Share to publish
That’s it! You’re officially an Instagram author.
Why use Instagram Notes
Notes are the least pushy of Instagram communication. They don’t come with notifications and are tucked away in your inbox. They are more subtle than Stories and less direct than sending a DM.
Creators and businesses can use Notes as a way to communicate news, updates, or pertinent information.
They’re an easy way to get eyes on your announcements because they sit at the top of your audience’s inbox and won’t get lost in the noise of Stories. Plus, they don’t require the same commitment as a Feed post or the effort that goes into crafting a Story.
Instagram Notes are a simple, short-lived way to blast out a message. In a way, they’re like the temporary tattoos of social media.
Try it out, you won’t regret it. And if you do, it’s gone the next day.
Bonus: 14 Time-Saving Hacks for Instagram Power Users. Get the list of secret shortcuts Hootsuite’s own social media team uses to create thumb-stopping content.
Frequently asked questions about Instagram Notes
Instagram loves dropping new features. Remember when Instagram Reels fell from the sky?
There’s always a bit of a scramble for marketers, creators, and business owners when Instagram decides to test something out.
Questions like, “what the heck is this for?” “How can this benefit me?” and “where the heck do I find this?” are all top of mind. Don’t stress. We’ve got your back.
Here are answers to everything you want to ask about Notes.
Where do I find Instagram Notes?
Instagram Notes are in your inbox underneath the search bar. They show up at the top of your messages, under the title “Notes,” so you can’t miss them.
Notes will appear in a row, with the most recent at the right of your screen.
You can scroll through the Notes just like you would in Stories, but you don’t have to click on the Note to view them.
Why do I not have Notes on Instagram?
If you don’t see Notes in your Instagram inbox, you’re not alone. Instagram is rolling this feature out slowly to test whether or not they’ll keep it. Kind of a try-before-you-buy model.
So, if you don’t see Notes in your app, you may have to wait until Instagram rolls the feature out globally.
If you don’t see Notes on Instagram, you might have an old model. Try updating your app. You can do this in whatever app store you frequent.
Here’s the step-by-step:
Step 1: Navigate to your app store
Step 2: In the search bar, type “Instagram”
Step 3: Find Instagram in the results, click on it
Step 4: Tap update
Step 5: Once it’s finished updating, just open your app
How do I delete an Instagram Note?
Maybe you wrote something you’ve since changed your mind about.
Or maybe you see a glaring typo in your beautiful, 60-character poem. Or maybe you wrote a 60-character poem that the public is just not ready for.
Whatever the reason, deleting a Note is easy.
Step 1: Navigate to your inbox
Step 2: Click on the offending Note
Step 3: Click delete note
Congratulations. Your Instagram Note has disappeared.
You should know that Instagram Notes don’t have a draft saving capability, so if you do delete your Note, it’s gone forever.
Do Notes affect the algorithm?
The short answer is that no one can be sure except Instagram. However, we have done our best to research and understand the Instagram algorithm. It’s elusive and ever-changing, so make sure you keep coming back to us for updates.
The long answer is that the all-mighty Instagram algorithm only has only one God, and it’s you. Well, to be fair, it’s any and all app users and the content they create, but it’s fun to think you’re the Instagram algorithm’s crush.
Instagram’s algorithm works by cross-referencing content data with user information. It wants to serve the right content to the right people. When it’s successful, users will stay on the app longer, which is Instagram’s goal.
At the moment we don’t know much about how Instagram Notes affect the algorithm. For now it’s safe to assume they will follow the same principles as other Instagram features:
Follow the community guidelines, encourage engagement, and post regularly for success!
Save time managing Instagram for business using Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you can schedule and publish posts directly to Instagram, engage your audience, measure performance and run all your other social media profiles. Try it free today.
Save time and stress less with easy Reels scheduling and performance monitoring from Hootsuite. Trust us, it’s reely easy.
The post Instagram Notes Explained: What the Heck Are They For? appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.