IG algorithm prioritizes IG Live, so the second you go live, anyone who follows you will have clear access to your video. This can be a good or bad thing depending on the context of your content.
You can also share stories with Close Friends — these are private and don’t appear in your feed. Here’s how:
- Go to your profile
Instagram’s Close Friends feature lets you create a private list of users who can see your Stories, but not posts in your feed or Reels. The list is customizable and can be edited at any time, with users not being notified when their names are added or removed from it. Instagram says it’s intended to help you share “more personal” stories with a select group of followers without worrying about privacy issues.
To get started, tap your profile image and select the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner. You’ll then be brought to the Close Friends settings page, which will show a list of recommendations of people you may want to add to the list along with some settings options. You can also search for a specific user by name or username and then tap the plus icon to add them to the list.
Whenever you’re ready to post to your Stories, simply tap the + button and then choose the Close Friends option to ensure only your list of users can view it. This will be indicated by a green circle around the user’s profile picture in the Stories feed, as opposed to the pink one that typically marks all Instagram Story posts.
Once a person is on the list, they’ll only be able to see your Stories content (not regular posts in your Feed or Reels) for 24 hours after you publish them. You’ll still be able to tell who has seen your story by the green ring around their profile picture, and they can remove themselves from the list at any time.
You can use the Close Friends feature on any account, whether it’s a personal or business profile. However, if your account is private, you will need to have at least 10,000 followers in order to use the feature. You can also use the feature to collaborate with another user on a live video, which opens up some fun new possibilities for creative Instagram marketing. Our Plann’rs are well-versed in the latest Instagram features, including Close Friends, so we can help you make the most of it for your brand or business.
- Tap the camera icon
Instagram launched live video in late 2016, giving users the opportunity to connect with their followers in real time. It’s a great way to announce a special event, broadcast from home or on the go, and answer questions. To go live on Instagram, scroll to the “Live” tab on the New Post page and tap the camera icon — it’s the same process as posting a Story.
When you’re done, tap Done to save your live video. Instagram will then automatically share your live video in your Story for 24 hours, so followers who missed it can see it when they check out your feed. After that, you can choose to permanently delete your video or save it in the app’s archive.
One of the best features of Instagram Live is the ability to invite friends to join your broadcast. This gives you the flexibility to go live with a co-host or partner, hold a video interview, or host a group hangout. It’s also a great way to promote your brand or business, and creates a more personal connection with your audience.
To invite a friend to your live video, tap the camera icon on your profile and then either select a user from the list or search for someone by username. Once you find a person, they’ll receive a notification that they’ve been invited to your live video and can accept or decline the invitation.
When you watch a live video, you can leave a comment or like it by tapping the screen. Your actions will be visible to the person who posted the video and to anyone else who’s watching it in the future. IG’s algorithm prioritizes live video so that users who want to watch your content will have clear access to it.
- Tap the + button
Instagram is a great way to share your life with the world, but it can be difficult to privately communicate with specific groups of people. You can message pictures and stories to friends, but that only works with one person at a time or in group chats you create. Instagram recently added a new feature called Close Friends that allows you to select specific followers who can see your private posts.
You can create a list of up to 20 users to add to your Close Friends list. You can add or remove users from the list at any time. You can also edit your list by navigating to your profile and tapping the menu icon in the upper right corner. When you create a new post, you will see an option at the bottom of the screen to tap Close Friends. Once you do, the post will only be visible to those you added to your list and will not appear in your feed or anywhere else on Instagram.
When you go live on IG, only your Close Friends will be able to see the video. This is a great way to connect with people and build relationships. You can also use it to show a more personal side of your business or brand, which can help make you more relatable and increase engagement. For example, you can invite guests to join your IG live to discuss a topic or give a product review.
It’s important to have a stable internet connection for Instagram Live. If you have a weak connection, it may cause your live stream to break or stop. You should also avoid using other apps while streaming on Instagram Live. If you want to watch Instagram Live from a computer, download the BlueStack app. It’s available for both Windows and Mac.
If you’d like to share a post or Story with your Close Friends, simply tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the post and select “Share to Close Friends.” This will only be available for 24-hours, after which the content will return to your main feed.
- Tap Close Friends
Instagram’s Close Friends list feature gives you the ability to handpick the followers who see your content and communicate with them directly. It’s perfect for those who want to share photos or videos that they don’t want their general audience to see – like the kids’ latest pics or a sneaky online purchase. And it’s also great for businesses who want to create a community of VIP clients who receive exclusive content.
To get started, tap the menu button (three lines) at the top right of your Instagram profile and select Close Friends. You’ll then see a list of your current followers sorted by who you follow. Tap on the name of the follower you’d like to add to the list and you’ll be able to manage their visibility and engagement with your stories from the profile screen.
Once you’ve created a list, you can easily upload a story for your Close Friends by tapping the circle with a green label on the bottom left of your screen. You can then add text, stickers or polls as you would with any other Instagram Stories post. You can also swipe up on the camera screen to take a photo or video.
Your Close Friends list is only visible to you, and people won’t be notified that they’ve been added or removed from it. However, users can tell that you’ve shared a story with Close Friends by looking at the green ring around the profile picture in your Stories feed or on their own profiles.
You can edit your list at any time, just go to your profile and tap the menu button in the top right. From there, you can tap Close Friends and then tap Edit to remove or add users as needed. You can also delete a list entirely from this menu, which will erase all of the contents and photos attached to that list. If you decide to re-create the list, you’ll need to start from scratch again with a new set of users. And don’t forget to check out your insights and analytics after sharing a story with Close Friends – this will give you valuable insights into who is engaging with your content.