Instagram is making changes to its app by adding shortcuts to link to external web addresses and share with other people in its Stories. This tweak to Instagram is one of many changes to be rolled out this year with a new focus on TikTok like Reels and the introduction of shopping tools.

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook also wants to overhaul how you share content on the popular Stories feature, which shows an ephemeral slideshow of photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. This update will be a huge boost to users with a small profile if it’s rolled out more widely. To share links on Instagram Stories you must have over 10,000 followers or have a verified account. This gives you the ‘swipe up’ function letting you link a website or promote a product.

Instagram wants to give the power back to people by testing a new ‘link’ sticker which could let anyone add links to their Stories. It will work the same way a ‘swipe up’ link does but can be placed anywhere on the image. Anyone will be able to reply to the Story containing the link which is something that currently you can not do.

If this feature however leads to too much spam or fake news then Instagram will switch it off again.

Their second update might have already landed in your app. At the moment it’s common for users to share other people’s Feed posts on their own Story. According to Instagram this is a bit annoying for other users so it’s making the process a little bit more complicated. Instead of pressing the ‘share’ button you’ll have to open a new Story and select ‘stickers’. Buried among the option to add location hashtags or polls you find the ‘reshare’ option. 

Selecting this option will bring up a list of posts you have recently viewed. There are also options to see your saved posts and you own Feed posts. Select any of these to add the image and link to your Story. The company hopes it will encourage users to get more creative.

Their final update that we are highlighting today is the launching of ads on the Shop tab. This allows brands to showcase their products to social media users who are already in the mood to browse. Ads will appear as tiles on the Shop tab homepage enabling browsers to click on the ad and be brought directly product details where potential purchasers can read up on the item and browse additional products from the brand.

If you don’t want to purchase right there and then Instagram has also provided a handy feature to save the product on a personal wishlist or share it with your friends. This International roll out will encompass all countries where Instagram Shop is already in operation. 

This marks the latest stage in Facebook’s ongoing commercialisation strategy to monetise every corner of its social media empire with adverts already on Reels, Stories, Sticker ads as well as individual feeds, the Explore tab and suggested posts.

Partner brands including Fenty Beauty have already started pre release testing for the new format which can include either a single image or a carousel in categories such as travel beauty and interior design.

If you’d like to be part of the action contact your urbanmedia representative or drop us a line on hello@urbanmedia.ie.

Bringing your message to new urban audiences.

urbanmedia is now on Instagram, follow us @urbanmediairl.

Visit NYOnUs.com to play the game

We provide marketing solutions across onair, online and onstreet in the major urban centres of Ireland.

We represent the market leading radio assets of Dublin’s FM104 and Q102, Cork’s 96FM / C103, Limerick’s Live95FM, Galway Bay FM, WLR in Waterford, LMFM across the Northeast and U105 in Belfast.

urbanmedia is wholly owned by Wireless Group and represents their media assets in Ireland along with those of the partners we represent – Galway Bay FM and WLR.

onair

Every day we create great engaging and thought provoking onair content and we want to build advertising solutions around this to ensure that your message is received in an environment where it is most likely to be acted upon.

online

Our freshly recruited content and digital online team are creating and curating content across our network. We analyse the results to deliver what our audience want in a way that they can easily digest. We’re creating great video, visual and written content and developing web and social assets to share. There are opportunities across native content as well as sponsorship of some of our bespoke online features.

onstreet

Every day our onstreet teams are out and about in the key urban areas interacting with our audiences. We can develop a concept to create a big impact onstreet and drive footfall to your location. We can deliver your product to an urban audience from a trusted and respected source.

urban recovery

As Ireland’s economy continues to recover, it’s clear to see that it is being driven from the urban areas of Ireland.

Urbanisation continues apace with the 2016 census likely to show a further increase in this trend as people move to urban centres to better economic, education, transport, retail, broadband and employment infrastructure.

We’re seeing a premium audience developing in these areas with both earning and spending power higher than that of their rural counterparts and we’re delivering that audience through our onair and online offerings as well as face to face onstreet every day.

new journey

Today is the start of a new journey for us, a journey that we want to take with you, our client partners.

We’ll be in touch over the coming weeks to discuss it further. In the meantime  check out our launch promotion, The Big Apple Giveaway, where you could win a trip to New York. We’ll be out and about to show you how to play it over the coming days.

If you’ve any queries let’s talk on hello@urbanmedia.ie or on 01 8506587