Views are now the Primary Metric for Instagram Content

Welcome back to another SDA blog! This time we will be updating you on the updated primary metric for Instagram. Adam Mosseri, Chief of
Instagram, announced early August that views are now the primary metric for all posting formats on Instagram. This includes reels, live, photos,
carousels and stories. Let’s discuss how this will affect you and how to approach this new style of metrics.

Why is Instagram placing a focus on views?

Instagram wants users to prioritise how many accounts your content reaches instead of focusing on increasing your followers or likes. Now
that posts can appear on your feed from people you also don’t follow from Metas AI recommendations this means the quality of your content
has never been more important to reach accounts and in return gain views. Increasing your followers and likes don’t hold the same value as
they use to.

What counts as a ‘View’?

For reels, a view counts when it starts to play or has been replayed. For the remaining formats, it is counted as many times it appears on each
accounts screen.

Where to find the views metric:

The views can be found in the usual insights section of each post, instead of ‘plays’ it says ‘views’, other metrics such as
accounts reached, accounts engaged, interactions and watch time are still be visible in the same location.

What does this mean for you?

The quality of your content needs to meet current trends to suit your target audiences and your brand values, this is essential to maintain or
improve your views. Considering paid ads would also be beneficial to drive your content on non-follower accounts.

Quick tips to increase views:

• Hyper aware of trends

• Focus on ‘sends’ - relatable content that will influence accounts to
  send to other accounts on the platform.

• Frequent posting

• Paid Ads

To Wrap Up:

Here in SDA, we feel it is extremely important to stay up to date on the newest trends and platform changes to get the optimal use and results
from your time and effort spent into social. By adapting to updates such as this, you will most definitely reap the awards! And remember if
keeping up with socials is beginning to get overwhelming for you and your business you can hand over the reins to us, you know where to find
us.