Say Goodbye to the Instagram Like Count
News broke about a month ago that Instagram would be testing removing likes in other countries. This week, news broke that the updates would come to the U.S. soon! Here's what you need to know:
Why?
This isn't a business move. As stated in TechCrunch, "Instagram’s CEO explained that 'The idea is to try to depressurize Instagram, make it less of a competition, and give people more space to focus on connecting with the people they love and things that inspire them.' The intention is to 'reduce anxiety' and “reduce social comparison'."
How will this affect your business or brand?
Short answer: it won't! We stress to our clients that your social media presence should be an extension of your brand and brand experience as well as developing brand advocates. The "salesy stuff" comes second because building your brand and nurturing relationships should always come first.
How can I see post-performance?
Good news! Whoever is running your Instagram account(s) can still see the like count, total engagement, reach, and impressions.
How will we vet influencers?
Our influencer strategies will remain the same. We will first find influencers that fit your brand and target audience. From there, we will review their content, previous brand partnerships, and their followers.
When will the rollout take place?
Because this is still just a "test" rollout, this change won't happen all at once. The rollout is expected to begin this week in the U.S. and eventually hit all accounts if the test run is a success. If it's not a success, they'll likely go back to their old ways - however, we think the change is here to stay!
Our Thoughts...
We're not against this update, and we think this is a step in the right direction in improving mental health.
We are seeing the most "magic" happening in "dark" social such as Instagram stories, Facebook private groups, Email, and third-party apps. These engagements can already only be seen by the brand and it's never been an issue!
We also believe this will take the pressure off of brands and influencers to post picture-perfect content and only at a specific time. One of our favorite bloggers, Grace Atwood, has already expressed her excitement to post as much content as she wants now that she is not being judged by her like counts.
Have questions? Email me! jordan@nixcreative.co.