With over 2.58 billion monthly active users, YouTube is arguably the largest long-form video-sharing platform and the 4th-most-popular social media platform. This makes it a great platform for increasing brand awareness and building brand trust. However, with a diverse range of content formats, metrics, and audiences, creating outstanding YouTube content can prove challenging.

To succeed on YouTube, you need a good understanding of the difference between long-form and short-form content and how you can leverage the two-content format to grow your channel. In this article, we will guide you on how you can combine long-form and short videos to take your YouTube channel to the next level.

Importance of Combining Long-Form With Short Videos

Many YouTube content creators are often torn between long-form and short-form content. The answer to this question lies in balancing the two content formats to ensure the maximum ROI without burning out. The numbers tell a different story: YouTube Shorts generate over 200 billion views every day. On the other hand, long-form videos are ideal for boosting watch time and ad revenue per viewer. Therefore, to generate sustained growth, it is recommended to use both formats.

For instance, you can leverage YouTube Shorts to grow your following. The short, in this case, acts as a funnel, drawing people into the longer, more deeply engaging longform content. Instead of choosing between long-form and short-form content, you create a conversion system that feeds on one another.

The Business Case of YouTube Longform Videos

YouTube long-form videos usually last more than three minutes and require more resources to produce. On the other hand, longer videos often have a higher ROI than short-form videos because the content can be evergreen. Because they drive viewer engagement, long-form YouTube videos can be a good choice for increasing your content's reach, driving sales, and building trust.

Pros of Long-Form YouTube Videos

YouTube’s long-form videos have several benefits, such as:

Creating a Loyal Fan Base

With the long-form YouTube videos, you can dive deeper into a topic, which is a good format for sharing in-depth tutorials and behind-the-scenes videos. This content format can be a good choice for fostering a deeper, more personal connection with your audience. You can, therefore, use the content format to position yourself as an expert and a thought leader in your niche.

Higher Sales Potential and Revenue

YouTube long-form videos can be a good choice for explaining your product features and what makes them valuable and unique. It can offer a detailed approach that influences your potential customers, especially those looking to buy higher-priced products.

Better Discoverability in the Search Engines

The shelf life of long-form content is usually longer. That means the content will continue to attract viewers months or even years after its upload, especially if viewers find its format valuable. That is why, when using this content format. It's also advisable to use YouTube SEO to optimize your content.

Drawbacks of Long-Form Content

On the other hand, the long-form content format can have its drawbacks, such as:

• Time-consuming. Creating long-form videos takes more effort, as you need to plan, script, film, and even edit them. If your brand has tight schedules and limited resources, this can prove challenging.
• Slower growth in views. YouTube videos usually take longer to gain traction. While they can drive long-term engagement, you will struggle to gain views, unlike Shorts, which can go viral easily.

Key Metrics to Track on YouTube Long-form Videos

When determining the success of your long-form YouTube videos, you should track various metrics such as:

CTR (Click-through Rate)

CTR is a metric that shows how often people click on your video titles and thumbnails. It’s a metric that shows your video’s ability to capture interest and attention. When you compare the CTR of different videos, you can identify the titles and thumbnails that drive the most views, thereby refining your approach to attract more clicks and interest.

Create thumbnails with clear visuals that effectively represent your video content. When designing the thumbnail, you can zoom it to determine how it will look on YouTube. You can also evaluate whether the thumbnail can effectively and clearly represent the video content.

Watch Time (Total Minutes Watched)

Watch time is a total metric that shows how many hours your video has been viewed, which is an important metric for the YouTube algorithm. When the YouTube algorithm realizes that your videos are receiving high watch time, it interprets that as a sign of engagement, leading to higher visibility in search results and to your content being recommended. You can increase your video watch time by focusing on content that drives viewer engagement and prioritizing the best-performing videos.

Average Retention Rate and View Duration

The average view duration of your videos is a metric that indicates how long each viewer watched the video. This is an important metric that can show the video’s engagement level and its effectiveness in retaining viewers. One of the ways of boosting retention and driving viewers’ engagement is by creating outstanding hooks at the beginning that draw the viewer’s interest. When you discover a section that runs slowly, you can trim it to prevent viewers from dropping off. 

Engagement Rate

The engagement rate is a metric that reflects how well the video connects with your audience. It is a good metric for showing your ability to spark interesting conversations or provide shareable, useful content. If your videos are getting high engagement, it’s an indication that they resonate with the target audience. This is, therefore, a good metric that can guide your content creation efforts in the future.

One of the top ways to increase your engagement is to add prompts in the video to encourage viewers to like, share, and comment. You can also host giveaways and contests that incentivise your audience to engage more. When viewers comment on your videos, respond to their comments to foster a sense of community.

Tips for Creating Outstanding Long-Form YouTube Videos

Now that you understand the pros, cons, and features of long-form content to watch, here are tips to succeed with long-form YouTube videos:

Choose a Good Topic

Choosing the right topics to cover in your long-form content can be challenging, so start by understanding your audience’s needs and interests, and take time to read the comments people leave on your competitor’s videos that need answers. You can also leverage social listening tools to gain deeper insights into your audience’s conversations and understand what people are saying about your brand. 

Are there any customer frustrations or product knowledge gaps that need to be addressed? These insights can be helpful when creating content that addresses your audience’s needs. It can help increase trust and strengthen your connections with viewers.

Make Some Clear Expectations at the Beginning

An important element of Shorts is the hook, which should appear within the first few seconds. However, when creating longer videos, your goal should be to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds. When your viewers understand what to expect from your videos, you can maintain their interest and achieve higher watch time. Clear expectations can include sharing a quick summary of what viewers will gain from watching the videos.

Make Your Videos Free of Clutter

You can increase viewers’ engagement by removing unnecessary elements from your videos. When doing that, consider your audience and focus more on the part they will find most valuable and interesting.

Engage with Audiences

When creating long-form YouTube videos, focus on creating content that resonates with your target audience. Look for ways to add some relatable narratives or UGC to foster a deeper connection with viewers. When your audience sees your authentic side, they are more likely to engage with your content, resulting in a higher brand recall.

A Business Case For YouTube Shorts

As the name suggests, YouTube Shorts are videos that are usually less than a minute long. This content format works well for large-scale brand discovery. With the YouTube algorithm promoting Shorts, optimizing your Shorts can help you reach thousands of viewers quickly, even if you have no subscribers or a watch history.

Key Short Metrics to Consider

When considering the performance of your YouTube Short videos, you should consider various metrics such as:

• Engagement rate. According to a 2024 study, YouTube Shorts has one of the highest engagement rates among short video platforms at 5.91%, with TikTok coming second at 5.75%. Facebook reels had the lowest engagement at 2%.
• Shareability. YouTube Shorts have an average share rate of 1.8 per 1,000 views, which is usually higher than that of traditional YouTube videos.
• View velocity. When you create viral shorts, you can gain thousands of views within a few hours of uploading.
• Comments engagement. Shorts have an average like-to-view ratio of 0.9%, which is considerably higher than the 0.45% for long-form content.

Despite the discovery advantage, there are limitations on monetization. According to research, the CPM (revenue per 1000 views) for shorts is usually 60-80% lower than that of long-form videos. This can be attributed to lower watch time and limited ad placement options. However, shorts can offer significant value for your business in different situations, such as:

• Channel discovery. If you are a new creator looking to build your subscriber base, shorts can be a better option. Because the algorithm aggressively promotes short-form content, this can be a good option for emerging channels that long-form content can’t match in terms of velocity.
• Video validation. Before you can invest heavily in long-form content, you can experiment with the idea. Three content formats can be an important mechanism for validation. When you realize that a video concept doesn't engage in 60 seconds, it will struggle to hold the audience’s attention for over 10 minutes.
• Brand presence. If you are an established creator, shorts can help you maintain visibility and drive audience engagement. This is because they signal channel activity to both your audience and algorithms.
• Identification of niche audiences. Short-form video content can be a good choice for attracting different segments of the audience. Some niches, such as dance, comedy, and quick tutorials, often excel in short-form content. Depending on your niche, you might have a larger Shorts audience.

Tips for Creating Outstanding YouTube Shorts

 To ensure success with YouTube Shorts, use the following tips:

Understand the YouTube Shorts Algorithm

The YouTube Shorts algorithm uses a system that relies on signals like engagement rate and watch time to recommend videos. The goal is to provide viewers with videos they find interesting, so they stay on the forum longer and keep coming back. To determine which videos to show to viewers, the algorithm considers the average view duration. This metric is obtained by dividing total watch time by plays. If your audience regularly skips videos before completing them, those videos will be recommended to users less often than others.

You can boost the views of your short-form videos using certain best practices, such as:

• Adding a scroll-stopping hook. It’s advisable to ensure your shorts begin with a strong hook. They should start with an element of entertainment and intrigue to add value.
• Conduct competitor research. Competitor research doesn’t mean you copy their content. It means getting inspired by their content. Therefore, check your competitor’s videos to see the content generating the most views and see how you can create better content than them. You can also experiment with different Short features, such as styles, formats, and video length.

Use an Attention-Grabbing Title and Description

The title is one of the most important factors in determining whether people click on your Shorts. It will not only prevent viewers from swiping to the next video but also increase engagement and discoverability. When creating the title and description, ensure they accurately reflect the video and align with your overall subject or niche. This can be an effective way to improve your search engine visibility.

Additionally, creating informative and high-quality content can lead to more likes, shares, and comments, increasing engagement and causing the algorithm to recommend your Shorts even more. Use the description to add context to the video’s subject. This can help search engines index content faster, allowing the short to reach a larger audience.

Understand the Elements of High-Quality Videos

The number one factor in the success of your YouTube Shorts is the quality of your videos and how well they meet your target audience's needs. When we speak of high-quality content, we mean a strong storyline with great visuals and audio that easily capture the viewer’s attention. 

Here are a few tips:

• Video quality. Ensure that you have the necessary tools for video production to ensure crisp images and visuals.
• Original content. Make sure the content in your Short videos is original and unique, so they stand out from the competition. If you are creating a short on non-original content, you can offer a fresh perspective. For instance, you can use storytelling to introduce a challenge for your target audience to overcome. You can also build the climax by offering important insights and providing a satisfying closure that shows the journey’s transformation.

Create Trending Content with Trending Music/Sound

A  good idea when creating YouTube Shorts is to focus on trending content. Whether it’s a meme, a challenge, or a song, you should focus on creating a video that taps into a viral trend. Also, use trending music and sounds in your video to boost your content's discoverability. 

Here are tips for using trending sounds and music:

• Check the YouTube audio library. This offers a wide variety of sounds and tracks you can use in your short videos.
• Add music to the content. Instead of simply adding a popular song to your content, you can make it part of the content. Use storytelling, synchronized cuts, and even choreographic movement to match the music tone and beat.
• Choose your genre’s music. When you add the right sounds with visuals, you can enhance the impact of your Shorts video.
• Get a license for the music. The choice of music can impact your revenue, and therefore, you should be careful to use sound efforts and music that doesn't violate copyright. Either obtain a license to use the music or select royalty-free music on platforms such as Envato.

Drive Engagement

To increase your content’s reach and gain more dedicated followers, engage in conversations with your audience. You can drive your audience’s engagement on YouTube Shorts in different ways, such as:

• Responding to comments. When your audience comments on your posts, respond to them. Also, host giveaways, ask your audience questions, and send them a shoutout. This can be a good strategy to increase audience engagement, which also signals to YouTube that you are creating highly relevant videos.
• Host Lives/Q&As. You can drive user engagement by hosting Q&A and live sessions. This will enable your viewers to interact with your content in real-time, creating a sense of community. The events can also help you promote shorts and generate traffic for them.

Be Consistent in Posting

If you want to leverage YouTube Shorts to grow your audience, you need to maintain a consistent posting schedule. When you create a posting schedule and adhere to it, not only will it satisfy your audience’s need for fresh content, but it can also help drive consistent engagement, enabling sustainable channel growth in the long run. 

There are several tips you can use to maintain a consistent posting schedule. These include:

• Choose the right posting schedule. This could be once a week or every day.
• Ensure that your audience understands what you will be posting. You can let them know when they should expect fresh content from your channel. You can even create short video teasers before your actual posting date to drive the hype.
• Consider batch creation. You can create several videos and edit them simultaneously to save time and ensure a consistent flow of ready-to-post content.

Use Hashtags

Make sure you add two to three hashtags in your short video description to boost the content’s reach. Many creators also create some specific hashtags for their product launches. When used well, they enhance YouTube SEO and help YouTube better categorize your content, making it easier to reach your target audience.

When viewers click on or search for a hashtag, your videos will be among the results. When you strategically use relevant, popular hashtags, you will attract more views, drive engagement, and grow your YouTube Shorts audience.

Cross-Promote Your Shorts

Short-form content has an advantage in that it's perfect for repurposing and redistribution. You can cross-promote your shorts on other platforms, such as Instagram Reels and TikTok. You can even embed the shorts in your website to drive visitor engagement. By redistributing your shorts across other social media platforms, you can reach a larger audience and maximize the content's reach. 

In Conclusion: Creating a Hybrid System

The best YouTube growth strategy is the one that combines a long-form and Shorts video strategy. According to various studies, creators who combine YouTube Shorts with long-form videos as part of their growth strategy experience 41% higher channel growth than those who don't. This is because a hybrid system that combines both formats can leverage the benefits of each format.

The short videos can be effective for a short-funnel audience because they are promoted by the algorithm, are low-friction, and made specifically for casual viewers. On the other hand, the long-form content is perfect for converting the audience into subscribers and community members. The videos can help build their trust and show your expertise. 

Therefore, use the steps above to combine long-form and short videos for your YouTube growth. You can read our guide on repurposing podcast clips for YouTube Shorts and TikTok.

While many people use Instagram to connect with their family and friends, the platform has now become a tool for making money. The addition of features such as Instagram Shop and Instagram Live Shopping allows users to make money on the platform.

From selling products on the platform to affiliate marketing and influencer marketing, there are many ways to make money on Instagram. It is important for small businesses to create an Instagram marketing strategy.  In this article, we guide you on making money on Instagram without sponsorship.

Top 10 Most Effective Ways to Monetize Instagram

If you are looking for a way to make money on Instagram, here are some of the top options you should consider:

Become a Creator on Instagram

Just like other social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, Instagram pays creators to publish content. However, to benefit from ad-sharing revenue on Instagram, you will need a business account rather than a personal one. If you already have a personal account, you don't need to worry; you can convert it to a business account using the following steps.

• Visit your profile. Once there, tap on the three horizontal lines located at the far corner.
• Go to Settings, then Account. You can then tap on Switch to Professional Account. If you are a business, select the Business option under Account Type, then follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Once you are a creator on Instagram, you can earn in various ways, such as:

Live Badges

After creating an Instagram account, you can now focus on the profile and the bio. Remember, the profile will provide the first impression. You may also need to enable the Live badge feature, which lets fans show their support for you. To do that, go to Profile, then the professionals dashboard, then Grow Your Business, then Badges. After going Live, you can click the badges icon on the left side of the screen to turn them on.

Instagram Gifts

Instagram allows your followers to send you a gift if they find your content valuable. They can do that by buying stars and sending them during the live videos or within eligible posts to show their appreciation. A star is worth $0.01, and your earnings will depend on the number of stars you receive.

You can activate the Instagram Gift feature under the professional dashboards of the Instagram app. After you enable it, your fans can send gifts for eligible reels. This can be a powerful motivator for creators to keep creating quality content.

Bonuses

As the name suggests, Instagram gives you bonuses when you hit a particular milestone, such as IGTV ad signups, meeting the milestone for lives, or creating a certain number of Reels. However, before you try to earn using this method, you need to realize that the program is invite-only.

Instagram Shop

An Instagram shop functions as a traditional online store built on the Instagram platform. Once you have opened an IG Shop, you can upload product images, add prices, and add a description of the merchandise. You can then have users discover the items and buy them directly in the app.

 Here are the steps to create an Instagram shop.

• Create a business account.
• Connect to the Facebook page.
• Complete a review of the account.
• Turn on the Shopping.

You may also need to leverage Instagram shoppable stickers to boost sales.

Do Affiliate Marketing

If you don’t qualify as a creator on Instagram and don't have products to sell, you don't need to worry, as you can still make money by promoting other people’s products and getting paid a commission for every sale made through your affiliate links. When doing affiliate marketing on Instagram, you can expect commissions of between 5% and 30%. 

At times, Instagram affiliate marketers are often also referred to as Brand Ambassadors. You can apply to become one on the company’s website, or you may be approached by a brand to help promote their products. Remember that you can add product links in your Instagram bio or in Stories.

Sell Digital Assets

Instagram is a highly visual platform, so if you are a photographer, designer, or creative, you can benefit from the platform's talent. You can sell the photos to other businesses, such as the travel industry, so they can use them as illustrations. However, you will need to ensure that you are creating high-quality digital products that are in demand, such as templates, ebooks, courses, and presets.

As noted earlier, you will also need a business/professional account. Make sure you include a clear profile picture and a bio that explains the value proposition and includes a call to action. You can integrate external platforms that can be easily integrated into the platforms, such as Shopify and Stan Store, as Instagram no longer allows in-app checkout. You can then add the link in the bio.

Share Gated Content

Humans are curious creatures by nature and are always looking for ways to keep learning. Instagram offers you an opportunity to create an online course and to earn money with each registration. On average, a course costs $100, with longer, more intensive ones costing more. However, you don't have to limit yourself to the courses. You can also create eBooks, guides, templates, and whitepapers.

Dropshipping Products

If you don't have products to sell on Instagram, one option to consider is dropshipping. This is an effective model because it allows you to run a store even without inventory. Additionally, this strategy helps you to choose from thousands or millions of suppliers. You can sell a wide range of products such as books, t-shirts, pillows, and mugs.

You don't have to worry about the logistics of shipping products and can even set your own price. When ready to promote the dropshipping business, you can consider having a dedicated page where you will be showcasing the products you are selling to maximize sales.

Instagram Feature Account

The Instagram feature account is a better choice for showcasing images from different creators in your niche. For instance, if you are a travel page, you can showcase the images of different travel destinations. After growing the account to a large following, you can offer paid spots to users who need to be featured in the Instagram feed or Stories.

As long as you have a considerable following, many are willing to invest their money. While this method of making money on Instagram doesn’t require purchasing any physical goods, you will need to invest sufficient time and resources to grow the account.

Tips to Succeed When Monetizing Instagram

To increase your chances of success when monetizing Instagram, use the following tips:

Choose a Niche

You need to select a niche where you will be focusing most of your efforts. This will make it easier for you to gain followers and secure brand partnerships when you have a specific, clear target audience. For instance, a food influencer can have a very broad scope. That is why you might want to focus on gluten-free or vegan cuisine. Focusing on a subject can help you differentiate yourself from the competition and make you more relevant to brands in the industry.

Engage with Audiences

Build a strong community by liking, commenting, and sharing other users’ content. Otherwise, if you are only taking that beautiful shot and hitting publish, this won't work. Instead, you need to make it possible for users to see your brand as a real person. Storytelling is an important part of driving engagement across social media platforms, including Instagram. Therefore, hone your storytelling skills.

Understand the Best Posting Time

You need to focus on posting when your followers are most online to maximize engagement. Check Instagram Insights to determine the best time to post. When you regularly update these details, you can ensure that your posts go live when your audience is most likely to engage with them. You can also experiment with different posting schedules to determine the one that works best for you and drives the highest engagement.

Leverage a Multichannel Approach

The fact that you are monetizing Instagram doesn't mean you should ignore other social media accounts, such as TikTok and YouTube. You can cross-promote your Instagram account on other platforms, which will help you attract the right audience. You can even extend your reach to other platforms for generating money, like Patreon.

Stay Proactive

Remember that making money on Instagram isn't a one-day affair you can run and forget. You will need to keep pushing. Do brand collaboration and influencer marketing to increase the reach of your marketing messages.

Leverage Instagram Analytics

You can use the Instagram analytics tools to track what is working and what isn’t. Check metrics such as profile visits, content reach, and engagement rate to see whether you are getting the desired results and to identify any areas for improvement. Check the best-performing posts by looking at the number of shares, comments, and saves to get insight into the kind of content that resonates with your target audience. Keep an eye on Instagram trends to understand the direction the content is taking.

In Conclusion

Unlike the past, when people used Instagram as a hobby, the platform is now used to make money. From dropping shipping products to becoming a creator, there are many ways you can use Instagram to make money. We recommend you read our guide on how newbies can monetize YouTube videos.

The social media landscape has changed in recent years, driven by frequent algorithm updates that have reduced organic reach. That means, unlike the past when creators could post on Instagram and wait for engagement, you need to do more to drive engagement on social media posts. 

With the algorithm also prioritizing content that drives engagement, you should focus on building a community rather than just getting followers. In this article, we guide you through creating an engaged community on Instagram.

Why Take a Community First Approach on Instagram?

Instagram community building can be a strategic move that goes beyond just gaining followers. Instead, it aims to create an environment where people are connected, heard, and involved. 

Here are some great reasons to consider community building, especially when using Instagram for small-business marketing.

• Ensure a deeper relationship with customers. Online communities foster communication with your customers and help you gather feedback. Rather than just broadcasting messages, you focus on meaningful interactions that build trust, humanize your brand, and increase engagement and loyalty.
• Higher level of brand awareness and visibility. Having an active, highly engaged audience can help enhance your organic reach. As people like, comment on, or share your content, you increase your chances of appearing in their feeds, improving your network’s visibility. For instance, when you create a well-timed post in an Instagram group, it can perform better than paid ads for certain marketing goals if you have a highly engaged community.
• Get feedback in real-time. If you want to get instant feedback on your audience’s perception of your brand, the online communities will enable you to do that. Whether you want to get feedback on product features or suggestions for new product development, Instagram communities can help.
• Get brand advocates. You can use AI-driven social listening tools to analyze sentiment and identify recurring content themes that resonate with your community, so you can focus on building campaigns around those themes.
• Brand advocates empowerment. Community members are often among the top brand advocates, as your loyal customers share experiences, support one another, and even defend your brand. You can reward super fans and top contributors with special promotions, recognition, and perks that strengthen their connection to your brand.
• Higher ROI. While building an Instagram community takes effort, the returns in the long run can be self-sustaining. This is because the members can create content marketing for your brand, respond to other customers’ queries, and even motivate one another to patronize your products or services.

Steps in Creating a Thriving Instagram Community

To create a highly engaged Instagram community, follow these steps:

Identify Your Niche

When creating an Instagram community, ensure your goal is to build something your followers will be proud of. You will need to maintain a consistent tone to attract the same kind of followers. 

Understand Your Target Audience

Remember that the people who follow you aren’t just numbers. They are real people who could include potential influencers, brand ambassadors, fellow bloggers, and more. These people may come from different demographics, have different likes, and be from different localities. They also have needs and pain points they are trying to solve. You need to understand these audience demographics to create content that meets their needs. For instance, you can create content to go live when your target audience is mostly online.

A key part of understanding your audience is understanding the type of content that resonates better with them. Are Reels driving the highest engagement? If you are growing your social media following, you can gain important insights into your audience and how to engage them.

Engage Genuinely

When your audience engages with your content, be sure to respond, whether it's a compliment or a question. At times, the comments can be overwhelming. While you try to respond to them all, set aside some time to address them. Not only does the activity on the post help to boost it, but it will also increase the number of responses on your post.

No matter how basic a comment may feel, take time to respond to it. This will show that you appreciate the people who interact with the post. You make your followers feel seen and heard, making them more loyal to your community.

When you notice new followers you don't recognize, take time to interact with them to get to know them better. On the other hand, don’t ignore your most loyal followers. Be sure to respond to DMs too, as it helps your followers feel valued. You can read our guide on troubleshooting Instagram DM not sending messages.

Showcase Your Personality

Unless people love you and what you do, you will struggle to build a community. That’s why you need to be genuine, as Instagram users appreciate authenticity. However, you should remember that not everyone will like you, and that is okay, as it happens even with the biggest celebrities. Reels can be a great choice for showcasing your personality, as you can adapt the trends to your industry.

Be Confident

There is a good reason why you started your business, and you should showcase that. Feel free to showcase your expertise, as people want to follow those who know what they are doing. Consider the questions people are constantly asking, then go ahead and solve problems that people are searching for solutions to, and create content that helps people to achieve their goals.

Use an Attention-Grabbing Hook

No matter how good your content is, if you can't make people stop scrolling or can't catch their attention, it’s all in vain. Therefore, create an attention-grabbing headline. You can get ideas on how to create outstanding headlines from newspapers.

Provide Value

If you are providing your audience with average information, you will struggle to build a community. Remember that there are other people in your niche creating similar content, and if you don't offer them value, they will follow those people. Therefore, focus on providing quick wins to your community members.

Be Vulnerable

A common mistake that creators make is assuming that being vulnerable means sharing all their secrets. This shouldn’t be the case; it should be about being relatable. When you show vulnerability and share about your flaws, you can easily make your audience fall in love with you.

Showing vulnerability on Instagram can help build deeper trust, encourage authentic community building, and help eradicate the pressure to have a perfect profile. It can be key to transforming your followers into a highly engaged audience and making your brand more relatable in platforms dominated by curated content.

Add a Call to Action

A call to action can be an important tool for guiding your audience toward their next step, whether it’s buying a product or clicking a link. You can even create a call to action asking your audience to share any questions they may have or engage with your community. This can help drive engagement, a key ranking factor in the Instagram algorithm.

Avoid Being Technical

Many social media users prefer to read posts written at a 5th-grade level. Therefore, make sure you use a language that lets you put your points across quickly. You can check the words people use in reviews, testimonials, and DMs to get an idea of the kind of language to use.

Be Intentional in Hashtag Use

Hashtags play an important role on Instagram as they group similar content together. This makes it easier for users to find content related to events, themes, or ideas. Using the right hashtags will help put your Instagram content in front of the right people, improving your community growth.

While Instagram allows users to add up to 30 hashtags, it doesn’t mean you should use all of them. I recommend using 5 of them, as using so many can appear spammy, especially when they are repetitive and irrelevant. 

Make sure you add hashtags that are relevant to your niche, such as:

• Brand-specific hashtags. These are hashtags unique to your business needs and can include your business name, product name, tagline, or campaign name. These hashtags enhance your brand's discoverability.
• Trending hashtags. When you find trending hashtags related to your niche, feel free to use them.

You can read our guide on the best Instagram hashtags for small businesses.

Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing can be an effective way to put your community in front of the right audience, while also building relationships with people in your niche, since people follow other people and not brands. 

Collaborating with influencers can help you build trust with your current customers and minimize friction in community building. Since influencers are trusted by your audience, they can help drive hot events and discussions. They can help you to encourage UGC and to host community-focused events, which can make members feel more valued.

In Conclusion

Community building on Instagram can help drive engagement on your account and turn followers into brand advocates. It can help you gain the trust of your target audience and increase the chances of conversion. Therefore, use the tips above to build a community on Instagram.

Hundreds of hours playing your favorite games. According to creator data, you don't need a $5,000 studio to share them; a basic headset works. You don’t need to be using all the best equipment; your main goal is to provide value and entertainment to your viewers. Making a gaming channel on YouTube is like making a home movie. If you keep to the basic fundamentals of content creation, your cycle from recording to upload will prove that consistency is always better than fancy gear. A lot of changed compared to previous years, thats why we did a thorough research again and created comprehensive guideline for 2026. 

Finding Profitable Gaming Niche

Playing every game you own is fun, but standing out in YouTube's massive library requires focus. When choosing a profitable gaming niche, picking one specific game makes your videos easier to find. That search-ability means something like "How to Build a Minecraft Castle" will do much better than generic gameplay, because it answers a specific question a viewer might have. But viewers are there for your personality, so commentary, talking, reacting, and explaining as you play is key to keeping them watching. Focus on these three tried-and-true content styles:

• Let's Plays: Personality-driven walkthroughs
• Tutorials: Problem-solving and guides
• Reviews: Highly Opinion-based critiques mostly representing Subjective idea

Once your content style is established, the next priority is ensuring your production quality matches your ambition.

Crystal Clear Audio on a Budget

Viewers quickly leave videos with bad audio. Grab a USB condenser microphone, a simple tool that plugs directly into your computer for clear vocals. Finding a reliable budget gaming microphone for beginners under $50 is surprisingly easy and instantly elevates your perceived quality. Next, you must film the action. Following an OBS Studio setup guide for screen recording turns this free software into a digital camera for your monitor. Just raise your bitrate, the amount of data flowing into your video file, to keep the picture incredibly sharp. Streaming live might require much more powerful hardware than just saving files locally because your computer is simultaneously encoding and broadcasting the video. Whatever you are doing and wanting to capture, you need to properly configure your hardware setup to ensure your final export looks professional.

Using OBS Studio and Designing High-CTR Thumbnails

Capturing smooth footage requires dialing in your software. Choosing optimal bitrate settings for 60fps gameplay specifically 6000 kbps ensures OBS handles fast-paced action without turning your screen into a blurry mess. Raw recordings then need a director's touch. While any basic gaming video editing software helps you trim clips, mastering video pacing keeps audiences hooked. Simply cut out the boring travel moments and highlight those epic boss fights to respect your viewer's time. Finally, your masterpiece needs a vibrant cover. Learning how to make gaming channel art is essential for designing high-quality thumbnails. Your CTR (Click-Through Rate) simply measures how many people actually click your video. Great visual packaging guarantees your content gets the clicks it deserves, making community building your next crucial step.

What Reddit Thinks 

The community’s advice leans toward starting simple, but being strategic about focus. Several people felt that a new gaming channel has a better chance if it begins with one game, or at least one clear niche, instead of jumping between random titles too early. clatzeo made the strongest case for this, arguing that general gaming channels are harder to grow now because the space is already so crowded. VideoGameControllers added a more flexible version of that idea: pick one game or a tight niche first, then expand once there is an audience.

At the same time, the thread was not purely about chasing views. PickTheNick1 and Herculeasy pushed a more relaxed angle, saying the creator should not overthink it and should start with games they actually enjoy. The overall feeling is that consistency and enjoyment matter, but beginners should avoid being too scattered. A good middle ground would be to start with one game or one type of game, make weekly videos to test the process, and let the channel grow naturally from there.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I start a gaming YouTube channel?

You can usually base your entire account around a specific game since this has been a norm for some time at this point, although don't be afraid to expand into other video games. Just make sure you are producing content that your target audience actually enjoys. THink of games that you like to play and then compare that with what types of gamers might enjoy watching you play those games

How many YouTube views do I need to make $10,000 per month?

On average, YouTubers earn $0.001 to $0.01 per view, depending on their CPM. For example, a video with 1 million views might earn between $1,000 and $10,000 but the exact number depends highly on the niche which you are in.

With close to 3 billion MAUs as of early 2026, Instagram can be a top platform for marketing your brand, product, or service. However, as competition for discoverability on the platform increases, you need to use the right strategies to boost your visibility. One way to do that is through a strong Instagram hashtag strategy.

Using the right Instagram hashtags can help your content reach the right people, stand out, and achieve your social media goals. It can be a crucial part of an Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses. However, hashtags aren’t just a passing trend. They play an important role in categorizing the content and ensuring that it reaches your target niche. In this article, we will guide you on creating an outstanding Instagram hashtag strategy that will work in 2026.

What are Instagram Hashtags?

Instagram hashtags are words and phrases that start with the # symbol, used to discover and categorize your content so it reaches the right audience. While they no longer boost content reach, they offer important insights for the algorithm and for users searching for specific topics. It is recommended that each social media post include 3 to 5 highly relevant hashtags.

Hashtags can be a simple but powerful tool for categorizing content, enabling users to easily find topics related to their niche. From #homeworkout to #SEOtips, hashtags connect users with the content they are searching for. The Instagram algorithm prioritizes posts with relevant hashtags, enabling users to find content that aligns with their interests. When you click on or search for a specific hashtag, you can explore the reels, stories, and posts related to that topic.

Why Hashtags Matter on Instagram

While it’s no longer possible to follow hashtags on Instagram, they still play an important role. When you use the relevant hashtags in your Instagram hashtags, you can enjoy various benefits such as:

• Higher visibility. Hashtags can help you amplify the reach of your content by putting it in front of a bigger and highly targeted audience.
• Higher engagement. If your Instagram posts feature the relevant hashtags, this can increase their number of likes, shares, and comments.
• Algorithm signal. Hashtags enable the Instagram algorithm to categorize content more effectively, improving its placement in search results and on the Explore page.
• Better content organization. Hashtags can group related posts, making it easier for brands to track user-generated content.
• Community building. Hashtags bring together users with a shared passion or interest.
• Niche targeting. You can use certain hashtags to reach a highly engaged audience in a particular area of interest.
• Higher engagement. Hashtags can help show your post to communities of people searching for content in your niche. 

Developing an Instagram Hashtag Strategy

Now that you understand the role of Instagram hashtags, here are the steps to use in adding an Instagram hashtag strategy:

Research For the Relevant Hashtags

A good Instagram hashtag strategy usually begins with research. You should take the time to research your audience and identify the hashtags that resonate with them. Some of the key elements to incorporate into your hashtag strategy include:

• Audience analysis. You need to study the behaviors and interests of your target demographic to identify the hashtags they are likely to engage with. Make sure your choice of hashtags aligns with their pain points, interests, hobbies, and location.
• Hashtag relevance. When you use irrelevant or random hashtags, these will not serve the purpose and may even negatively impact your reputation and relevance. This is why you should ensure that your hashtags align with your audience’s interests, brand identity, and content strategy. 
• Competitor research. Take time to study the hashtags used by your competitors and influencers. Not only are these a great source of inspiration, but they can also provide insights into opportunities and gaps in your own content strategy.

Combine Niche with Broad Popular Hashtags

A common mistake creators make is assuming that the most popular hashtags will give them visibility. They forget that these hashtags are also used by many big brands with large audiences, making the competition for visibility stiff. This is why a good strategy should combine the niche and popular hashtags to increase engagement and reach. 

Here are examples of each of these:

• Broad and popular hashtags. These hashtags consist of broad terms such as #Love #workout or #Money that usually have millions or billions of searches. These can be a good choice for exposing your brand to millions of users, but they can be competitive.
• Niche hashtags. On the other hand, you can also use smaller, niche-specific hashtags such as #smallbusinessloans or #singlesgifts to connect your brand with your target audience. While the search volume for these hashtags is lower, they also have a higher engagement rate because they target people with a genuine interest in the content.

So, how do you combine these two categories of hashtags? If you have an Instagram page that offers financial advice, you can use the #money and the #smallbusinessloans hashtags. You can read our guide on the best Instagram hashtags for small businesses.

Add Location-Specific and Seasonal Hashtags

In addition to broad and niche hashtags, you can include season- and location-specific hashtags.

• Seasonal hashtags. These can be especially important for tapping into seasons or holiday events. For instance, in December, you can use hashtags such as #HolidayShopping. In February, you can use a hashtag, like #couplesgifts.
• Location hashtags. If your business or content targets an audience in a specific location, you can include location-specific hashtags, such as #exploresaltlakecity or #massagecalifornia. This can help you boost your visibility among the audience in that location and improve your content’s relevance.

Leveraging Hashtag Generators

One of the best ways to create hashtags easily is to leverage tools that streamline your hashtag research and save you time. Here are some of the options:

• Hashtag generators. You can use tools such as Later, Hashtagify, and Hootsuite to find some trending hashtags relevant to your niche.
• Hashtag sets. Make sure your Instagram hashtags are saved and organized by content type and theme. For instance, you can have different sets for food, fitness, and travel.

Monitor and Optimize

No matter how good your Instagram hashtag strategy is, you cannot tell whether it will work until you test it. You can, therefore, optimize your posts with the relevant hashtags. When doing that, you can track different metrics such as:

• Reach. This will track the number of unique accounts that see your posts.
• Engagement. The number of comments, shares, likes, and saves.
• Impressions. The number of views the hashtags generate.

You can use these metrics to adjust your strategy, remove the underperforming hashtags, and try out new ones.

Adding and Formatting Instagram Hashtags

You have now found the relevant hashtags to use in your content, which brings you to the next question. Where should you use them? This is an important question, as the placement of hashtags will affect everything from how the algorithm views them to audience perception. Traditionally, the caption and the first comment have been the top locations for placing hashtags.

When you put the hashtags in the caption, it means they will start to be seen immediately after you publish your posts. This can be an effective strategy, especially when you are scheduling content. However, placing the hashtag in the first comment means you will have a clean caption, allowing users to focus fully on the message. If you choose to add the caption in the first comment, you need to be fast enough to ensure your comment is the first one.

A good hashtag strategy isn’t only about knowing where to use the hashtags but also about choosing the right ones and using them well. 

Here are several tips on doing that:

• Limit the number in each post. While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, overusing them can look spammy. Ensure you add at least 3-5 hashtags. 
• Placement of hashtags. When creating Instagram stories, you can hide the hashtags behind stickers or resize them to maintain visual flow.
• Add hashtags in the comments. You should aim to keep captions clean, so place some of your hashtags in the comments section to ensure they look clean and visually appealing while still enjoying them.

No matter where you choose to add them, you should avoid having a wall of hashtags, as this looks spammy. It's also quite distracting and can dilute your message. A good idea for adding hashtags is usually to create a visual space. After adding the main message and the call to action, you can include some line breaks. You can do that using a single dash, period, or subtle emojis on every line to push down the block of hashtags. This will ensure that they appear in the read more section, providing a clean aesthetic.

In Conclusion

While Instagram has stated that hashtags will no longer be used to search for content, they can still be an important part of your posts. Not only will it group your content in the right category, but it can also help your content to be seen by the target audience. However, this can only happen when hashtags are used well. 

By following this guide, you can be assured of a good Instagram hashtag strategy that brings the desired results. We recommend you also read our guide on advanced TikTok hashtag strategies for niche markets.