Whether IGTV is a flop or a top performer depends less on the platform than on your approach. Instagram is deliberately expanding IGTV into a network for longer shows, similar to YouTube, only on the smartphone. If you get started now, you'll encounter a format that still offers room for new voices. In this guide, I'll show you how to set up your IGTV channel, upload your first video, and design it so that it gets attention in the feed and in your Stories.
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Key Takeaways
- IGTV offers reach and potential, especially for businesses and creators who want to show longer content.
- You set up your channel directly via the IGTV interface. It only takes a few clicks.
- Title, description, hashtags, and location are crucial on Instagram for making your video discoverable.
- A cover image in the 1:1.55 format is one of the factors that determine whether people click on your video.
- You can also share your video in the feed, on your Facebook page, and in Stories.
- The most important factor remains the added value for your followers. A video has to solve a problem or fulfill a need.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Log in to Instagram and open IGTV
First, log in to your Instagram account. Then tap the IGTV icon at the top. The IGTV interface opens and shows you the content that already exists on the platform. The actual setup only begins here.
Step 2: Create a channel
In the IGTV view, you'll find the gear icon at the top right. Tap it to open the settings. There, you select the option to create your channel. Instagram will then show you some notes, for example about longer videos and vertical formats. Confirm them step by step with "Next" until you reach the end. After that, your channel is set up.
Step 3: Upload the first video via the plus icon
After setup, you'll see your channel, which may still be empty at first. As soon as you tap the plus icon, you can upload videos that are already saved on your smartphone. Select the video you want to publish. Make sure it has already been edited, because a video with unfinished passages quickly looks unprofessional.
Step 4: Select a finished, edited video or record directly
You have two options. Either you upload a fully edited video from your gallery, or you record the video directly in the app and publish it immediately. Recording directly is especially suitable for spontaneous insights. For a tutorial or a show, however, it's worth editing cleanly beforehand on the computer or smartphone.
Step 5: Set the title, description, hashtags, and location
In the next window, you assign a meaningful title. Then you write a description that summarizes the content in a few sentences. Add suitable hashtags so that users can find your video via search terms. You can also specify a location. On Instagram, this information is among the most important elements because it directly influences how discoverable your video is. On YouTube there are no hashtags; there you use tags instead. The principle remains the same, though: the platform has to understand what your video is about.
Step 6: Insert a link in the description
A special feature of IGTV is the ability to place a link in the description. This is especially useful if you want to refer to an online course, a product, or your website. For example, you can upload a promo video for an online course and link directly below it to the corresponding course page. This way, you lead interested viewers straight to your offer.
Step 7: Design a Cover Image in the Right Format
The cover image is the first thing viewers see of your video. It should be in portrait format with a ratio of 1:1.55, for example 420 x 654 pixels. Keep the design clean, with a clear motif and a short, easily readable text. Make sure the image is immediately understandable even on a small smartphone display. A strong cover image increases the chance that someone will click on your video.
Step 8: Decide Whether the Video Appears in the Feed
Instagram asks you whether your IGTV video should also be displayed in the feed. If you activate this option, the video frame at the very beginning of your video appears in your followers' feed. Therefore, make sure that the opening of your video is appealing. With this feature, you reach people who would otherwise never open IGTV. The preview in the feed lasts up to one minute. However, you don't have to use it.
Step 9: Share the Video on Facebook
If you have connected your Instagram account to your Facebook page, you can publish your IGTV video there directly as well. This way, you reach two networks at the same time with one upload. Before sharing, check whether the connection is active so that the post also arrives there.
Step 10: Share a Preview in Your Stories
Stories are an excellent way to spark curiosity. Share a short preview from your IGTV video as a story and add a swipe-up. This lets viewers get directly from your story to the full video. If you are already familiar with Stories, this step is quickly implemented and often brings you more views than you expect.
Step 11: Plan Content with Added Value
Technology is only half of success. For every video, think about which problem you are solving or which need you are fulfilling. A good option is behind-the-scenes insights, such as how a shoot works or how a production comes about. Tutorials, product presentations, and personal experiences also work well. Always ask yourself the question from your followers' perspective: What interests them, and what can I give them? Anyone who plans this way creates videos that people enjoy watching and recommend to others.
Summary – Setting Up IGTV: Step-by-Step Guide for Your First Channel
You set up your IGTV channel in a few steps by logging in, opening the settings via the gear icon, and creating the channel. Then you upload an edited video and assign a title, a description, suitable hashtags, and a location. A link in the description, an appealing cover image in the 1:1.55 format, and distribution via the feed, Facebook, and Stories increase the reach of your video. However, the decisive success factor remains the added value you offer your followers.
FAQ
Do I need my own channel for IGTV?Yes, you create your channel directly in the IGTV view via the gear icon.
Can I record a video directly in the app?Yes, you can record a video and upload it immediately. For edited content, however, uploading finished, edited files is recommended.
What format should my cover image have?The cover image should have a ratio of 1:1.55, for example 420 x 654 pixels.
Can I add a link to my IGTV description?Yes, you can add a link, for example to an online course or your website.
Is my IGTV video automatically displayed in the feed?No, sharing to the feed is optional. You decide yourself whether the video frame should appear in the feed.
How long is the preview in the feed?The preview in the feed can be up to one minute long.
Can I also share my IGTV video on Facebook?Yes, if you have connected your Instagram account to your Facebook page, you can share the video there.
How do I get more viewers for my IGTV video?Share a preview as a story with a swipe-up, use suitable hashtags and a meaningful title, and design an appealing cover image.
What content suits IGTV well?Behind-the-scenes insights, tutorials, product presentations, blog posts, and personal experiences work well.
What is the most important success factor on IGTV?The most important factor is the added value for your followers. Your videos should solve a problem or fulfill a need.
