Leveraging IGTV to Appear on Explore Page
Published on 28.03.2026 by Chizoba T
Creating different content formats can be a good strategy for setting yourself apart from the competition and increasing your visibility on the Instagram Explore page. While IGTV content hasn't received the same level of promotion as reels, it's still a popular content format on Instagram that can help you increase engagement. In this article, we look at how to leverage IGTV to appear in the Explore page.
What is IGTV?
Launched in 2018, IGTV is a dedicated feature and a standalone Instagram app that enables creators to share long-form vertical videos. This feature was supposed to be a competitor to YouTube, allowing the creation of videos ranging from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. Creators with verified social media accounts can post videos up to 60 seconds long.
Ways to Use IGTV
If you are trying to use IGTV to increase your visibility, reach a new audience, or generate social media leads, here are some ideas for using the content format:
Repurpose Previously Published Content
If you previously created YouTube or long-form Facebook video content that performed exceedingly well, IGTV offers a greater opportunity to share it. You can also repurpose listicles and short tips for IGTV. However, if the videos are already in a horizontal format, you will need to edit them to fit the right format.
Make sure you pay attention to how your audience will react to this long-form content. You can use the data to share essential stories and insights about your brand.
Create Exclusive Content for a Niche Audience
As noted earlier, IGTV content isn’t as popular as reels. That also means you need to be more strategic in building an audience for your IGTV channel. One of the best strategies for doing that is building a niche community that can access your exclusive content. When you provide your audience with a steady stream of outstanding, exclusive content, you can help them build an emotional connection with your brand.
You can share behind-the-scenes content that shows your products at different stages, such as production, development, and distribution. The good thing with these kinds of videos is that they will not require any extra editing, as authentic content is winning over polished content. You can also cover your company events in your IGTV, such as speaking engagements, industry trade shows, and social gatherings.
Share Stories of Your Loyal Customers
Studies indicate that customers tend to trust recommendations from other customers more than brand messaging. When they see stories of customers sharing what they love about your brand, they are more likely to trust the messaging. Therefore, it would be a good idea to spotlight some of your loyal customers on IGTV. Feature them in your videos while explaining to the viewers why they love your products or services.
Share Tutorials that Highlight the Features of a Product
Brands now use IGTV to integrate products with instructional content, such as how-tos, webinars, and tutorials. Educational videos can be a good way to introduce your brand and build trust through social selling.
You can use the feature to teach followers something you already love about your business and enable them to follow in real time. No matter the product you are offering, whether fitness classes, home repairs, or makeup tutorials, long-length videos allow you to create evergreen video content. You can then use them to manage your brand narrative in the digital environment.
Create a Show Series to Grow Your Community
IGTV is a modern form of television, so you can use the same approach as you would on television. All you need to do is create some weekly or monthly segments of the recurring content. When doing that, remain consistent, as people love predictability. If you keep publishing episodes regularly, you can create a community of dedicated followers who will keep watching your IGTV.
AMA Sessions or Q&A Answers
AMA and Q&A sessions are effective strategies for directly engaging audiences. You can use them to increase your engagement while providing the necessary information. When you show that you are open and more committed to discussions and even answering questions, people will begin to trust you and rely more on the business.
You can compile a list of the most popular questions and create a video answering them before posting it on your IGTV channel. You can also add stickers on Instagram Stories to gather the relevant questions before answering them in the next session.
Create Content Around Your Brand
You can create a variety of content around your branding, ranging from promos to DIY videos and walkthroughs. While doing that, you can watch videos that range from 2 to 10 minutes. Some of the most popular content formats are short instructional videos, especially when your channel’s theme is consistent. That is why channels such as National Geographic are quite popular on the platform.
Similarly, internet celebrity and model Hannah Stocking also has an exclusive series, “The Science of Beauty,” that makes quick, helpful videos about her work. These videos have proven to be very successful, amassing millions of views with each episode lasting for two to three minutes.
Top IGTV Tips for Success
To increase your chances of success with IGTV content, consider using the following tips:
- Create vertical videos. Instagram encourages vertical videos in IGTV, so it is advisable to use this format.
- Create videos between 1 and 15 minutes. Again, make sure your content meets the recommended length and doesn't exceed it.
- Add an IGTV artwork. Similar to a YouTube thumbnail, an IGTV artwork lets you upload a cover photo. You can use tools like Photoshop or Canva to create a video cover.
- Keep your content fresh and original. To make your IGTV content stand out, keep it original and fresh. Make sure you provide your audience with outstanding content that offers a fresh perspective.
In Conclusion
If you would like to share a brand story but feel a reel is too short, IGTV can be a good option. From uploading interviews with experts to showcasing customer testimonials to taking viewers behind the scenes, there is a lot you can do with this content format. Therefore, if you are wondering how to leverage IGTV, our guide will help you get started.