What You Need to Know About Instagram’s New Group Profile Feature

Instagram has come a long way. It's not just a platform for sharing pretty pictures anymore. Through the years, it has developed various tools that let users with shared passions and interests connect and build relationships. Recently, it launched another feature to support the communities on the platform–Group Profiles.

Like Facebook Groups, Instagram Group Profiles is a collaborative feature that lets users post content to a single feed. Here's everything you need to know about it so you can start exploring it and incorporating it into your social media strategy.

What Is the New Group Profile Feature on Instagram?

Group Profiles are dedicated spaces on Instagram where users can share feed posts, Stories, and Reels with their group members. It has many similarities to its predecessor, Facebook Groups, allowing multiple users to join and collaborate. There are countless creative ways to use this feature for community-building.

While Group Profiles come with many perks, it also means more responsibilities for the creators or brands who are admins of the groups. They must set the rules and regulations for the entire community and ensure everyone follows them.

The Group Profiles is still in the testing stages and is only available in Canada. However, we can expect Instagram to launch the feature worldwide soon.

How Do You Use Instagram's Group Profile Feature?

If you're familiar with Facebook Groups, Instagram's Group Profiles will be easy to navigate. But if not, here's a step-by-step guide to help you set them up, join them, and share content.

• How to Create a Group Profile

  Go to your Instagram profile, tap the plus sign in the top right corner, and choose "Group profile." As the creator of the group, you're automatically an admin and have to fill out details like group name, website, description, and privacy settings.

  One of the most important decisions you have to make as an admin is if you want your Group profile to be public or private. Once you've made your decision, you can't go back and undo it. You also have to decide whether you want to approve your members' posts before others can see them.

• How to Join a Group Profile

  

  If you want to be part of a Group Profile, you can join by typing the group's name into the search bar on the Explore page. When you're on the profile page, tap the "Join" button and wait for the admin to respond to your request.

  Admins can also invite you to join their Group Profile. You'll receive invites in your inbox, and you can respond to them by tapping the "Go to group profile" button. All the groups you join, whether public or private, will appear on your following list.

• How to Invite Members to Join Your Group Profile

  One of the best parts about being an admin is being able to invite any user to join your group. You can do so by going to your Group Profile and tapping the "Invite" button. Use the search bar to look for the users you want to invite to your community.

  You can appoint any member of your group as an additional admin, whether they joined on their own or you invited them. Every Group Profile can have a maximum of 5,000 members and 20 admins.

• How to Post Content on a Group Profile

  

  Posting on a Group Profile is similar to posting content on your regular feed. On your Group Profile, tap the plus sign and select your preferred format. It can be a Story, Reel, or feed post.

  Everything should be familiar from there. Select the image or video you want to upload, make the necessary edits, and write your description. You can also tag users or products and add a geotag. Tap "Share" on the top right corner once everything's ready.

  If the admin has turned on the "Approve posts" option, your post won't appear on the Group Profile until they've checked and accepted it. Your post will appear on the Group Profile as well as your own. However, the group's name will appear instead of your handle.

Creative Ways to Use Instagram's Group Profile Feature

Instagram's new Group Profile feature opens up endless possibilities for creating value and driving engagement. While it's not yet available worldwide, it can't hurt to start planning your future Group Profile content. Here are some ideas you can explore.

• Welcome Posts

  

  There's no better way to launch your Group Profile than with a welcome post. You can tag the group members to maximize the post's exposure and drive engagement. When you greet them individually, they'll feel like a part of the group from the get-go and will be more inclined to comment and reach out to others. You can create welcome posts regularly as your group continues to grow.

• Promotional Posts

  If you have a group of business owners, brands, or creators, you can encourage them to promote their current projects. It's a win-win for everyone because you can learn from and support each other. It's also a great way to find partners you can collaborate with to widen your audience, boost sales, and reach your other goals.

• Success Posts

  You can use your Group Profile to celebrate successes. When you show appreciation for people's hard work, it helps them feel seen and can motivate them to keep going. Once a week, you can encourage members to share their wins and acknowledge each other's success stories. It's also an effective way to drive engagement within the group.

• Run Polls

  

  If you need insights for a new project you're working on, your group members can provide you with the information you need. You can post a Story and use the poll sticker to ask a question and get everyone's opinion. People love to give their two cents about everything, so it's a win-win for everyone.

The Bottom Line

Instagram is always looking for ways to boost engagement on the platform, and the Group Profile feature can help with that. It's a new way for people to get creative, connect, and collaborate.