On social media they are continually exploring new ways to help creators reach their audience directly and form deeper connections with their communities. Mark Zuckerberg announced the arrival of a new streaming chat feature on Instagram called Channels.. This is a public messaging tool for creators to invite all their followers and engage with their most interested fans.
Creators will be able to use streaming channels as a quick and informal way to keep fans up to date. So they’ll have the option to use text, photo, video and voice notes to share their latest updates and moments and even create polls to provide feedback from fans. Only creators will be able to send messages, while followers will be able to react to content and vote in polls.
In the coming months, Instagram will be adding more features, like the ability to bring another creator to the channel to discuss upcoming collaborations and collect questions for an AMA through question prompts. Thus, the possibilities of connecting with fans are endless.
How does it work?
Once a creator has access to channels, they will be able to launch from their Instagram inbox. After sending your first message, your followers will receive a one-time notification to join the channel. When the channel is live, creators will also be able to encourage followers to join by using the “join channel” sticker in Stories or by pinning the channel link to their profile.
For creators with subscriptions who want to create a channel open to all followers, they will need to set the audience to “all followers.” There is also the option to create a streaming channel limited to paying subscribers for your most exclusive content.
Creators taking part in the initial test include Austin Sprinz (@austin_sprinz), Chloe Kim (@chloe_kim)chloekim), David Allen (@david_allen)ToTouchanEmu), FaZe Rug, (@facerug), Flau’jae Johnson, (@flaujae), Gilbert Burns (@gilbert_burns), josh richards (@joshrichards)joshrichards)and Karen Cheng (@karenxcheng).