Instagram is a social media platform with over 2 billion users, and your business must be flexible to stand out among competitors. Learn how to do this with the tips in our article.

Instagram is the second most used social network in 2025. In its competition with the other giant, TikTok, Instagram still holds an edge with over 2 billion active monthly users. As one of the most popular platforms, Instagram is a favorite place for content creators and brands to reach their target audience.

With the daily increase in users, organic reach is steadily declining, and in 2025, we will see an even greater drop in the organic performance of businesses and influencers creating content.

In this article, we will share our formula for successful Instagram marketing in 2025, so you can stand out from your competitors.

Changes in Instagram Affecting Today:

The most surprising change on the platform was the new post format, which replaced the trend of using neatly styled grids. It’s officially time to say "goodbye" to the beloved square and the well-known 1080x1080 px size.

Here are the new Instagram post sizes you need to use:

• Posts should be sized at 1080x1350 px.
• Reels should be sized at 1080x1920 px.
• Stories should be sized at 1080x1920 px.

The major change is in the size of square posts, which reflects Instagram’s desire to resemble its competitor TikTok more.

Find out about Instagram’s next move and their idea of creating a separate app just for Reels.

Unfortunately, the grids that were previously carefully arranged may remain in place, but you will need to manually edit each post on your profile.

Tip from DGTalents: When creating Instagram ad creatives, focus important information in the center of the banner. In story format, Instagram adds a visual bar at the top, hiding the key messages.

Paid Verification (Instagram Verified Badge)

In 2024, anyone who wants to receive priority service from Facebook Support and display a blue tick next to their profile can pay for this service through Meta. The monthly subscription for this feature is approximately 30 BGN per month.

Here’s what the badge looks like next to your Instagram profile picture:

The badge is currently just an extra feature for your profile, but it doesn’t directly affect the performance of your account.

Subscription Plans for Creators

In 2024, content creators can earn money from their followers by sharing exclusive content. This feature is new to Instagram, and we’ll see whether it remains a permanent part of the platform.

Tactics and Strategies to Use in 2025

Original Content

Instagram loves original content and always encourages users to post entirely original material. Avoid posting AI-generated videos, as studies show that users can tell when content is AI-generated and they don’t like it.

However, if you do post such videos, Instagram asks you to indicate it in the upload settings, but we recommend avoiding AI assistance altogether.

Instagram was the first platform to encourage and create influencers who generate content. It will continue to favor users who post original content. Be careful not to repost videos you've uploaded on TikTok with a watermark from that platform. This action will not be favored by Instagram’s algorithm.

Stick to 3-Minute Videos

Avoid posting excessively long content that might bore users. For longer-form content, you can use YouTube. For Instagram Reels, stick to short videos with a captivating beginning, selected music, and a text description.

Always Add Music to Static Visuals

A popular strategy is to add music to every post you upload, whether it’s trending or simply your favorite track. Statistics show that posts with music perform significantly better than those without.

Ensure Your Videos Have Interesting First 5-10 Seconds

In 2025, the key metric Instagram will focus on is average watch time for videos. If your content is engaging from the start and users stick around to watch, the algorithm will reward you with increased reach to new segments.

Always Share Your Videos on Facebook Reels

Enable the option to share your Reels on Facebook. Meta’s goal is to surpass TikTok, and the organic reach provided by both social networks working together is significant. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

Post Regularly on Instagram to Keep Your Audience Active and Reach New People.

Carousel Posts Up to 20 Images

Previously, carousel posts were limited to 10 images. Now, you can add up to 20 images to a post, and don’t forget to add music to them. Carousel posts are one of the most successful formats on Instagram, and they also appear in Reels feeds.

Shares of Posts Are the Most Important Metric

In 2025, Instagram will pay close attention to how often and how many times your post is shared. Create interesting, fun, and engaging content that users will share with their friends.

Summary of Tactics to Apply in 2025:

• Create more Reels with a duration of up to 3 minutes.
• Share your video content on Facebook Reels.
• Focus on creating original and quality content.
• Always add music to your posts.
• Write engaging captions that add value to your post.
• Tell longer stories with up to 20 images in carousel posts.

No matter which strategy you choose to implement in 2025, remember to stay authentic and create content that will be valuable to your direct audience. Originality will always be appreciated by users and will lead to greater reach and engagement.

If you need help with your digital presence on Instagram, feel free to reach out to the DGTalents team for consultation and advice.