> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://interhacktives.mymagic.page/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# How the new Instagram feature ‘Guides’ can benefit journalists? — Review
- URL: https://interhacktives.mymagic.page/how-the-new-instagram-feature-guides-can-benefit-journalists-review/
- Published: 2020-12-01T16:22:57.000Z
- Updated: 2020-12-01T16:22:57.000Z
- Author: iuliia
- Tags: Audience & Social, Features, Tips, guides, Instagram, social media, #Migrated-1793717950415, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-11-03 14:59

In the middle of November Instagram [has launched](https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/expanding-guides-on-instagram?ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) **Guides,** a new feature for publishing digest-like articles, recommendations and step-by-step tips within the app. This format was first introduced in May, but was initially available only for a small number of influencers who were keen to create guides focused on well-being tips. From now it is available for all types of accounts, so media and journalists get a new platform for written content. But how good are **Guides** for these purposes? The **Interhacktives** is sorting it out. 

![](http://www.interhacktives.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/insta-guides.png)

Credits: Instargam

### Why give it a try 

Guides are a good alternative to Instagram's omnipresent pictures and videos. By giving users more ways to express themselves, Instagram also provides a proper editing tool for media outlets that they've been longing for. 

Guides feature offers several types of custom headlines, text section and, of course, space for visuals – a cover for your article and embedded pictures and videos with automatically created credits. 

Elements are easy to add, reorder and remove within the editing tool allowing you to update you **Guide** as often as you need it (while showing your followers the date of the last update). Another good thing about it is shareability: your final product can be posted on Stories, it’s always available in the special **Guides** tab and has its own link to stick in other social media, messengers or websites. 

![](http://www.interhacktives.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-01-14.14.20.jpg)

### Why it’s not perfect 

**Guides** are not text-centric as Instagram still wants users to be committed to visuals, so the feature doesn’t give us a lot of freedom to create. The entire new format revolves around pre-uploaded Instagram posts and turns your headings and text into ‘descriptions’ to pictures and videos. Moreover, every paragraph of text in your **Guide** is numbered and there is no way to get rid of this. 

It would be fair to mention that even visuals don’t always look good in **Guides**. Even though videos are being auto-played while scrolling, a carousel of pictures doesn’t work within **Guides** and Stories are not available here at all. Furthermore, the editing tool doesn’t allow you to add any external links in your Guide yet. 

![](http://www.interhacktives.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-01-14.23.54.jpg)

### In a nutshell 

**Guides** is a nice feature for journalists and publishers to promote step-by-step instructions, recommendations, lists, ratings and explainers. But it will take you some time to come up with how to adjust other types of articles to it. Even though Insta **Guides** aren’t as beautiful on a desktop as they are on mobile, it's still worth trying them as they might have a promising future.