All About My Instagram Broadcast Channel
You may have seen broadcast channels popping up from various creators you follow on Instagram and wondered what it was all about or why you should even bother?
I launched mine (after nearly a year of waiting for it to be rolled out to me!) called Janssen’s Book Nook earlier this summer and it’s been so fun!
But every time I mention it, I get messages like this:
“Why do we need broadcast channels now? I don’t want one more thing to check on. I don’t understand the purpose or need. Can you talk about these?”
Good news – this post is for you!
The basic idea is that a broadcast channel is a private group on Instagram that I run – it’s kind of like a group text (except you will only get notifications when I share something there, not when other people heart something or leave a reply, so you don’t have to worry about it blowing up your DMs).
Instagram Broadcast Channels are totally free and you can leave at any time if you don’t like it!
It’s all within Instagram, so you won’t need to sign up for a new account or app – it’s all just part of your regular experience.
When I share something in my broadcast channel, it’ll show up in your DMs, just like any other DM.
Here’s a peek at what it’ll look like when you open that DM for Janssen’s Book Nook:
A few of the things I’ve shared in my Broadcast Channel recently?
- A link to my Goodreads account (and why I get stressed about notifications that someone has commented on my Goodreads reviews!)
- The puzzles my friend lent me (seven really great ones!)
- Bonus Friday Q&As
- A job listing to join the Everyday Reading team
- The book lists from the annual “Best Books” event my library puts on where each librarian chooses their favorite books to share (its the most fun evening!)
And here were the biggest questions about an Instagram Broadcast Channel:
Does your Instagram Broadcast Channel cost money?
This was a VERY common question and the good news is that it’s totally free! (I think it’s a little confusing because some creators have a subscription option on Instagram which is NOT free – broadcast channels are always 100% free!). So you can join and it won’t cost you a dime!
Why not just post on Instagram?
The thing to understand about broadcast channels is that it IS posting on Instagram. This doesn’t require a new account on your end or a new app. Literally hit the “join” button and then you’ll get a DM when I post something there. It’s like the difference between stories and reels – just different kinds of content all within the same app!
Will information be shared there that you don’t share in stories/reels/blog?
Yes! The majority of things I share in the Instagram broadcast channel are not duplicated on my blog or reels or stories – they’re exclusive to the broadcast channel!
Why can’t you just share it in stories How is it different?
This is going to be way more behind-the-scenes than you want to know so buckle up!
First, you can’t really post unlimited stories. Once you get over around 8-12 stories, Instagram really starts throttling how many people see it. Stories are HIGHLY controlled by the algorithm so it’s very easy to miss stories either because your Instagram behavior or mine or a combination of the two. So I don’t really have the option to just post unlimited stories unless I want my story views to take a massive nose dive (and… surprise, I don’t want that). A broadcast channel gives me the chance to share other things that my stories don’t have space for.
Two, stories have a very short shelf life. Easily 1/4 of my DMs are people saying “can you remind me of that code/link/book/whatever you shared in stories? I thought I saved it and I didn’t.” (I’m always happy to help – please don’t feel badly about asking!). The great thing about a broadcast channel is that things stay there. So you can be off Instagram for a few days and when you get back on, everything I shared in the broadcast channel is there waiting for you and you can go back to it whoever because it won’t expire like stories.
Three, stories show to a small portion of my community. A creator who has 10% of their audience seeing their stories is CRUSHING it. Most have a much smaller percentage than that. A broadcast channel basically shows to everyone who opts in to the broadcast channel. It’s WAY better for my content to actually get seen by the people who want to see!
I’ve tried to click on the link to join your Instagram broadcast channel but it says I don’t have access?? Any suggestions?
Instagram has been slowly rolling out Broadcast channels (I’ve literally been waiting almost a year to have access to start one and just finally got access last month!), so some users don’t have access yet (so annoying!) If you DO have access, count yourself lucky!
I’ve joined but how can I easily go directly to the broadcast channel on any given day?
There is a link in the last line of my bio – it’ll say “Janssen’s Book Nook” and you can just click to enter!
Why is it necessary for you to go this direction? How does it benefit you? And me?
It’s not necessary! (How much of any social media is necessary?) But it’s fun for me to try new things – one of the reasons I’m still doing Everyday Reading almost 18 years in is because there are always new interesting things to learn and experiment with. If it all looked exactly the same as it had in 2006, I would’ve bailed a long time ago. And I hope it’ll benefit you because you’ll actually see the content I share and I hope the things I share there will be interesting and useful and fun!
And if you’re still on the fence, here are some of the messages I’ve gotten about my Instagram Broadcast Channel!
Thank you for explaining more on how broadcast works. I definitely like through the broadcast the things you share will remain so if I can check at later time. That’s one thing with stories I don’t like is it’s time limited so I feel I have to be on daily to check yours and other accounts.
Honestly? I love your broadcast channel. I’m not really an “engager” with social media beyond viewing because i tend to think that my thoughts or reactions don’t matter to a person that has tens of thousands of followers. The broadcast channel feels more intimate and more like a conversation- i really value that!
I am already loving the broadcast channel! Mainly because I don’t miss it if l’m off IG for a couple days and I can refer back to it later!
I joined your broadcast channel when you first put it out there without having a clue what it was. At this point, I enjoy your content so much that if you suggest something – I’m doing it! literally don’t have a single other “channel” that l’m following because I barely know what it is, but l’ve found it easy and mostly like getting a DM from an acquaintance so l’m here for it!
I hope that helps answer any questions you have about my broadcast channel and if you have other questions, I’m happy to answer – leave them in the comments!
And I hope you’ll consider joining the fun on my broadcast channel here!
I wanted to send you a message about how much fun Earl’s Trip is but I am not allowed to send you a message on your broadcast channel. Is that something that is also being rolled out? Thank you for the information!
Some people are able to reply, so you may get the ability soon!
I love your broadcast channel!
I’m so glad to hear it – thank you!
Thanks for sharing your broadcast channel 🙂
Hello, I’m interested to know more about your nearly a year of waiting for it to be rolled out to you if you don’t mind sharing. I have a friend who has over 10K followers but the ‘create broadcast channel’ function is not available to him. Did you have to submit a request to IG to get it? Thanks.
Nope – it just suddenly arrived one day!