A Practical Guide to Instagram Guides in 2026

Instagram Guides have quietly become a niche power tool in 2026. The format never matched Reels for raw reach, but it has held its place as a deep-content surface for travel, food, product roundups, and educational creators. Guides are not how you get discovered, they are how you turn a follower into a saver, which is one of the strongest signals in the current ranking. This walkthrough covers when Guides are worth the effort and how to build one that earns repeat views.

What Are Instagram Guides?

Instagram Guides were introduced in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform wanted to provide users with an avenue to create engaging, helpful, and meaningful support-based content. Initially focused on wellbeing and mental health, the feature has since evolved to serve e-commerce companies and influencers in various ways.

Instagram Guides feature videos, images, and other content with written insights, akin to interactive blog posts. They can help to set your business apart on Instagram and establish thought leadership. Businesses can create guides on how to use certain new products or services, or design educational and informative content to answer common customer questions. For more insights into using Instagram for business growth, check out our Instagram growth strategy guide for 2026.

Where To Find Instagram Guides

Instagram Guides are easily accessible. To find them on a company's page, visit their profile, and select the "Guides" icon. This can be found next to the Instagram Reels, Tagged, and Post sections on the page. You can also discover "Recommended" Guides on Instagram, by visiting the "Shop" tab, and clicking on the "Guides" button at the top of the screen.

Before committing budget, our complete 2026 Instagram likes buying guide ranks the major engagement-buying providers on safety, retention, and per-engagement cost in 2026.

The 3 Most Common Instagram Guide Types

There are different types of Instagram Guides a company or user can create. Here are the three most common types:

Instagram Post Guides: These guides allow you to share a roundup of other Instagram posts you've created and published on your feed. They're great for sharing educational content, commenting on recent news and events, or making an important statement about your brand.

Instagram Product Guides: Particularly popular among companies, product guides are excellent for providing insights into product releases and recommendations. You can attach and link any product listed on Instagram to your guide.

Instagram Places Guides: Designed for travel-focused people, these guides are excellent for companies in the travel and real estate industry, as well as those who want to connect with their target audience in a specific region.

For more details on using Instagram for business growth, check out our guide on how to get more Instagram followers with automation.

The Benefits of Creating Instagram Guides

Instagram Guides offer numerous benefits, such as:

Introducing Your Brand: Instagram Guides can be used to highlight your unique selling points and attract a wider audience than Instagram posts alone.

Using User-Generated Content: Showcase user-generated content as a form of social proof. Customers are more likely to engage with your guides if they see content from real people displayed on your profile.

Promoting Your Products: Instagram Guides features allow you to showcase your products in a variety of different formats. You can structure your guide as a step-by-step instruction manual on how to use an item, or provide tips on making the most of a product.

Driving Traffic to Your Website: Instagram Guides allow users to share links and references to other content on the web, making it easier to drive viewers back to your website.

How to Curate Your Instagram Guide

Creating an Instagram Guide is straightforward. Start by making sure you have a plan for the guide you want to create. Think about the goals you want to accomplish with your content, such as educating your audience, or showcasing your trending products. Once you have a plan, ensure you have the relevant photos and content available on Instagram to add to your piece.

To post your Guide, log into Instagram and follow these steps:

Go to your Instagram profile page from the Instagram app.

Tap the "plus" icon on the top-right corner you would usually use to create an Instagram post, Story, or video.

From the options provided, select "Guide".

Instagram will give you a selection of the three common Instagram Guide types to choose from. Select Posts, Products, or Places, depending on your goals.

Create your guide by adding your title, description, and any photos you want to include in the content.

Tap "Next" once you're done adding all the information you need to include to your first guide or new guide.

Instagram will show you a preview of your Guide with your chosen cover photo and title. You can then click the "Share" button, to publish your guide, or save the piece as a draft if you're not ready to publish yet.

How to Share Guides to Instagram Stories

Since you won't be promoting your Instagram Guides directly on your Instagram home feed, you may want to boost their visibility by adding them to your Stories.

Start by going into your post and opening the Instagram Guide you want to share.

Tap the paper airplane icon located in the bottom-left corner, which you'd usually use to share a link to your Guide with other followers.

Select the option to "Add guide to your Story."

Remember to promote your Instagram guides as often as you can to pull attention back to them from your other social media strategies.

Making the Most of Instagram Guides

Pick a Guide topic the same way you would pick an evergreen blog post, narrow enough that one specific person feels it was written for them. Generic Guides have always underperformed, and in 2026 the gap between niche-specific and generic content is wider than ever.

Instagram Guides can be a valuable tool for businesses and influencers looking to stand out in a competitive social media landscape. They're a great way to showcase your products and services, highlight your brand personality, and draw attention to your thought leadership.

For more insights into using Instagram for business growth, check out our guide on the best Instagram bots and how to get Instagram followers in 2026.