Instagram’s latest update will offer marketers more control of their Instagram grid thanks to pinned posts and an edit grid option, which is in testing.

Using those new features, brands will be able to customise the content on display to get their best performing posts in front of user’s eyes immediately.

In a video released on Twitter, Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said marketers will be able to pin up to three posts to their profile. These could be photos or Reels, which will give creators, ordinary users and marketers more chance to express themselves on their profile.

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, via Twitter

“If you go to the three dots next to any photo or Reel that you upload, you’ll be able to pin it to your profile. Your profile is your space, so we’re looking for more ways to give you control over that experience.”

Brands will now be able to highlight a post that may be buried further down their photo grid and inaccessible to viewers who may not want to scroll past tens, or even hundreds, or posts. The feature will be useful to those who post a lot.

More control, more personality

Currently marketers can create Stories and save them to highlights, but that still requires some heavy lifting on behalf of the user to find a specific post. Pinning will save time, energy and allow marketers to get a second life out of their best content.

It will also give marketers more chance to plan their brand’s grids, or go back and correct errors they may have made.

Furthermore, the ‘edit grid’ option, which wasn’t discussed by Mosseri in his video, will let users rearrange their grid no matter when a photo was posted. Obviously, this will provide further customisable options for brands.

As we mentioned before, a well-planned grid is important.

Your grid is your chance to put your best foot forward to new users. It gives you the most powerful chance to showcase your brand, and present your style to the world. And if you focus on lifestyle or aesthetic, it’s even more important.

Seven ways to improve your grid

Here’s seven ways you can make the most of your grid.

• Commit to a colour
  An easy, common method to style your grid is to pick out a colour combination and stick to it. If this is really difficult, it helps to use the same filter for every photo.
• Have a checkerboard style
  If you alternate your photo styles, you can create a checkerboard look. An easy way to do this is to mix text quotes with photography, or using close-up shots mixed in with wider lens, landscape photography. For text posts, keep the background clear.
• Separate row, separate design
  Want something a little different? Plan your grip by rows, and upload three images at a time that have the same style and background image.But remember, you need to upload three at the same time or your pattern will be all wrong.
• Go vertical
  A different way to break up your grid is to arrange them vertically to create a long pattern. If they’re well designed, they could survive as stand-alone.
• Go rainbow!
  Creating a rainbow effect can take time, and skill, but it looks gorgeous. For this, you want to post regularly using one saturated colour, and then slowly transition towards the next shade over your next row of photos.
• Use borders
  One really easy way to create a clean look is to use borders in all of your images. You can get free apps that do this for you, or you can experiment with some different options and colours so you get a range of looks without your grid getting too uniform.
• Puzzle it up
  Another method that requires expert planning and an eye for detail is the puzzle. Over nine images, you can create a range of photos that all come together to form a puzzle. Brands could use this to announce a new account, or to launch a new product.

So, there you have it. From now, you should have more control over your grid to draw more attention to your favourite posts, and immediately let new visitors know what your brand is about.