Instagram tests 'creator account' profiles, tailored tools for select influencers

Instagram is reportedly testing new 'creator profile' accounts for a select "high profile" influencers on the platform, which will apparently allow them to track more detailed analytics, along with some other specialised tools.According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 'creator accounts' will be somewhat similar to the Business accounts on Instagram, except these will be aimed at traditional talent, digital influencers and artists. "Creator-specific tools that will be part of the new accounts include growth insights such as data around follows and unfollows; direct messaging tools that allow users to filter notes from, for example, brand partners and friends; and flexible labels that allow users to designate how they want to be contacted," the report claims.[caption id="attachment_5715541" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Representational Image. Creative Credit: tech2/Nandini Yadav[/caption]The report explains that growth insights tool will allow creators on the platform track weekly and daily data around how their follower count changes, and it will work across the feed, Stories and IGTV. The direct messaging tools, on the other hand, will allow creators to filter their messages by read, unread and flagged messages, something that we already see in the regular Instagram profile accounts.In addition to that, the creator account will also allow them to rank their pending requests by relevance or time to make sure they don't miss important requests. The accounts will also feature flexible contact and category labels.The feature is currently being tested by a select few users in beta, and will apparently be rolled out to a wider community in 2019.As of now, there were no accounts that were tailored for influencers on the platform, and as we all know, Instagram is pretty much being led by influencers. Because of this lack of specialised account for influencers, most of them worked on business accounts, which were naturally not ideal for them. Business accounts, as the name suggests, were made for businesses who aim to sell and market their products via the platform. Ashley Yuki, an Instagram product manager confirmed these details to the publication.