What is an instagram broadcast channel?

Instagram's help centre says channels are being released slowly and aren't available to everyone yet, and that a channel can be started by a public account with more than 1,000 followers.

Channels are public, so anyone on Instagram can find them. If you share branded content in a channel, the paid partnership tool is required, as it is for posts.

These are the steps in the Instagram app on a phone.

1. Tap Messages at the bottom.
2. Tap Compose in the top right.
3. Tap Create channel.
4. Enter a channel name, choose an audience, choose when the channel ends and decide whether to show it on your profile.
5. Tap Create in the top right.

When you send the first message, all of your followers get a notification inviting them to join, so make that first message count. After that you can invite people with the channel's link, by sharing the channel to your story, by sharing a single message to your story, or with a QR code.

As the creator you are the channel's admin. You can invite up to 4 people to be moderators, and you can start a live video inside the channel.

Think of a channel as a small mailing list inside Instagram. People who join have asked to hear from you, so a few useful messages a week usually beat many small ones. Ask members what they want more of with a poll, and use their answers to shape both the channel and your wider posting.

• Early news: launches, restocks and new menu items before anyone else
• Polls that help you decide, such as which product to bring back
• Behind-the-scenes photos and short voice notes
• Event details and reminders
• Members-first offers, used sparingly so the channel doesn't feel like adverts
• Avoid a weak first message: it is the one that notifies all your followers.
• Avoid posting so often that members mute the channel.
• Avoid copying your feed posts word for word; give members something extra.