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How do you add a post to instagram


How to Post on Instagram: A Step-by-Step Guide

With over 1 billion active users, Instagram is one of the best social media networks to advertise your business, reach new audiences, and grow brand awareness. So even if you aren’t active on the website yet, it’s never too late to adopt an Instagram strategy in your marketing plan.

If you're ready to start sharing content through this channel, we've got you covered. Here, we've cultivated a quick-and-easy guide to posting on Instagram, to ensure you can begin attracting the attention of your audience with Instagram marketing.

How to Post on Instagram

  1. Tap the + icon at the top of your screen.
  2. Choose a photo or video from your library or shoot one in the app.
  3. Post multiple images on Instagram.
  4. Crop the image.
  5. Pick a filter.
  6. Edit your photo.
  7. Type your caption.
  8. Use hashtags for post optimization.
  9. Tag friends.
  10. Add your location.
  11. Play with emojis.
  12. Share the post on other social media platforms.
  13. Edit the post.

Posting to Instagram consistently can help businesses find resonance with their audience and grow better, but doing it right is just as important. Here's how to post to your Instagram account step-by-step.

Step 1. Tap the + icon at the top of your screen.

See that plus sign [+] in the image above? That's your starting point. See that post from our culture account? That's your endpoint. Click that plus sign and you'll be ready for the next step, below.

Step 2. Choose a photo or video from your library or shoot one in the app.

Instagram will show you the photos already saved to your phone. Choose one of those to post. Alternatively, you can click on the camera icon to take a photo or video within the Instagram app itself, if you don't already have an image you want to use.

Once you select and crop an image (or carousel of multiple images), click the arrow button in the top right corner of the app.

Step 3. Post multiple images on Instagram.

Do you have multiple photos and want to highlight them all? Instagram allows you to do this with its carousel feature.

As you go to tap a photo or video, first tap the icon just above your photos to the right that looks like stacked squares. Once you tap this, you'll see a number on the corner of every image or video you tap. This number notes where the content will show up in the carousel.

Step 4. Crop the image.

You aren't limited to just a square image on Instagram. You can actually share horizontal or vertical images as well. To get more of your image seen, pinch the screen of the photo you've selected on the Library screen.

However, while Instagram does allow vertical and horizontal options, the images still need to fit into some specific dimensions. So, you might still need to crop a tiny bit of your photo to get it to fit.

Step 5. Pick a filter.

Instagram offers 24 filters — scroll to the right to peruse your options, and click on one to preview how it will look on your photo.

By default, the filter will be applied by full strength. However, if you want to scale back the intensity of the filter, double click the filter tile once it's been applied, and a scale selector will appear, allowing you to downplay the effect.

You can also tap the magic wand at the top of the screen to adjust the photo further.

(Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Instagram Filters to learn more).

Step 6. Edit your photo.

You can also click "Edit" at the bottom right to adjust the image to your specifications.

Here are the editing options that come built into Instagram for you:

  • Adjust - This helps subtly rotate the image along the center plane, giving it a tilt either to the left or right according to the linear scale at the bottom of the screen.
  • Brightness - This helps lighten or darken the image. All you have to do is pull the selector to the left to darken or to the right to lighten.
  • Contrast - This helps to increase or decrease the intensity of the image's colors. Pull the selector to the left for less contrast (a dulling effect) or to the right for more contrast (a higher intensity effect).
  • Structure - This helps to add an HD-like effect to the image, bringing out specific details in your photo. Drag the selector to the right to help the image "pop."
  • Warmth - This helps you adjust the temperature of the photo. Drag the selector to the left to increase cool tones in the image, or drag the selector to the right to increase the warm tones in the image.
  • Saturation - This helps you adjust the saturation of the colors in your image. Drag the selector to the left to desaturate the image (all the way to the left if you want a monochrome look), or drag the selector to the right for extremely saturated colors.
  • Color - This gives you a number of color options to overlay over your image for interesting color effects. Simply select your color choice and see how it changes the image in the preview box.
  • Fade - This softens the intensity of the blacks in your image to create an "aged" photo effect. Simply drag the selector to the right for a higher degree of fade.
  • Highlights - This helps you control the intensity of the highlights in your image. Dragging the selector to the left will darken the highlights in your image while dragging the selector to the right will lighten the highlights in your image.
  • Shadows - This helps you control the intensity of the shadows in your image. Dragging the selector to the left will darken the shadows in your image while dragging the selector to the right will lighten the shadows in your image.
  • Vignette - This darkens the corners of the image, leaving a circle shape in the center. Drag the selector all the way to the right for the most dramatic vignette.
  • Tilt Shift - This helps blur the edges of the image in a radial or linear way, drawing focus to the details in the center of the image.
  • Sharpen - This helps sharpen certain details of the image, bringing a more dramatic look to subtler elements in the photo.

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Step 7. Type your caption.

Get creative and write a nice, interesting caption to go with your photo. Since text can help optimize your post in Instagram's search, writing something can only benefit you.

Step 8. Use hashtags for post optimization.

With Instagram's search feature, users can search by hashtags. So, you should make sure to write relevant hashtags in your caption. If someone does a search of a hashtag you placed in your caption, they might find your post as well as others that included the same one.

Step 9. Tag friends.

Want your friend or their followers to see a photo that you posted of the two of you? Tag them!

On the new post page, you can click "Tag People" to tag other Instagram accounts in your post. Alternatively, you can include their handle (or their username beginning with an @ symbol) in your caption.

Step 10. Add your location.

If you're on a fun vacation or at a neat event and you don't feel like including that information in your caption, you can mark where you are in another way. On the new post page, tap "Add Location" to put a location on your image (which makes it easier for people to find your post).

When you post an image or video with a location, it will show up between your name and the block of content on the feed.

Step 11. Play with emojis.

Emojis are fun and can make your caption more eye-catching. If you know of a few relevant emojis that could fit with your post, stick them in the caption area. For example, if you're posting a vacation photo, you could include a palm tree 🌴 or a plane ✈️ to show you flew somewhere.

Here are the top Instagram emojis you can use:

  1. ❤️
  2. 😍
  3. 😘
  4. 😂
  5. 😊
  6. 😎
  7. 💕
  8. 😉
  9. 💋
  10. 👍

However, keep in mind that there's a multitude of choices to add flair to your posts, from keeping it real 💯 to the cringe face 😬.

Be sure not to go overboard and post emojis just for the sake of posting them. If you post a bowling emoji along with a photo of a beach, that obviously won't make sense to people. Similarly, if you post 20 emojis that loosely relate to a post, you might just annoy your followers or come off as desperate.

Step 12. Share the post on other social media platforms.

Finally, if you want to share your content on your other, connected social media sites (like Facebook or Twitter), simply slide the bar from the left to the right.

When you're ready to post, click "Share" in the top right.

Instagram Saved Drafts

If you're not ready to post right away, you can also save it to your Instagram Saved Drafts. Simply go back to the filtering and editing step, tap the back arrow in the top left, and select "Save Draft."

Step 13. Edit the post.

Typos happen to everyone! If you just posted something and notice a glaring spelling error, don't panic. Simply tap the three dots that appear on the right across from your name, then tap "Edit."

Make the adjustments you see fit and save them so it reflects on your Instagram. Otherwise, your post is complete and live for everyone to see.

Grow Your Audience on Instagram Today

Now that you know how to post to Instagram, you can begin creating content for the platform and connecting with your audience. If you're a business or brand, you'll want a solid strategy for earning engagement and awareness.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Topics: Instagram Marketing

Don't forget to share this post!

How to Repost and Share to Your Instagram Story

  • You can share a post to your Instagram Story using the paper airplane icon. 
  • The menu that appears will give you the option to share a post from any profile that allows sharing in the setting — private posts won't show this option.
  • Brands can also leverage this feature to create more engagement with their followers.

Instagram not only grants the ability to share your posts to an Instagram story, but allows you to add pictures posted by your friends, favorite influencers, and other accounts you follow. 

This feature can also be useful for brands who want to create more engagement and keep their Instagram account active.

For privacy reasons, this option is only available for accounts that have allowed sharing of their posts. If you try to share a post to your Instagram story from someone else's private account, the feature will not be available. 

If you want to share a post to your Instagram story, here's how to do it.

How to share an Instagram post to your story

1. Open the Instagram app on your phone.

2. Locate the post you want to share in your Instagram story on your feed.

3. Tap the paper airplane icon.

Tap the paper airplane icon. Devon Delfino/Insider

4. The Share menu will appear. 

5. Tap the first option, Add post to your story.

Tap Add post to your story. Devon Delfino/Insider

6. The photo or video post will automatically upload as a story draft. 

7. Tap the icons at the top of the window to add stickers or gifs, draw, or type text. 

Make the changes or additions you want to make. Devon Delfino/Insider

8. Tap Your Story in the bottom left-hand corner to post, or select Close Friends if you want to share it less widely. 

Quick tip: You can do this whether you're finding a post on someone's profile using the Explore page, or when it pops up directly on your feed. 

How brands can use the Instagram story feature

Like any Instagram user, brands can use stories to keep their account active. But it can also be a valuable way to share behind-the-scenes content and build a deeper relationship with your audience. 

If you create a brand-specific hashtag, you can find posts from people who already love and use your product or service. You can then share those posts to your stories to keep your audience engaged and notified about the brands movements. 

This accomplishes two things: it allows you to showcase your brand or product to a wider pool of Instagram users. Second, it lets the brand showcase authentic user-generated content that shows how the products can be incorporated into the everyday life of a customer.

Quick tip: If desired, you can also add a link to a specific product, or your site, to make it easier for people to find the product that's being displayed.

Marissa Perino

Marissa Perino is a former editorial intern covering executive lifestyle. She previously worked at Cold Lips in London and Creative Nonfiction in Pittsburgh. She studied journalism and communications at the University of Pittsburgh, along with creative writing. Find her on Twitter: @mlperino.

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Devon Delfino

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.

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How to post on Instagram

How to post on Instagram

Instagram is a mobile social network. Therefore, all posts are made only from a mobile device. There are services for downloading records from a computer, including for delayed posting. But they don't always work well. You will have to constantly check whether the post is out or not. Plus, many of them do not have access to filters. And these services are often paid.

Types of posts on Instagram

The main types of posts are:

  • Photo
  • Video
  • Carousel
  • Collage
  • boomerang

How to upload an image to Instagram

To upload a photo to Instagram on your home page, click the plus icon on the bottom taskbar.

Next, you will be prompted to select a photo from the gallery.

You can also immediately take the desired photo or video with the camera.

After selecting the desired photo or picture, click next. Here you can select a ready-made filter. If you double-click on it, you can increase or decrease the filter settings by a percentage. We do not recommend you to use filters from Instagram, as they are not of very high quality. If you really want to take cool pictures, read our article about photo editing apps and try them out. See, the difference is huge!

You can also change the basic characteristics of a photo in the Edit tab. These include the following functions:

  • Align - it can be used to change the curvature of the image.
  • Brightness
  • Contrast
  • Details - make the image more detailed
  • Warm - cooler or warmer tones will be displayed.
  • Saturation
  • Color (shadows and highlights) - here you can set the color scheme of dark and light areas.
  • Burnout
  • Highlight
  • Shadows - setting the depth of shadows
  • Vignette
  • Blur (radial or linear)
  • Sharpness

After editing the images, click "Next" In the next window, add a description to the image and hashtags (you can put no more than 30), but we do not recommend getting carried away with high-frequency hashtags and using only branded or navigational ones. You can also add locations and label people or products in the photo. The same post can be shared on the social network to which your account is linked. In advanced settings, you can turn comments on or off. Next, click the "Share" button and that's it. The post is ready.

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How to upload a video to Instagram

Uploading a video is not much different from uploading images. Choose from the gallery or shoot here and now. The main thing is that the video should be no longer than 1 minute.

Click Next. We trim the video, if necessary, using a kind of track in the "Trim" tab.

We apply filters, as in the photo. We select the cover - the one that will be shown at the start of the video - by video frames. Click "Next". We write a description, put down hashtags. You can’t designate people, but adding geolocation is quite possible. As with the photo, you can share it on other social networks and disable / enable comments.

How to make a carousel on Instagram

To make a carousel (several photos and/or videos in one post), you need to click on the corresponding icon. Select images or videos in the order you want them to be viewed. Further, everything is the same, except that a different filter can be applied to the elements of the carousel.

How to make a collage on Instagram

Collages are made using a special program from Instagram Layout. It needs to be downloaded, which is what Instagram offers you when you click on the collage icon. In this program, you can combine several files into one.

How to make a boomerang in Insta

Boomerang, like collages, are made in a special program that needs to be downloaded to your phone. Thanks to it, you can make interesting and funny short looped videos on which you can make cool movements.

You can use one or all of them in one account. But no matter what you choose (photo, video, collage, carousel or boomerang), use hashtags wisely and create interesting content.

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How to add a post to your Instagram story, share a post and post it to yourself

Instagram has gained popularity among hundreds of thousands of users in just a few years. Every day, millions of people post photos and videos about their personal lives, while other millions of users look at other people's pages. Here everyone can become a star in a short time. Post videos that are stored on the page for exactly a day and catch likes. You can always see how many people and who viewed your story. If you want to join the ranks of famous people, then read how to add a post to your Instagram story. This is not difficult to do, you just need to take a few steps on the way to popularity.

Why post

Sometimes you want to share your favorite photos or videos with your followers. To do this, you can repost someone else's story on your Instagram. This can only be done from an open page from which reposts are allowed. Such an opportunity has appeared relatively recently. Many bloggers use stories for advertising.

To add a publication you like or place an ad in your own story, you need to find the necessary information. Under each picture or video on the open page is a special symbol in the form of a paper airplane.

By clicking on the footnote, a pop-up window appears, where the first line is the inscription "Add to your story" or share information via direct. After clicking the airplane, the photo or video will appear on the blogger's personal page.

It is worth noting that the storage period of stories is limited - exactly 24 hours. In a day, storis will be deleted.

Moderators went to improve Instagram services and created the ability to save eternal stories. To do this, when publishing, you must indicate that you want to save the photo or video. Another point is the ability to combine the necessary into one topic and gradually add new photos there. Such innovations were greeted with enthusiasm by Instagram fans and bloggers.

Attention! The listed updates will become possible after updating the mobile application.

How to upload your story to Instagram

Stories are very popular on Instagram for absolutely everyone. They allow you to upload videos about recent and highlight events, talk about the event and share emotions. To post a story on an iPhone or Android, you will have to follow identical steps.

Log in to your mobile account. A special window will appear at the top, where the stories of the people who are following the account are displayed. Here, in a round window, a user photo and a symbol in the form of a “+” sign with the inscription “Your story” appear.

By clicking on the window, you will be asked to add a photo or video from the gallery on your phone, or take a photo again. After selecting a publication, click "Next". A window will appear asking you to share storis. To publish a story, you need to select the line publish a story.

After a while the information will be loaded and will appear on the personal page. Subscribers will be able to view the publication during the day, and the user can track information in real time. In addition, at any time, stories are deleted by the user himself. You can also add several stories at once, with time intervals.

For publication, Internet users and analysts allocate even the best time for publication. This is due to the fact that in some time frames more people appear on the Internet and, accordingly, more views.

Designing stories

To make stories look high quality and attractive, it simply needs to be designed. There are several ways to do this. Before the final upload, the application will prompt you to use:

  • boomerang - the uploaded episode will be repeated in reverse order;
  • superzoom - zoom function with visual and sound effects;
  • focus - portrait shooting mode;
  • and others.

The latest updates allow you to use various decorations in the form of masks, hearts and other curly frames. Most users are happy to use effects for personal stories. To share a publication you like or post a story, you only need to skillfully use the offered opportunities.

When creating a storis, remember that there are time and size limits for photos and videos. So that stories are displayed as you need to follow the rules.

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