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 arenβt active on the website yet, itβs 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Instagram offers 24 filters β 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).
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:
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.
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.Featured Resource
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 π΄ or a plane βοΈ to show you flew somewhere.
Here are the top Instagram emojis you can use:
However, keep in mind that there's a multitude of choices to add flair to your posts, from keeping it real π― to the cringe face π¬.
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.
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 DraftsIf 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."
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.
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.
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Originally published Dec 30, 2021 7:00:00 AM, updated December 30 2021
Topics:
Instagram Marketing
Learn how to make inspiring Reels, photos and carousels that can bring your brand to life and help grow your community.
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Learn the basics of posting entertaining Reels and captivating photos.
Create engaging contentEvery post is an opportunity to connect with your community, whether it be in a Reel, photo or carousel.
Get discovered with entertaining, original videos.
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Show off your products with eye-catching imagery.
Tell a deeper story with up to 10 photos or videos.
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Once your content is ready, itβs time to craft a caption that captures what your post is all about.
Youβre almost ready to post! Adding tags before you share helps customers discover and learn about your business.
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CREATE A POST
Get inspiredNow that you know how to create Reels and photo posts, try different posting styles to discover what resonates most with your audience.
Continue growingUse timesaving tools and helpful tips to make the most of each Reel and photo you post.
Plan when, where and how your posts will appear in advance, so you can create content efficiently.
Learn how
With tools like effects, music, and stickers, Reels can help you creatively share your story.
Learn how
Turn any post into an ad that encourages potential customers to take the next step with your business.
Learn how
Get a detailed breakdown of how people engage with your posts and discover trends across your followers.
Learn how
CREATE A POST
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.
The main types of posts are:
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 on photo editing apps and give them a try.
See, the difference is huge!
You can also change the basic characteristics of a photo in the Edit tab. These include the following functions:
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.
Target video course
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 canβt designate people, but adding geolocation is quite possible.
As with the photo, you can share it on other social networks and disable / enable comments.
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel and stay up to date with new articles and other interesting materials.
On our Instagram channel you will find a lot of interesting things from the life of the Agency and useful materials on SMM and Digital.
There are a lot of videos about SMM on the YouTube channel.
Anyone can post a picture to Instagram. And making an Instagram post that gets noticed is a whole science. But not with VistaCreate! It will replace an entire design studio, and it will become much easier to create magnetic Instagram content.
Create your first design
Now you are a true motion designer. With VistaCreate, you can animate posts in a matter of seconds. Take a template and use simple tools to add wow animation to photos and backgrounds.
Ready!
In Animation Designer
Create Instagram posts quickly with the powerful VistaCreate editor.
Templates
Animation
Download
Edit
Change the size
Objects
Professional VistaCRETE designers created an impressive library of 70,000+ Design-Shabelns-here everything that is needed for a quick start.
Edit the template
Do you want more energy in your Instagram post? If you need videos and animations, take any of our extensive collection of motion templates and elements.
Animate
Add your voice and style to the design of the Instagram posts you edit. Upload photos, videos and graphics, and add or remove any element you want.
Go to the editor
Customize the layout for yourself - edit the inscriptions, replace fonts, backgrounds, images and other elements.
Get started
Save time by resizing designs with one click. It's easy - choose one of the popular formats or set your own sizes.
Start
Make your Instagram posts look like pure fun - add animations, illustrations, stickers, icons, frames and more.
See objects
VistaCreate has 1 million free photos, vectors, and more to encourage your creativity.
1600+ short videos at your fingertips that are easy to use in any motion format.
More than 680 font styles available in 25 languages. And if that's not enough for you, upload your own!
Access to 70M+ royalty-free photos, videos and vector images
Remove backgrounds from images with one click
Create multiple identity packs with colors, fonts and logos for your brand
Upload your own images and instantly turn them into stickers
Invite up to 10 members to a team account and create designs together
Get unlimited storage for all your files and designs
Access the version history of your project at any time
step 1
Select format
Switch to Instagram post format to start creating.
step 2
Select template
Browse through all the Instagram post templates or use the search to dive into our huge collection of templates - and find the right one!
step 3
Personalize
Add, remove or edit any element to make the design exactly match your mood and style.
step 4
Download and Share
Download the finished post and share it on Instagram directly from the VistaCreate editor.
Create your first design
VistaCreate Builder is your quick assistant to create Instagram posts on any topic, for any audience.
Instagram post templates
Click on the "Download" button - and the design will be saved in the "Camera Roll" section. Then upload the design to your Instagram account. Our team is already developing a feature that will allow you to post designs to Instagram directly from VistaCreate.
We take care of the design - you are left with pure creativity.
Create for fun!
To editor
Using VistaCreate has helped me improve my marketing and content creation skills. My audience has noticed how my social media content has changed and I get a lot of nice comments.
Read Charlotte's story
If you're a small business owner with a lot of work on your shoulders, you can't do it without a time-saving tool like VistaCreate. Thanks to it, you also don't have to spend large sums to create beautiful designs for your company.
Read Jennifer's story
Now my visual content looks much better than anything I've ever thought of. With VistaCreate, creating graphic designs is much faster and easier, so I have more time to run my business. This is such a power multiplier!
Read Kirsty's story
VistaCreate has a lot of features and is surprisingly easy to use.
