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.
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 — 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 🌴 or a plane ✈️ 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 💯 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.
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.
Topics: Instagram Marketing
If you haven't posted on Instagram in a while, you may be confused as to where the button to start a post is, as the mobile app has shifted its appearance numerous times in recent years.
If instead you're familiar with the mobile app and wish you could seamlessly post to Instagram from your computer in the same manner as the app, you're now in luck. Instagram recently added a feature to its desktop website that is analogous to the posting method on mobile.
Here's how to post on Instagram from a mobile device or computer.
How to post on Instagram from a mobile device1. Open the Instagram mobile app and log in if needed.
2. From your home screen or profile, tap the + (plus) symbol in the upper-right corner, and select Post from the dropdown menu.
3. Select the photo (or video) you wish to post from your device's library or tap the camera icon to take a new image with your smartphone camera. To make a multi-image post – you can use up to 10 pictures in one post – tap the circle with an image of layered squares and then tap the images you'd like to use in order. Tap Next when you've selected your media.
Tap the circle with overlapping squares to add multiple photos or videos.
Insider 4. On the next screen, select a filter if you wish to use one, or tap Edit to make other changes to the image's crop, brightness, saturation, and more. Then tap Done.
Tap a filter or select Edit to customize your post. Insider5. You can now add a text caption and location, tag people, and pair other platforms – like Facebook or Twitter – to syndicate your post there, too.
Add a caption, tags, or other elements on the final page before posting.
Insider 6. Tap Share in the top-right corner to set your post live on Instagram.
How to post on Instagram from a computerYou once had to employ a convoluted process to trick Instagram into thinking you were using a mobile device in order to post from a computer.
Thankfully, Instagram has added a new, built-in feature that makes posting from its desktop website as seamless as posting from its mobile app. Here's how to post from a computer.
1. Go to Instagram's website in a desktop browser and log in if needed.
2. Click the + (plus) symbol at the top of the page to start a post.
Click the plus sign.3. Drag image or video files into the pop-up window that appears, or click Select from computer.
Click to select images or drag media into the pop-up. Insider4. Your selected image will appear in the window. Use the magnifying glass in the bottom-left corner to zoom in on the image and crop it, or use the two arrow icon to the left of that to select a specific aspect ratio for the post. If you want to add more images, click the circle with overlapping squares in the bottom-right corner and tap the resulting plus sign to add media. When you're done, click Next.
5. Choose a filter or click the Adjustments tab to adjust levels of brightness, contrast, and other elements. Then click Next.
Choose a filter or make adjustments.6. Click the photo to tag accounts, or use the form on the right of image to add a caption, location, or alt text (via the Accessibility dropdown), or turn off commenting (via the Advanced settings dropdown). Then click Share to post to your Instagram feed.
Add a caption, tags, and more from this window. Insider; Getty ImagesSteven John
Freelance Writer
Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC.
When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com.
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October 13 Social media instructions
Contents:
Instagram has a limit on the size of uploaded videos. Users cannot post videos longer than 60 seconds. But there are 3 ways to get around this limitation and publish files up to 60 minutes!
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This method is suitable for publishing videos up to 15 minutes from a mobile device. And up to 60 minutes if you're uploading videos from a PC.
Before publishing on IGTV, it is recommended to create a special channel:
A function to quickly upload video files to Instagram and Facebook will become available.
We made a very detailed guide to IGTV here in this article! If you want to understand YouTube from Instagram, be sure to read :)
IGTV is a full-fledged video hosting from Instagram, it has all the possible functions for working with videos:
Instructions for publishing from PC:
Instructions for downloading from a mobile phone:
Another way to post a video to Instagram is to simply cut it into segments up to 1 minute long. We publish these segments in a gallery (a slider with several photos or videos inside one Instagram post).
It is recommended that you copy the original video beforehand, saving the entire file. There is a possibility that one of the parts of the file will be lost in the application.
Any video editor can be used. For example, I love the InShot app - it's available on both IOS and Android.
How to cut video for Instagram carousel in InShot:
Then we can add the video again, cut another piece and save.
Or return to the draft of the original video in the INSHOT program, undo the last deletion action (the “Back” arrow in the tools), trim and save another piece.
Official video requirements for IGTV can be found in Facebook help. We will publish a link to the official source, since the requirements change periodically along with Instagram updates.
The IGTV video cover size is 420 x 654 pixels.
You can upload square (from 600 x 600), horizontal (from 600 x 315) pixels, or vertical (from 600 x 750) orientation. The size is not more than 4 GB.
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Post tags: Instagram
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Instagram has created a convenient format for long IGTV videos for bloggers, stars and every ordinary person with a smartphone in their hands - Instagram TV (IGTV). These are vertical videos in Instagram Stories format. You can download and add IGTV videos from your phone or computer right away in the Instagram app, on the website in the web version of instagram.com, or by downloading the IGTV app.
At the same time, you do not need to shoot a picture at the Netflix level, but you can post ordinary vlogs. YouTube investors frowned in unison.
TV is watched less and less, and perhaps Instagram videos IGTV want to become a replacement for your plasma on the wall. Directly on Instagram, we have the ability to add long videos. Another tool for promoting on Instagram and increasing coverage!
Even cheat services already offer IGTV video views.
What is IGTV and how is it different from Instagram Stories and Live? IGTV videos of a similar format are vertical. But these videos need to be made in advance and then uploaded to IGTV. But there is scrolling back and forth while viewing. Duration - from 60 seconds to 15 minutes (for downloading from a phone) and no longer than an hour (if done from a computer).
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IGTV videos can also be liked and commented, they have statistics (if you make a business account or an author account). And in the description, you can add a clickable link to an external site.
Any Instagram account (regardless of the number of followers) in Stories can add a link to an IGTV video. And you can put a preview in the feed with a link to the full IGTV video.
Not any video can be uploaded to IGTV, it must fit the format.
The most popular format in Stories is vertical. You can also upload horizontal video to IGTV - while watching, you can turn the screen over and it will unfold (just like on Youtube). If you shoot and upload videos from your phone, then you don’t need to think too much - when uploading a video to IGTV (detailed instructions below), you will open a gallery and it will contain only those videos that are suitable in length and size.
IGTV video size:
Aspect ratio:
Video size ("weight"):
File format: .mp4
IGTV video duration:
There are three ways to upload videos from 60 seconds to IGTV:
You can add IGTV video on your phone without downloading additional applications.
The first way to download IGTV from your phone
Log into your account on your phone, press the plus at the bottom in the middle.
Choose the video you want (in IGTV, only longer than 60 seconds is suitable). Click next.
If you select "short video", your video will be cut to 60 seconds and appear as a normal video in the feed. For the video to fully load on IGTV, select Long Video.
Choose a cover either from the frames of the video, or click "Add content from the camera roll" and you can upload a suitable photo from the gallery.
Write a title and description for the video. You can add an active link to an external site in the description.
If you leave the 'Publish Preview' switch checked, the first 60 seconds of the video will appear in your feed with a link to the full video.
Here you can also edit which part of the video will be shown in the feed ("Edit preview") and crop the cover ("Edit cover") .
In advanced settings, you can also connect automatically generated subtitles.
The second way to download IGTV from your phone
Go to your Instagram account, click the plus sign on the top left.
Choose "IGTV Video". Then everything is as in the screenshots above.
You can view uploaded IGTV videos in your Instagram account.
Shooting or uploading Stories. Click on the "Link" icon at the top.
Click "IGTV Video". Choose what you need. Click "Done" in the upper right corner. You can add text or a GIF with an arrow at the top.
When watching this Story, followers will be able to swipe up and go to the IGTV video you linked to.
We recommend downloading this app if you often watch and post IGTV videos.
Download the IGTV app
👉 download in the AppStore
👉 download in Google Play
Open IGTV, click "Continue as"
Three sections at the top: subscriptions, popular, history (these sections do not appear for everyone). History - those IGTV videos that you have watched before.
To upload a video in the IGTV app, click the plus on the top right, allow access to your photos and videos.
Video that matches the length, size and format will be available for download, the rest will not.
Choose a video, you can watch it. Click "Next" on the top right. Choose a cover either from the frames of the video, or click "Add content from the camera roll" and select the appropriate photo from the gallery.
Write a title and description for the video. You can add an active link to an external site in the description.
If you leave the 'Publish Preview' switch checked, the first 60 seconds of the video will appear in your feed with a link to the full video. You can edit a segment of an IGTV video for feed preview and crop the cover.
After downloading the IGTV video preview, you can upload it to Stories .
You can view uploaded IGTV videos in your Instagram account.
You can also watch and upload IGTV videos to your account from a computer.
You can view statistics for your videos uploaded to IGTV. Moreover, the number of views (this is everyone who watched longer than 3 seconds), likes and comments will be seen by everyone.
