With over 1 billion active users, Instagram stands as one of the premier social media platforms for advertising your business, reaching new audiences, and elevating brand awareness. Even if you haven’t yet embraced Instagram, it’s never too late to integrate an Instagram strategy into your marketing plan.
Ready to start sharing content on this vibrant platform? We’ve got you covered with a concise guide to posting on Instagram. This will help you capture your audience’s attention through effective Instagram marketing.
How to post on Instagram
- Tap the + icon at the top of your screen.
- Select a photo or video from your library or capture one using the app.
- Upload multiple images if desired.
- Adjust the crop of your image.
- Choose a filter.
- Edit your photo for enhanced appeal.
- Craft your caption thoughtfully.
- Incorporate hashtags to optimize your post.
- Tag friends to increase engagement.
- Add your location for context.
- Enhance your message with emojis.
- Share your post across other social media platforms.
- Make any necessary edits to refine your post.
Consistent posting on Instagram can help businesses connect with their audience and foster growth. However, executing your strategy correctly is crucial. Follow these step-by-step instructions to effectively post to your Instagram account.
Step 1. Tap the + icon at the top of your screen
Locate the plus sign [+] in the image above; it’s your starting point. Click it to proceed to the next step.
Step 2. Select or capture a photo or video
Instagram will display photos saved on your phone. Choose one to post, or tap the camera icon to take a new photo or video within the app. After selecting and cropping an image (or a series of images), press the Next button in the top right corner.
A girl takes a selfie for Instagram
Step 3. Post multiple images using the carousel feature
Want to showcase multiple photos? Tap the icon above your photos resembling stacked squares. As you select images or videos, numbers will appear on each, indicating their order in the carousel.
Step 4. Crop your image
Instagram allows more than just square images—you can also share horizontal or vertical shots. To maximize your image, pinch the screen on the Library page. While vertical and horizontal options exist, images must fit specific dimensions, so minor cropping might be necessary.
Step 5. Choose a filter
Instagram offers a diverse selection of filters. Simply scroll right to discover them and tap on one to see how it transforms your photo. By default, filters are applied at full strength, but you can reduce their intensity by double-tapping the filter tile, which brings up a scale slider. For further enhancements, tap the magic wand icon at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Edit your photo
Click “Edit” at the bottom right to customize your image to your liking. Instagram offers several built-in editing tools:
- Adjust: Slightly rotate your image along the center axis to tilt it left or right using the linear scale.
- Brightness: Modify the image’s brightness by sliding the selector left to darken or right to brighten.
- Contrast: Enhance or reduce color intensity by sliding the selector left for a muted look or right for vivid colors.
- Structure: Apply an HD-like effect to highlight details by sliding the selector right for more definition.
- Warmth: Alter the photo’s temperature; slide left for cooler tones and right for warmer hues.
- Saturation: Control color saturation by sliding left for less color (or a monochrome look) and right for vibrant hues.
- Color: Apply different color overlays for unique effects by selecting your preferred option to see changes in the preview.
- Fade: Create an “aged” effect by softening black intensity; increase fade by sliding right.
- Highlights: Adjust highlight intensity; slide left to darken and right to lighten highlights.
- Shadows: Manage shadow intensity by sliding left to darken or right to lighten them.
- Vignette: Darken image corners for a circular focal point by sliding all the way right for a pronounced vignette.
- Tilt shift: Blur image edges either radially or linearly to emphasize the center details.
- Sharpen: Enhance image clarity by sharpening details for a dramatic effect.
Step 7. Write your caption
Craft a creative and engaging Instagram caption. Captions can enhance your post’s visibility in searches, making them beneficial.
Step 8. Use hashtags for optimization
Instagram’s search feature enables users to discover posts through hashtags. By incorporating relevant hashtags in your caption, you enhance the likelihood of your post being found by users searching for those specific terms.
Step 9. Tag friends
To let a friend or their followers see a photo of you both, tag them! On the new post page, select “Tag People” to add other Instagram accounts, or include their handle (preceded by @) in your caption.
Step 10. Add your location
If you’re enjoying a vacation or attending an exciting event and prefer not to mention it in your caption, you can let others know where you are in a different way. On the new post page, tap “Add Location” to tag your image with a location, making it easier for people to discover your post. When you include a location, it will appear between your name and the content block on the feed.
Step 11. Use emojis wisely
Emojis can add a playful and attention-grabbing element to your captions. If you know a few that complement your post, consider including them in your caption. For example, with a vacation photo, you might add a palm tree 🌴 or a plane ✈️ emoji.
The girl creates an Instagram post
Here are some popular Instagram emojis you can use:
- ❤️
- 😍
- 😘
- 😂
- 😊
- 😎
- 💕
- 😉
- 💋
- 👍
Remember, there are plenty of options to enhance your posts, from the straightforward 💯 to the cringe face 😬. However, avoid overusing emojis just for the sake of it. Using a bowling emoji with a beach photo may confuse viewers, and including 20 loosely related emojis might annoy followers or seem desperate.
Step 12. Share your post on other platforms
To share your content on other connected social media sites (like Facebook or Twitter), simply toggle the button from left to right. When you’re ready, click “Share” in the top right corner.
Instagram saved Drafts
If you’re not ready to post right away, save your work in your Instagram Saved Drafts. Return to the filtering and editing step, tap the back arrow at the top left, and choose “Save Draft.”
Step 13. Edit your post
Everyone makes typos! If you spot a glaring error after posting, don’t worry. Just tap the three dots to the right of your name, then select “Edit.” Make the necessary changes and save them to update your Instagram. Otherwise, your post is complete and live for your audience to enjoy.
Grow your audience on Instagram today
Armed with this knowledge of posting on Instagram, you can begin crafting engaging content and connecting with your audience. For businesses and brands, it is essential to implement a robust strategy to enhance engagement and boost brand awareness.