Instagram isΒ aΒ social sharing networkΒ mobile app, that you load onto your smart phone for sharing photos and tidbits about your day. It started in 2010, was bought by Facebook in 2012, and has more users than Facebook and Twitter. Insta (instant) Gram (telegram) is an easy way to share photos that you can enhance with built-in filters and simple edits. You can share photos and video real time and add fun stickersΒ with details like location, temperature, time, day and mood. You follow friends and people who align with your interests. People can follow you back and make comments about your photos. They find you with hash tags #.
Even if you donβt understand or wish to use Instagram at least set up an account with your branding name to reserve the name for when you decide to join the fun.Β Β My company name is EileenDreams and I missed out on Twitter and got EileenDreamsD β pretty lame. While you are at it, do the same for SnapChat etc if you plan to expand with Social Mediaβ¦.
The easiest way to use Instagram is to use it how it was originally meant to be used:
- Take a photo,
- Post it,
- Add a relevant comment and a couple hashtags.
To Get Started:
- Download the Instagram app on your smartphone and sign up for an Instagram account.
- Add your profile photo and information. If you are better with a keyboard than a smart phone you can fill in your bio, profile, links, and upload your profile photo on your computer at Instagram.com
- Link your new Instagram account to Facebook, Twitter and all your social media platforms and invite your friends to follow you.
There are enough features to edit photos within Instagram itself. There are photo editing tools, filters, tools to level out your horizons, and there is even a rule of thirds grid. Instagram is known for their filters so have fun experimenting with them.
Insanely Simple Photo Editing Sites To Create Memes if you don’t like making your own graphics and are just starting out. (Only use this if you really have to because it screams newbie.)
- http://www.canva.com/
- http://www.picmonkey.com/
I only ever use my own photosΒ and I find great pleasure in taking my own photos. (To each his own.)
If you need photos, try these free sites:
- https://unsplash.com/
- http://deathtothestockphoto.com/
- https://picjumbo.com/
- https://www.morguefile.com/
My 2 favourite graphics sites for images and fonts are:
- www.Creativemarket.com
- www.inkydeals.com/
Take it up a Notch
First, decide what your goal for this Instagram account is and then have a vision of what you want it to look like. Always remember your own personality, voice, and look. While you should stay true to the look and feel of your brand, some Instagram accounts stay so rigid to their brand that they have become boring.Β When I started I just wanted to learn how to do it and jumped right in. If you post photos that are not in line with your branding image you can always delete them later while you are still learning. Authenticity is key so don’t worry if it’s not perfect.
If you want to get fancy with your photo, add text and filters, I use an app that I downloaded to my smartphone called βTextGramβ. I have tried others but I prefer TextGram because it is simple and it doesnβt load a bunch of advertising crap onto my phone. With TextGram you can add text, frames, filters, fancy effects and it is fast on done on the fly.
Have Fun π
- Turn on your phoneβs location.Β Look at other peopleβs posts and start interacting with them. It is good etiquette to always reply to comments. Manners count just like IRL (in real life).
When I post a meme I always think of Johnathan Christianβs advice: Β·
- βIs it t-shirt worthy?β Sometimes it is just relevant or newsworthy but it helps keep the quality of my posts.
- Speak to your Uncle (or ideal customer, or friend). Instagram is all about connecting with real people.
Keep your posts positive. You have to be authentic but people turn to Instagram for an instant feel good feeling and appreciate a little smile.
When desperate for an idea; Cat photos always work. This is a proven fact. Seriously.
Try https://ifttt.com/ to save time if you wish to cross post to your other social media platforms.
Ideas To Increase Engagement
Using the search option is a great way to find like-minded connections. If you view someoneβs profile and honestly like their photos, theyΒ mightΒ also enjoy your photos or contentΒ and start looking at your postsΒ and may even become a follower.
Take advantage of your profile section with a photo of you, what you do, and the link you want to share. My IG account is a business account but you can set yours up as a personal account and easily change it later if you want to.
When I started I participated in a weekend hashtag project hosted by Instagram. These are fun and always provide an unexpected perspective.
Use #hashtags. (a way to define searches.)
Occasionally there are rumours about InstagramΒ changingΒ the way it feeds. PeopleΒ get in a big panic and post all sorts of things to get to be at the front of a feed. Honestly, unless you have gazillion followers it really doesn’t matter unless maybe you are in high school.
Just continue to keep engaged and authentic, and have fun!
This is my Instagram feed if you are curious. Hopefully you see a theme here:
Grateful for my friends who are keeping a positive attitude even when the world feels like it is falling apart.
I know I`m not a great painter, but oh my goodness, it creates a happy little bubble. I don`t really care about how it looks when it`s finished. It`s just fun to play with colour, clear my mind, not listen to the news, or look at a screen.
I`m blessed with mentors like @rbrodeur035 & @greycanvasmurals & yoga at @liveyogastudio & kindness cards from @onekindact.ca & my besties who check-in about feelings, warm fuzzies, & sh*t we never talked about when we were "cool".
#grateful #letyourlightshine #blessed #blessedwithfriends #staypositive #findyourgroove
Grateful for my friends who are keeping a positive attitude even when the world feels like it is falling apart.
I know I`m not a great painter, but oh my goodness, it creates a happy little bubble. I don`t really care about how it looks when it`s finished. It`s just fun to play with colour, clear my mind, not listen to the news, or look at a screen.
I`m blessed with mentors like @rbrodeur035 & @greycanvasmurals & yoga at @liveyogastudio & kindness cards from @onekindact.ca & my besties who check-in about feelings, warm fuzzies, & sh*t we never talked about when we were "cool".
#grateful #letyourlightshine #blessed #blessedwithfriends #staypositive #findyourgroove
L for this crisp cold West Coast day. Walking the Promenade today was a lovely treat. Everyone had a smile despite the cold; the sky was blue, the sun was shining, & our flag was happily dancing in the wind.π¨π¦
Oh my goodness, I love this country. π
#grateful #proudtobecanadian #weareallinthistogether
L for this crisp cold West Coast day. Walking the Promenade today was a lovely treat. Everyone had a smile despite the cold; the sky was blue, the sun was shining, & our flag was happily dancing in the wind.π¨π¦
Oh my goodness, I love this country. π
#grateful #proudtobecanadian #weareallinthistogether
Grateful for this beautiful day in this wonderful world. π A little trip to Vancouver Island feels like a grand vacation. Every time I visit, I remember that I forgot how much I love it, & how many places I haven`t discovered yet.
#grateful #beautifulbc #getoutside #vancouverisland #NanooseBay
Grateful for this beautiful day in this wonderful world. π A little trip to Vancouver Island feels like a grand vacation. Every time I visit, I remember that I forgot how much I love it, & how many places I haven`t discovered yet.
#grateful #beautifulbc #getoutside #vancouverisland #NanooseBay
Grateful for my friends and family. Happy New Year 2025 from me to you with love.π
#grateful
Grateful for today. A friend talked me off my lazy butt for a walk at the beach. Oh my goodness, the sunshine, wind, & waves were a treat!
The wind surfers put on a show flying above the whitecapped waves & sea spray. We found treasures at the White Rock Museum Art fair, then watched a very, very early sunset.
Such a wonderful day to spend outside breathing fresh air.
#grateful #kitesurfing #Getoutside #windydayatthebeach
Grateful for today. A friend talked me off my lazy butt for a walk at the beach. Oh my goodness, the sunshine, wind, & waves were a treat!
The wind surfers put on a show flying above the whitecapped waves & sea spray. We found treasures at the White Rock Museum Art fair, then watched a very, very early sunset.
Such a wonderful day to spend outside breathing fresh air.
#grateful #kitesurfing #Getoutside #windydayatthebeach
Grateful for the sun.π Oh my goodness, how the sunshine warms my soul & makes everything happier.
There have been so many wonderful moments here & they are all made better by the sun & my friends, & I just can`t stop smiling. ππ
#grateful #nuevovallartamexico #getoutside #sunshinetherapy #solarpowered #itsabeautifulWorld
Grateful for the sun.π Oh my goodness, how the sunshine warms my soul & makes everything happier.
There have been so many wonderful moments here & they are all made better by the sun & my friends, & I just can`t stop smiling. ππ
#grateful #nuevovallartamexico #getoutside #sunshinetherapy #solarpowered #itsabeautifulWorld
Grateful for the light and beauty in this world. Oh my goodness, it is a beautiful world, and the artists that share their love and light overwhelm me.
#sundayshat #grateful #itsabeautifulworld
Grateful for the light and beauty in this world. Oh my goodness, it is a beautiful world, and the artists that share their love and light overwhelm me.
#sundayshat #grateful #itsabeautifulworld
Grateful for the privilege of travel. Oh my goodness, it`s wonderful here in Puerto Vallarta. Today, the Dia de Muertos celebrations are on, so it`s even more colourful, festive, & vibrant than usual. It is also much hotter than typical here by 5 degrees Celsius. Humid, melting & loving it. π
Happy dia de Muertos, my friends! π ππ²π½
#diademuertos #adventureawaits #traveler #getoutside
Grateful for the privilege of travel. Oh my goodness, it`s wonderful here in Puerto Vallarta. Today, the Dia de Muertos celebrations are on, so it`s even more colourful, festive, & vibrant than usual. It is also much hotter than typical here by 5 degrees Celsius. Humid, melting & loving it. π
Happy dia de Muertos, my friends! π ππ²π½
#diademuertos #adventureawaits #traveler #getoutside
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