How To Do Your Very First Instagram Post

How To Do Your Very First Instagram Post

Getting Started with Instagram

You can follow along with these screen shots of my phone as I create a post. Or, you can skip to the bottom of this page for a numbered list of directions.

ย Open the Instagram app

Click on the + on the top right corner of your phone

You will get a drop down called Create New that gives you options

Choose: Feed Post

 

Choose your photo from your phoneโ€™s photo Gallery

Edit your photo,

straighten the horizon and choose a filter, if you want.

Click on the Blue arrow at the top right corner of your phone to get to the page where you write your message

 

 

Type over Write a captionโ€ฆ.

Write a comment that add values and invites engagement

Add hashtags

Tag People

Click on your photo and start typing your Instagram name to tag yourself or anyone in the photo

Tap the blue check mark at the top right of the page

Add location

Click on your photo and start typing your location to tag yourself or anyone in the photo

Share to Facebook

When your post is live answer peopleโ€™s comments

First Steps to Make an Instagram Post

  1. Load the Instagram app on your phone.
  2. Open the Instagram app
  3. Click on the + on the top right corner of your phone inside the Instagram App
  4. You will get a drop down that gives you options.
  5. Choose Create New
  6. Choose: Create post
  7. Choose your photo from your phoneโ€™s photo Gallery

– Edit your photo,

– straighten the horizon, choose a filter, add text and stickers if you want

  1. Click on the Blue arrow at the top right corner of your phone to get to the page where you write your message
  2. Type over Write a captionโ€ฆ.

– Describe your photo with a comment that add values and invites engagement.

  1. Add hashtags
  2. Tag People

– Tap on your photo and start typing your Instagram name to tag yourself or anyone in the photo

  1. Add location

– Click on your photo and start typing your location

  1. Share to Facebook if you want to
  2. Tap the blue check mark at the top right of the page to load your post

TaDa!! Good for you!! You did it! Have fun!!

I would love to know if this was helpful for you and what other questions you have. Please drop me a line or message me through Instagram.

Instagram

Instagram

Instagram isย aย social sharing networkย 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 stickersย 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 donโ€™t 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.ย ย My company name is EileenDreams and I missed out on Twitter and got EileenDreamsD โ€“ pretty lame. While you are at it, do the same for SnapChat etc if you plan to expand with Social Mediaโ€ฆ.

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:

  1. Download the Instagram app on your smartphone and sign up for an Instagram account.
  2. 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
  3. 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 photosย 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:

  1. www.Creativemarket.com
  2. 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.ย  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 โ€œTextGramโ€. I have tried others but I prefer TextGram because it is simple and it doesnโ€™t 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 ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Turn on your phoneโ€™s location.ย Look at other peopleโ€™s 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 Christianโ€™s advice: ยท

  • โ€œIs it t-shirt worthy?โ€ 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 someoneโ€™s profile and honestly like their photos, theyย mightย also enjoy your photos or contentย and start looking at your postsย 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 Instagramย changingย the way it feeds. Peopleย 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:

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