How to Post on Instagram

Edited 3 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today, allowing you to share photos, videos, and stories with friends, family, or the general public. This guide will walk you through how to post on Instagram, including everything from creating an account to publishing your content.

Step 1: Create an account

If you don't already have an Instagram account, you'll need to create one first. Here's how:

1. Download the Instagram app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Open the app and tap Sign up.
3. You can sign up with your email address or phone number. Alternatively, you can use your Facebook account to sign up.
4. Enter the required information like your name, username, password, and profile picture.
5. Once completed, tap Next to create your account.

Step 2: Setting up your profile

After creating your account, you should set up your profile to make it more attractive:

1. Go to your profile by tapping the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.
2. Tap Edit profile.
3. Fill out your resume and other information, such as if you have a website.
4. Tap Done to save the changes.

Step 3: Posting photos and videos

Now that your profile is set up, you can start posting photos and videos. Follow these steps:

1. Tap the + icon at the bottom middle of the screen.
2. Choose whether you want to upload a photo or video from your gallery or take a new photo or video using your camera.
3. After selecting or capturing your media, tap Next.
4. You can now apply filters, edit your photo or video, or use other editing tools. Tap Next when you're done.
5. Add captions to your posts. You can also tag people, add locations, and even share the post to other social media platforms.
6. Finally, tap Share to publish your post.

Step 4: Posting stories

Instagram Stories are temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours. To post a Story:

1. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen, or swipe right from the home screen.
2. Choose whether you want to take a new photo or video or select from your gallery.
3. You can add text, stickers, filters, and images to your story.
4. When you're satisfied with your story, tap Your story to post it.

Step 5: Posting the IGTV Video

IGTV is Instagram's platform for sharing longer videos. Here's how to post an IGTV video:

1. Tap the + icon at the bottom middle of the screen.
2. Select a video longer than 60 seconds from your gallery.
3. Tap Next, then select The longer video to share it on IGTV.
4. Add a title and description to your video. You can also add a cover image.
5. Tap Post to publish your video to IGTV.

Step 6: Engaging with your audience

Engagement is key to building followers on Instagram. Here are some ways to connect with your audience:

• Respond to comments: Show your followers that you care about their feedback by responding to comments on your posts.
• Like and comment on other posts: Engage with other users by liking and commenting on their posts. This can increase your visibility on the platform.
• Use hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to make your posts discoverable by a wider audience. However, avoid using too many hashtags as it can look like spam.
• Post consistently: Posting content regularly helps keep your followers engaged and strengthens your presence on the platform.
• Use Instagram's features: Use features like polls, questions, and quizzes in your stories to interact with your audience.

Step 7: Managing your posts

You can manage your posts by editing or deleting them. Here's how:

• Editing a post:
1. Go to the post you want to edit.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post.
3. Select Edit.
4. Make any desired changes to your caption, tags, or location.
5. Tap Done to save the changes.
• Deleting a post:
1. Go to the post you want to delete.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post.
3. Select Delete.
4. Confirm by tapping Delete again.

Step 8: Understanding Instagram metrics

Instagram provides various metrics to help you understand how your posts are performing:

• Likes and comments: These are the most basic metrics that show how many people liked and commented on your post.
• Shares and saves: Users can share your post to their story or save it to view later. These metrics indicate high engagement.
• Reach and impressions: Reach means the number of unique users who saw your post, while impressions mean the total number of times your post was seen. You can find these metrics by switching to a business or creator account.
• Profile visits and followers: Monitor how many users visit your profile and follow you as a result of your posts.

Step 9: Using Instagram ads

If you want to reach more people, you can use Instagram ads. Here's how to create an ad:

1. Go to your profile and tap on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
2. Select Settings > Business > Promotions.
3. Tap Create promotion.
4. Select the post you want to promote.
5. Determine your goals, audience, budget, and duration for the promotion.
6. Review your ad settings and tap Create Promotion to start your ad campaign.

Step 10: Keep up with Instagram updates

Instagram frequently updates its features and algorithm. To stay updated:

• Follow the official Instagram blog and social media channels for news and updates.
• Join online communities and forums to discuss new features and strategies.
• As new features become available, experiment with them and understand how they can benefit your account.

Conclusion

Posting on Instagram involves several steps, from creating an account to engaging with your audience. By following this guide, you can effectively share content, build your followers, and take advantage of Instagram's features to grow your presence on the platform. Remember to consistently create high-quality posts and interact with your audience to get the most out of your Instagram experience.

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