Over the past few years, Instagram has seen exponential growth — from one million users at its inception to over i billion in 2022.

If you lot're interested in getting an Instagram account, or just created ane but aren't sure how to use it, you're in luck. Here, we're going to encompass all the basics, so you lot tin can acquire why Instagram is the top social media platform for engagement today.

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It's difficult to recollect a time earlier Instagram. At one time, "Do it for the 'gram" was a common proverb, which meant, essentially, "Practice something so we can take a flick and post it to Instagram."

Since then, Instagram has placed a larger and heavier emphasis on video. And then you no longer hear the phrase "Do information technology for the 'gram." I bet, though, that a 2nd version of the phrase volition before long follow. (Maybe "Do it for reel?")

If you lot're non part of the ane billion users on Instagram, you might want to reconsider. The app is a great risk to engage with elevation brands and stay a part of friends' lives. When I want to see how my college friends are doing, I don't cheque Facebook, I check Instagram. Plus, you tin can follow your favorite celebrities or political figures to see candid photos of their everyday lives.

Additionally, it's a astounding platform for investigating what other brands are doing — for instance, Nike uses the Instagram Stories' feature to promote inspirational athlete stories you won't find anywhere else.

If y'all're ready to sign up for Instagram, follow these steps below:

  • Become to the Instagram site on your desktop, or download the Instagram app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
  • If you're on desktop, click "Log in with Facebook", or fill up in the grade with your mobile number or email, name, username, and password. So click "Sign upwards".
  • On Android, click "Sign Up With Email or Phone Number".
  • On iPhone, select "Sign Upwardly".
  • Enter your e-mail accost or phone number, then click "Side by side". Alternatively, yous tin can sign up with your Facebook account.
  • Once y'all've filled out your username and password, yous will be instructed to fill up out your contour info. Then, tap "Done".
  • If yous register with Facebook, you lot'll need to log into your Facebook account if you're currently logged out.

How Do Instagram Notifications Piece of work?

When your account is created, you'll want to adjust your notifications and then you but receive the data yous want. For instance, yous tin can choose to receive notifications when you become likes from everyone — only, alternatively, you lot might make up one's mind to only receive notifications when you get a like from someone you follow. Or, you might plow off notifications for likes altogether.

You can arrange notifications to "Off", "From People I Follow", or "From Everyone", for the following categories — Comments, Comment Likes, Likes and Comments on Photos of Y'all, Follower Requests, Accepted Follow Requests, Friends on Instagram, Instagram Direct, Photos of Y'all, Reminders, Outset Posts and Stories, Product Announcements, View Counts, Support Requests, Live Videos, Mentions in Bio, IGTV Video Updates, and Video Chats.

If you're overwhelmed past that list, I get it — I am, as well. If you're unsure what notifications you want to receive, you might showtime with your notifications on "From Anybody", and if certain notifications begin to annoy you, you can plough them off later.

To customize which notifications you receive, follow these steps:

1. Open upwards the Instagram app on your phone.

First up, open up the Instagram app on your mobile device. You can also access Instagram on desktop if you prefer. Then, head to your profile by clicking the image of your contour moving picture on the lesser correct.

how to change instagram notification settings: access profile

2. Access "Settings."

Later you go far at your profile, click the hamburger menu on the top right-mitt corner.

how to change instagram notification settings: access settings

A popup carte volition appear. Tap "Settings."

how to change instagram notification settings: tap settings

3. Tap "Notifications."

On the next screen, click "Notifications."

how to change instagram notification settings: enter notifications settings

There, you'll be able to change the notification settings depending on category. These categories include:

  • Posts, Stories, and Comments
  • Following and Followers
  • Straight Messages and Calls
  • Live and Video
  • Fundraisers
  • From Instagram
  • Email and SMS
  • Shopping

how to change instagram notification settings: view all notification categories

You lot also take the ability to break all notifications by toggling the Pause All option upwardly tiptop.

4. Check off the notifications you lot want to receive.

Access each category individually and choose the notifications you desire to receive. Here are the options, for example, for "Posts, Stories, and Comments":

how to change instagram notification settings: toggle notification settings

The options will vary depending on category.

And that's it! Next, permit'due south explore how to connect your other social media accounts to your Instagram, so when you post an prototype to Instagram, you lot can share it with your other online audiences, as well.

Can y'all connect to Instagram to other social accounts?

Aye, you tin connect Instagram to Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, but it'due south no longer washed through Settings, every bit it used to be.

Now, you do information technology on a per-post basis.

If you want to share a mail service to other platforms, yous navigate to the actual post you want to cross-publish on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, and so manually share information technology that way.

Here's how:

1. Open up up the Instagram app.

two. Navigate to your profile.

3. Tap on the post you lot'd like to cross-mail.

4. Click the three dots on the pinnacle right-hand corner of the post.

how to link instagram to other social accounts: access post settings

five. On the popular-upwardly menu, click "Share."

how to link instagram to other social accounts: tap share on the post Notation: Don't click "Share to," which will give you lot an option to AirDrop or share the post to your contacts.

half dozen. Toggle the accounts you'd like to share the mail to. If you're non already signed in, you'll need to do so correct within the Instagram app.

how to link instagram to other social accounts: toggle the social accounts

Once you've connected your accounts for i post, you can and so toggle the sharing options for any new posts without needing to sign in again.

If yous connect Instagram to Facebook, you can share your Stories across both accounts. We talk more than near how to do that below.

How to Connect Instagram to Facebook

Since Instagram and Facebook are endemic by the same company, Meta, y'all can connect the 2 accounts for a more seamless experience. Connecting your Instagram and Facebook accounts allows you to:

  • Share Stories across both Instagram and Facebook
  • Login with Facebook into Instagram
  • Sync your contour name and film across both profiles
  • Use Facebook Pay on both platforms
  • Access your shopping action on both accounts

If you're a frequent Facebook user, then connecting your account to your new Instagram profile is highly recommended. Here'due south how:

1. Open up up your Instagram app.

2. Click on your profile moving-picture show on the bottom correct-manus corner.

iii. Click the hamburger menu on the peak right-hand corner.

4. Tap "Settings."

5. Under the Meta logo, tap "Accounts Center."

how to connect facebook to instagram: tap account center in settings

half dozen. Tap "Fix upwards Accounts Center."

how to connect facebook to instagram: click set up accounts center

7. Follow the prompts to log in into Facebook.

Washed! Your two accounts are at present connected. Hither's how information technology'll look like once you're finished:

how to connect facebook to instagram: final result

In the next section, I'll show you when a linked business relationship comes in handy.

Upload, Edit, and Postal service an Image

Now, for the most important part of Instagram — how to upload and post an image.

Instagram is an entirely visual platform. Dissimilar Facebook, which relies on both text and pictures, or Twitter, which relies on text alone, Instagram's sole purpose is to enable users to share images or videos with their audience.

On Facebook, you might choose to post 100 photos on an album. On Instagram, you demand to be choosier about which photos y'all post. There are a few reasons for this — first, you don't want to mail more than than in one case a mean solar day (typically). And you don't desire to mail too many similar photos.

For instance, information technology would be odd for yous to post l photos from the aforementioned beach vacation on your Instagram profile. Instead, you might choose five or six, and place them all within the same mail.

(These are called carousel posts, and they permit you to share multiple photos in i mail service only. Carousel posts are crawly for posting similar pictures in ane package while keeping your overall profile aesthetic diverse.)

Curious almost creating an aesthetic? To larn more about Instagram business relationship themes and get inspiration, have a expect at these Instagram themes. Additionally, if yous desire to embark on a deep-dive, yous tin can accept HubSpot's Instagram Marketing Form.

Now that nosotros've covered that, let's explore how to upload, edit, and mail an paradigm.

ane. Click the "+" icon at the acme-right hand corner.

When you lot tap the "+" icon, you'll exist prompted to choose the type of post you lot desire to share. Since we want to publish a post directly on our profile feed, tap "Post."

how to upload an image to instagram: click the plus button

ii. Choose your media file.

Hither, you lot accept three options. You can look through your Photos library on your phone, yous can take a new movie from correct within Instagram, or you tin can take a new video. For our purposes, I looked through my Photos library and found a picture of Boston I wanted to use. Then, I clicked "Side by side" in the top right.

how to upload an image to instagram: choose media

3. Add filters if desired.

In that location are two categories you tin can utilise to edit your image — "Filter" and "Edit". Instagram automatically shows you filters starting time. You can ringlet through the carousel and click whatever of the filters to apply it to your epitome.

Additionally, if yous want to use a filter merely yous want to tone it downward, double tap the filter and movement the cursor to the left to lessen the intensity of the filter.

how to upload an image to instagram: add filters

iv. Edit your prototype if desired.

Next, click "Edit". Here, you can suit dissimilarity, effulgence, structure, warmth, and more. When you're happy with your edited image, or if you don't want to edit it at all, click "Next" in the acme right.

how to upload an image to instagram: edit image

5. Write a caption and toggle sharing settings.

Now, y'all can add a caption, tag people (you can only tag someone if they also have an Instagram account), and add a location. Additionally, click the button beside Facebook or another linked social media account to share your image on that platform, too. When y'all're prepare to publish, click "Share" in the summit right.

how to upload an image to instagram: add caption

If y'all don't want to use your app to post on Instagram, you can also do so from your estimator. Learn how to post to Instagram from a Mac or PC here.

Upload an Epitome or Video to Your Stories

Instagram Stories is a feature that allows yous to post videos or images that disappear after 24-hours. Instagram'southward Stories feature is similar to Snapchat in terms of content — users often post more casual and candid videos and images, offering glimpses into their every day lives.

For case, on your normal feed, yous might post a heavily-edited picture of yourself and friends at a baseball game. But you lot might post a more than candid video to your Story of the stadium singing "Sweet Caroline".

To learn how to upload an prototype or video to your Stories, follow these steps:

one. Tap your profile moving picture in the upper left-hand corner.

Alternatively, swipe right on your feed or tap the "+" push in the peak navigation bar.

how to upload a story to instagram: access the story camera

2. Capture or add together your media.

One time you're within the Stories feature, you can take a picture or video right from within the app. Alternatively, if you have an image saved to your phone that you'd like to use, you can choose it from your media library.

how to upload a story to instagram: capture media

3. Add stickers or filters.

On the left-hand side, yous have a few different editing features.

The "Create" push button lets you add a location, hashtag, time, date, and other fun images or emojis to your moving-picture show.

how to upload a story to instagram: add stickers and filters

The "Boomerang" choice allows you to create a looping video. And the "Aa" icon is your text button. Once yous click "Aa", you lot have the selection to change your font.

If you click the smiley face icon, you'll run across the following screen. Only click on one of the icons to add them to your image. If you don't like it, elevate information technology to the lesser, and a trash tin will appear so yous tin can delete it.

how to upload a story to instagram: add poll

For instance, I clicked the smiley face icon to add a poll to my image. You tin can also swipe to the left or right to add filters to your photo or video.

4. Publish your Story.

One time you're happy with your content, you lot can either click the white arrow icon in the lesser correct, which allows you to share your Story with everyone who follows you, or select "Shut Friends" first, so that only your close friends see it.

And so you're done! Your Story is immediately live.

How to Follow on Instagram

Information technology's incredibly piece of cake to find and follow users. Using Instagram's search characteristic, you can find celebrities, brands, and friends. Additionally, you can search "Tags" or "Places". "Tags" is particularly useful if y'all know what type of content you want to notice, only you're not sure who posts virtually information technology.

For case, you might search "#familyrecipes" under tags — your results will include whatsoever images with that hashtag. As you peruse, you might observe someone who posts content you really similar, and you tin can choose to follow them then their content appears on your feed.

To follow someone, follow these three piece of cake steps.

i. Click on the search icon at the lesser of your screen.

It looks like a magnifying glass and volition be right next to the "Home" push.

how to follow on instagram: click the search icon

ii. Next, blazon in a person, topic, or brand.

For this example, I searched "architecture."

how to follow on instagram: view results

Instagram allows y'all to either search all posts that contain the word "compages," or "Encounter all results" and see tags and places.

how to follow on instagram: browse through the results

iii. Tap the account you lot're interested in following.

Once you're on someone else'south account, you'll run across a bluish "Follow" button at the top. For public profiles, you can click and immediately begin following that account. However, if the profile is private, you may demand to look for them to accept you beginning.

how to follow on instagram: follow an account you like

And that's it! Yous're on your way to becoming a pro. To accept your account to the next level, plan out your side by side posts using an assortment of content ideas and templates.

Using Instagram is Primal for Growing Your Personal Brand

If you want to grow both professionally and personally, so using Instagram is more important than ever. You can outset by observing commencement, then begin posting as you learn your way around the user interface. With over 1 billion users, Instagram is an extremely worthwhile social media platform to join — and information technology's but set to keep growing equally time goes on.

Editor'southward note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published Jan 18, 2022 8:00:00 AM, updated January 18 2022