Welcome to Instagram – the photo and video sharing app that has taken the world by storm! Originally launched in 2010, Instagram has grown to become one of the most popular social media platforms with over 2 billion monthly active users. Now owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), Instagram provides an engaging and immersive way to visually share your life with friends, family and the world.
At its core, Instagram allows you to post photos and videos to your profile. Your posts appear in a scrolling feed for your followers, and you can see content from accounts you choose to follow as well. Over the years, new features like Stories, Reels, IGTV, and messaging have expanded the app‘s capabilities. You can now share short-form vertical videos, longer-form horizontal videos, disappearing content, and chat with friends – all within the Instagram app.
Getting started on Instagram is easy. Simply download the app and create an account using your email address, phone number, or Facebook account. Pick a username and password, then add a profile photo and short bio to let people know what you‘re all about. Instagram can scan your phone contacts and Facebook friends to help you find people you know to follow right away. The app will also suggest popular accounts to check out in categories like fashion, sports, memes, and pets.
Once your account is set up, it‘s time to start posting! Tap the + icon to upload a photo or video from your camera roll, or snap a new one using the in-app camera. Instagram offers cropping and resizing tools to make your visual square or portrait orientation. You can also apply filters to change the look and feel, or use the editing tools to tweak brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, and more. Add a caption, hashtags, location tag and account tags before posting to provide context and aid discovery. You can even share your Instagram post to linked social accounts like Facebook and Twitter with a toggle.
In addition to the main feed, Instagram offers Stories and Reels for more ephemeral short form video content. Stories sit at the top of the app and disappear after 24 hours, making them perfect for more casual, off-the-cuff sharing. Reels is Instagram‘s answer to TikTok, featuring up to 90 second multi-clip videos with music, effects and transitions. Both formats are hugely popular with users and the algorithm seems to be prioritizing them more and more in people‘s feeds.
To get the most out of Instagram, it‘s important to post compelling, high-quality content consistently. Blurry, boring photos and videos won‘t stop people from scrolling. Put thought into your captions too – an intriguing question or story can inspire people to engage. Speaking of engagement, get in there and like/comment on other people‘s posts! It‘s a great way to build community and get your own account noticed.
Using relevant hashtags on your posts also boosts visibility by making your content discoverable to people searching for or following that hashtag. Just don‘t go overboard – Instagram recommends using between 5-10 hashtags per post. Tagging your location and relevant accounts also increases your reach. If you‘re a business or creator looking to grow, promoted posts and paid ads are always an option to jump start growth. Running contests, giveaways and special promotions can attract eyeballs too.
Over time, you‘ll want to develop a signature visual aesthetic for your grid, so your overall profile has a cohesive look and feel. Establishing a content niche, whether that‘s drone photography, keto recipes, or French bulldogs in costumes, helps potential followers know what they can expect from your account. Keep tabs on your posts‘ performance in Instagram Insights to identify what‘s resonating most with your audience. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with new formats and jump on trends while staying true to your niche and personality.
2023 has brought plenty of updates and new features to Instagram, especially for creators looking to monetize their followings. Subscriber chats, exclusive Stories and Reels, and enhanced Instagram Shopping tools provide more ways for loyal fans to engage with and support their favorite creators. From a posting perspective, photos and videos can finally be uploaded from desktop web browsers, making social media managers‘ lives a little easier.
On the tech side, augmented reality filters powered by the Spark AR platform continue to expand, and messaging is becoming more and more integrated with sister apps Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. While Reels and short form video content is still being heavily promoted, Instagram did dial back its full-screen feed test after user backlash, reinforcing that the app isn‘t abandoning still photos anytime soon.
All of this innovation points to Instagram remaining the dominant force in social media for the foreseeable future. An account on the platform opens up access to a massive potential audience for individuals and brands alike. Competition for attention has never been fiercer, so making a splash requires some strategy and dedication. Consistently posting high-quality, personable content (especially Reels!), engaging with your niche community, and telling an interesting brand story over time are the keys to cutting through the noise.
Whether you‘re an aspiring influencer, small business owner, or casual user looking to share life‘s highlights, Instagram has something for everyone. The visual-first platform is constantly evolving with new creative tools and ways to consume content. Getting started is just a matter of downloading the app and setting up your account. Growing and maintaining a following takes more effort, but the payoff of connecting with friends and potentially reaching a wider audience is well worth it.
Happy ‘Gramming!
