A Newbie’s Information [Expert Insights + New Data]

I absolutely admit I’m terminally uncool. However as a marketer, I can’t let my lack of swag (rizz? drip?) be an excuse for being behind the occasions and never realizing how you can use Instagram. With practically 2 billion customers, I’ve gotta be.

Fortunately, I’m surrounded by veteran entrepreneurs and social media specialists who can train me — and I’m going to pay it ahead by sharing their insights with you.

First, we’ll cowl the fundamentals: what Instagram is and what its goal is. Then, we’ll discover how you can get began. Alongside the way in which, I’ll share knowledgeable quotes and data-backed suggestions that may have you ever posting like a professional.

However I will not be offended in case you bounce straight to the half you want:

Desk of Contents

Instagram — IG or Insta, for individuals cooler than me — was as soon as only a photo-sharing social platform. Again then, “Do it for the ‘gram” was a typical saying: “Do one thing enjoyable/humorous/dangerous so we will take an image and submit it to Instagram.”

Since then, Instagram has change into a full-fledged visible platform with a heavier emphasis on video and interactive components through Stickers. (And “Do it for the ‘gram” has apparently fallen out of favor.)

When you‘re not a part of the one billion customers on Instagram, you may need to rethink. As a shopper, the app gives an amazing likelihood to remain part of pals’ lives. Plus, you possibly can observe your favourite celebrities, influencers, or public figures to see candid pictures of their on a regular basis lives.

For manufacturers, it is a phenomenal platform for connecting with their viewers. As an illustration, Taco Bell makes use of Instagram Tales to advertise new menu objects you will not discover anyplace else.

How Does Instagram Work?

The thought is easy: Customers from anyplace on the planet create non-public or public accounts.

They observe and are adopted by different customers, interact with them and their content material, and add movies and pictures to be engaged with in return. (Otherwise you could be a lurker who simply checks out everybody else’s content material and by no means posts or engages — however nobody likes that.)

Person accounts can signify people or teams like organizations, companies, or manufacturers. We’ll dig deeper into the small print as you learn on.

Instagram FAQs

Can I get on Instagram with out creating an account?

You’ll be able to browse Instagram with restricted performance for a short while with out an account. After some time, you’ll be prompted to log in earlier than you possibly can proceed. This occurs each on desktop and in net browsers or apps on cell.

Is Instagram free?

With all that it has to supply, it might be stunning that Instagram is free, however it’s.

You’ll be able to join and begin posting content material with nothing greater than an e mail tackle. Options like verification badges and adverts, nevertheless, do include a price ticket.

Can you utilize Instagram on desktop?

Initially, Instagram was solely a cell app. You may solely entry the platform from a cell machine, however lately, it launched a surprisingly full web site that may be accessed by any net browser, together with from a desktop.

(There is no such thing as a desktop app at the moment.)

At first, customers may solely view content material from the desktop model of Instagram, however at present, they will view, edit, and create content material and interact by feedback, likes, and messages.

There are nonetheless some limitations, akin to not with the ability to work together with Stickers in Tales, but when you end up with no cellphone or pill (or possibly simply need to sneak in a scroll throughout work or college hours), the desktop is greater than sufficient.

What units work with Instagram?

Along with a browser, the Instagram app will work on any machine with iOS, Android, or Home windows 10.

What’s an Instagram deal with?

An Instagram deal with is your username. For companies, this ought to be instantly associated to your model title so your clients can discover you. For instance, HubSpot’s deal with is solely @hubspot, whereas mine is @curt.delp.

What’s an influencer?

An influencer is anybody with an viewers. Similar to you’ll belief a buddy’s suggestions, influencers can affect others’ opinions by their established relationship.

In reality, in keeping with Aspire, 63% of entrepreneurs say influencer-generated content material performs higher than different model content material.

The bigger their viewers, the extra worthwhile an influencer could be to a advertising marketing campaign.

Be taught extra about that in our article, “Influencer Advertising Technique: How one can Construct a Plan Creators & Prospects Will Love [+ Templates].” The time period “influencer” can also be typically interchanged with “content material creator” lately.

What’s an Instagram Reel?

A Reel is a brief video shared on Instagram, usually between 15-90 seconds.

Learn: How To Make Instagram Reels and Use Them to Your Benefit

What’s an Instagram Story?

An Instagram Story is a photograph or quick video that disappears after 24 hours. Folks should have an Instagram account to view your story, and Tales could be saved to your profile completely through “Highlights.”

Learn: Instagram Tales: What They Are and How one can Make One Like a Professional

What’s the goal of Instagram?

“Personally, I take advantage of it to share choose updates about my life with family and friends, share memes, and discover inspiration for all the things from recipes to style to journey,” says Emily Kearns, HubSpot’s Senior Supervisor of Model Social.

Emily’s a part of the crew that blew up HubSpot’s LinkedIn presence by 84% in simply six months, so I belief her phrase.

“It’s additionally more and more used as a spot to get information, find out about present occasions, and observe alongside in real-time for issues like purple carpets,” she provides.

For manufacturers and entrepreneurs, the aim is to get in entrance of hundreds of thousands of extremely engaged viewers.

“Instagram presences are used to construct and talk a model narrative and to attach with lovers of the model,” Kearns says. “It may be used for lots of issues from driving consciousness of a brand new product to driving conversions with particular focused placements.”

However don’t consider it as merely blasting adverts to passive viewers. Good manufacturers are creating legions of loyal followers who unfold that love.

“There was an enormous shift not too long ago the place manufacturers are focusing extra on constructing a neighborhood by relatable and entertaining content material,” says Reece Callaway, Social Media Strategist and Content material Operations Lead on that very same social dream crew.

I used to be shocked and delighted by how simple it was to get began. Since I already had a Fb account, signing up for IG solely took a number of clicks.

If you’re prepared to enroll in Instagram, observe these steps under:

Go to the Instagram website in your desktop or obtain the Instagram app from the App Retailer (iPhone) or Google Play Retailer (Android).
When you’re on desktop, click on “Log in with Fb”, or fill within the kind along with your cell quantity or e mail, title, username, and password. Then click on “Join”.
On Android, click on “Signal Up With E-mail or Telephone Quantity.”
On iPhone, choose “Signal Up.”
Enter your e mail tackle or cellphone quantity, then click on “Subsequent.” You may also join along with your Fb account.
As soon as you’ve got crammed out your username and password, you’ll be instructed to fill out your profile data. Then, faucet “Executed”.
When you register with Fb, you‘ll must log into your Fb account in case you’re at the moment logged out.

How one can Optimize Your Instagram Profile

When you’ve downloaded the app and accomplished the signup course of, it’s time to optimize your profile.

As you possibly can see, I’ve nonetheless obtained to arrange my profile. Understanding what to say about your self or your model could be intimidating, so that you may be tempted to skip this step.

DON’T. SKIP. THIS. STEP.

“An IG web page is usually one of many first contact factors for a shopper,” says Kearns. “So, it’s crucial that what they’re seeing displays the way you need your model to be perceived. First impressions matter!”

Your Instagram profile acts as the principle hub for all posts, Reels, and Tales. That is additionally the house the place you possibly can entry your settings and account data in addition to hold monitor of your followers and people you’re following.

Let’s stroll by optimizing a few of the largest elements of your profile.

Observe: When you’ve got an Android, these directions could fluctuate barely.

Add or Edit Your Profile Image

Faucet your profile image on the highest left to go to your profile.
Faucet “Edit Profile.”
Faucet “Change profile picture.”
Click on “Add Picture,” then choose your image to import.

HubSpot’s Principal Advertising Supervisor and fellow blogger Ramona Sukhraj recommends utilizing a transparent, high-quality image of your face (like influencer Ali Abdaal) or a emblem (like Slack) in case you’re a enterprise.

“You need individuals to simply acknowledge and establish you after they come throughout your posts, even when they aren’t in your profile,” she explains.

Add a Bio

Click on your profile image on the left to go to your profile.
Click on “Edit Profile” on the high of the display, then click on the textual content field subsequent to “Bio.”
Write your bio.
Click on “Submit” to save lots of your adjustments.

Sukhraj continues, “Instagram solely provides you 150 characters in your bio. Use them to inform individuals why they need to observe you. Embody who you’re and what you do, but additionally a touch of persona.”

Add a Web site

Including your on-line presence to your Instagram web page, like your web site or weblog, can considerably enhance your model’s visibility and engagement.

Faucet the profile image or image within the backside proper to go to your profile.
Faucet “Edit Profile” on the high of the display.
Faucet “Hyperlinks,” then faucet “Add exterior hyperlink” so as to add the URL on your web site.
Faucet “Executed.” You may also take away a hyperlink by tapping on the hyperlink after which tapping “Take away Hyperlink.”
Faucet “Again” (<), then faucet “Executed” to save lots of your adjustments.

Professional tip: You’ll be able to add as much as 5 hyperlinks to your Instagram profile, however Sukhraj recommends utilizing LinkTree to bypass the restrict. You need to use LinkTree to information individuals to your web site and different platforms, content material, gives — something actually.

Take a look at this text for extra tips about how you can optimize your Instagram profile.

How one can Use Instagram

We already mentioned how Instagram works at a excessive stage, however let’s get extra granular about what utilizing it really appears like.

As a shopper, you simply begin following accounts that submit issues that curiosity you. You may also submit stuff you discover fascinating, and others will observe you. (I’ll present you how you can do each in a minute.)

“I take advantage of it to point out a few of the cool journeys and adventures I am going on with my family and friends!” says Reece Callaway.

As a enterprise, issues are a bit totally different. Your job is to start out constantly posting the kind of participating content material that your best viewers desires to see.

What precisely does that imply? That relies on your advertising objectives and your viewers, however some common enterprise content material contains:

Academic content material (how-tos, suggestions, hacks)
Leisure (relatable humor)
Interactive content material (Tales with polls, inquiries to reply, and many others.)
Reside video

To get a style of various methods, Callaway recommends testing the accounts for Fairly Little Marketer, McLaren Racing, and Aesop skincare.

“All of them perceive their model and what the customers need from them,” he explains. “They nail it with each submit in their very own distinctive method.”

You may also get extra concepts from the place these got here from in our article, “How one can Get Extra Followers on Instagram: 17 Methods to Your First (or Subsequent) 1000.”)

Instagram Navigation

Every time you open the Instagram app, you’ll be offered with a feed of content material from the accounts you observe. On the underside of your display, you’ll discover the principle menu bar. Right here’s what every of the icons means and how you can use them.

Residence: The house button takes you to your most important feed. It’s positioned on the far left, and you may click on it from anyplace within the app.

Discover (or Search): Urgent this magnifying glass button takes you to Instagram’s Discover web page, the place you possibly can seek for accounts and hashtags. You may also browse content material from accounts you don’t observe however have been recommended based mostly in your present likes and comparable content material you’ve seen.

New Publish: Urgent the “ + “ image within the middle of the menu, you possibly can create a brand new submit, story, reel, or go stay.

Reels: This clapperboard image is the Reels icon. If you click on it, you’ll be taken to the Reels web page to look at short-form content material.

Profile: This icon on the far proper ought to be a small circle along with your profile picture. Hitting this button directs you to your most important profile web page, the place you possibly can see your entire posts, follower data, and Reels.

Within the higher proper nook, you’ll additionally see two extra choices:

Coronary heart: The guts brings you to your notifications. Right here, you’ll get a heads-up about who’s interacting along with your content material or account. We’ll get deeper into that slightly later.

Messenger: The phrase bubble with a lightning bolt takes you to the messenger app. Right here you possibly can ship messages, pics, and movies on to different customers. (When you’ve heard the phrase “sliding into DMs,” that is the place you do this.)

Now that you just perceive the app‘s interface higher let’s have a look at how you can create an Instagram profile.

How do Instagram notifications work?

When you’re like me and get simply distracted (or overwhelmed) by social media, you’ll need to alter your notifications, so that you solely obtain the data you need.

As an illustration, you possibly can select to obtain notifications once you get likes from anybody — otherwise you may solely obtain notifications once you get a like from somebody you observe.

Or, like me, you may flip off notifications for likes altogether.

To offer you a warning, there are a variety of classes of notifications. Right here’s an official listing of what you may get pinged about:

Likes and Feedback on Images of You
Feedback
Remark Likes and Pins
Remark Each day Digest
First Posts and Tales
Notes
Add to Publish Submissions
Added to Publish
Point out Requests
New Followers
Accepted Observe Requests
Account recommendations
Mentions in Bio
Message Requests
Messages from Particular person and Group Chats
Message Reminders
Group Requests
Broadcast Channel Invitations
Broadcast Channel Messages
Authentic Audio
Remixes
Reside Movies
Just lately Uploaded Reels
Most Watched Reels
Add Yours
Reels Made for You
Your Fundraisers
Fundraisers by Others
Reminders
Product Bulletins & Suggestions
Help Requests
Trending Locations
Birthdays

When you obtained bored and scrolled previous all that, I get it. Me, too.

You’ll be able to set any of these to “Off,” “From Folks I Observe,” or “From Everybody.”

Professional tip for customers: A good suggestion is to start out with “From Everybody” after which flip off the notifications that annoy you.

Professional tip for entrepreneurs: When you don’t need to sift by a jillion notifications a day, a social media administration software (just like the one in Advertising Hub) will cease you from wanting to drag your hair out.

And, as an added bonus, the key phrase monitoring function means you’ll by no means miss a point out— even when it doesn’t hit your notifications.

To customise which notifications you obtain, observe these steps:

1. Open up the Instagram app in your cellphone.

First, open the Instagram app in your cell machine. (You may also entry Instagram on the desktop in case you desire.)

Navigate to your profile by clicking your profile image.

2. Entry “Settings.”

After you arrive at your profile, hit the “hamburger menu” with three horizontal strains within the higher proper nook.

3. Faucet “Notifications.”

On the subsequent display, click on “Notifications.”

4. Test off the notifications you need to obtain.

Right here, you possibly can change the notification settings for each class in that massive laundry listing from above. You can also pause all notifications by toggling the Pause All possibility up high.

The choices will fluctuate relying on the class.

How one can Add, Edit, and Publish an Picture to Instagram

Now, for an important a part of Instagram, how do you add and submit a picture?

Earlier than leaping in: When you’re already acquainted with Fb or X (previously Twitter), you need to know that Instagram has very totally different conduct and etiquette.

On Fb, you possibly can submit 100 pictures on an album. On Instagram, it’s worthwhile to be choosier about which pictures you submit.

There are a number of causes for this — first, you don‘t need to submit greater than as soon as a day (usually). And second, you don’t need to submit too many comparable pictures.

As an illustration, posting fifty pictures from the identical seaside trip on IG could be odd. As an alternative, you may select the very best 5 – 6 and embrace all of them in the identical submit.

(These are referred to as carousel posts, and so they will let you share a number of pictures or movies in a single submit. Carousel posts are superior for posting comparable or associated photographs in a single package deal whereas preserving your general profile aesthetic various.)

Interested in creating an aesthetic? To be taught extra about Instagram account themes and get inspiration, check out these Instagram themes.

If you wish to embark on a deep dive, you possibly can take HubSpot’s Instagram Advertising Course. You’ll be able to even use HubSpot’s Breeze to assist expedite your content material creation with AI.

Now that we‘ve lined that, let’s discover how you can add, edit, and submit a picture.

1. Click on the “+” icon within the menu on the backside of the display.

If you faucet the “+” icon, you’ll be prompted to decide on the kind of submit you need to share. Since we need to publish a submit instantly on our profile feed, faucet “Publish.”

2. Select your media file.

Right here, you’ve gotten three choices. You’ll be able to look by your Images library in your cellphone, take a brand new image from proper inside Instagram, or take a brand new video.

For our functions, I regarded by my Images library and located an image of Boston I wished to make use of. Then, I clicked “Subsequent” within the high proper.

3. Add filters if desired.

There are two classes you should utilize to edit your picture — “Filter” and “Edit”. Instagram mechanically reveals you filters first. You’ll be able to scroll by the carousel and click on any of the filters to use it to your picture.

Moreover, if you wish to use a filter however you need to tone it down, double faucet the filter and transfer the cursor to the left to reduce the depth of the filter.

4. Edit your picture if desired.

Subsequent, click on “Edit”. Right here, you possibly can alter distinction, brightness, construction, heat, and extra. If you‘re joyful along with your edited picture, or in case you don’t need to edit it in any respect, click on “Subsequent” within the high proper.

5. Write a caption and toggle sharing settings.

Now, you possibly can add a caption, tag individuals (you possibly can solely tag somebody if in addition they have an Instagram account), and add a location.

Moreover, click on the button beside Fb or one other linked social media account to share your picture on that platform, as effectively.

If you’re able to publish, click on “Share” within the high proper.

Social media captions are an amazing use case for synthetic intelligence. In reality, 46% of entrepreneurs use them to put in writing social media posts.

When you don’t need to use your app to submit on Instagram, you can too accomplish that out of your pc. Learn to submit to Instagram from a Mac or PC right here.

How one can Add an Picture or Video to Your Tales

Instagram Tales is a function that permits you to submit movies or photographs that disappear after 24 hours.

Why would you need that? It may encourage extremely engaged followers to maintain returning to your IG web page.

It is similar to Snapchat when it comes to content material — customers typically submit extra informal and candid movies and pictures, providing glimpses into their on a regular basis lives.

As an illustration, in your regular feed, you may submit a heavily-edited image of your self and pals at a baseball sport. However you may submit a extra candid video to your Story of the stadium singing “Candy Caroline”.

To learn to add a picture or video to your Tales, observe these steps:

1. Faucet your profile image within the higher left-hand nook.

Alternatively, swipe proper in your feed or faucet the “+” button within the high navigation bar.

2. Seize or add your media.

When you‘re throughout the Tales function, you possibly can take an image or video proper from throughout the app. Alternatively, you probably have a picture saved to your cellphone that you just’d like to make use of, you possibly can select it out of your media library.

3. Add stickers or filters.

On the left-hand aspect, you’ve gotten a number of totally different modifying options.

The “Create” button allows you to add a location, hashtag, time, date, and different enjoyable photographs or emojis to your image.

The “Boomerang” possibility permits you to create a looping video. And the “Aa” icon is your textual content button. When you click on “Aa”, you’ve gotten the choice to alter your font.

When you click on the smiley face icon, you‘ll see the next display. Merely click on on one of many icons so as to add them to your picture. When you don’t prefer it, drag it to the underside, and a trash can will seem so you possibly can delete it.

As an illustration, I clicked the smiley face icon so as to add a ballot to my picture. You may also swipe to the left or proper so as to add filters to your picture or video.

4. Publish your Story.

When you’re joyful along with your content material, you possibly can both click on the white arrow icon within the backside proper, which lets you share your Story with everybody who follows you, or choose “Shut Pals” first in order that solely your shut pals see it.

You then’re achieved! Your Story is straight away stay.

Observe: You may also schedule each video and picture content material upfront instantly throughout the Instagram app or with a wide range of third-party instruments, together with HubSpot.

How one can Observe Folks on Instagram

It’s extremely simple to search out and observe customers. If you understand who you need to observe, simply use the search function to search for celebrities, manufacturers, or pals.

Or, if you understand what kind of content material you need to discover however aren’t positive who posts it, you possibly can seek for “tags.”

As an illustration, in case you search “#familyrecipes” underneath tags, your outcomes will embrace any photographs with that hashtag.

As you scroll, you may discover somebody who posts content material you actually like, and you may select to observe them so their content material seems in your feed.

I immediately fell in love with Canine.Derp.of.the.Day, in order that was my second observe (after my spouse.)

To observe somebody, observe these three simple steps.

1. Click on on the search icon on the backside of your display.

It appears like a magnifying glass and will probably be subsequent to the “Residence” button.

2. Subsequent, kind in an individual, model, or subject.

For this instance, as a result of I like derpy canines, I searched the subject “canine derps.”

Instagram permits you to both search all posts that comprise mixtures of these phrases, or “See all outcomes” and see tags and locations.

3. Faucet the account you’re serious about following.

When you‘re on another person’s account, you will see a blue “Observe” button on the high.

For public profiles, you possibly can click on and instantly start following that account. Nevertheless, if the profile is non-public, you might want to attend for them to simply accept you first.

Are you able to connect with Instagram to different social accounts?

Sure, you possibly can join Instagram to Fb, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Does that imply it can save you time by pumping out the identical content material on each platform?

Uh… not so quick.

“In an excellent world, content material throughout your entire model’s particular person social platforms are bespoke for various platforms to align with platform person conduct,” says Emily Kearns.

In different phrases, what works on Instagram won’t land with a Threads viewers. So, what’s the purpose of connecting accounts?

“Connecting IG to different accounts permits for cross-promotion so a person can get a holistic view of the way you’re presenting your model otherwise throughout totally different channels,” Kearns explains.

“This helps customers have the ability to observe your content material wherever they go,” provides Callaway.

“I continuously discover myself switching between social apps all through the day. Linking your different accounts to your IG could be a good way for customers to search out your model on the opposite platforms they get pleasure from.”

How one can Join Instagram to Fb

Since Instagram and Fb are owned by the identical firm (Meta), you possibly can join the 2 accounts for a extra seamless expertise.

Connecting your Instagram and Fb accounts permits you to:

Share Tales throughout each Instagram and Fb
Login with Fb into Instagram
Sync your profile title and movie throughout each profiles
Use Fb Pay on each platforms
Entry your purchasing exercise on each accounts

When you’re a frequent Fb person, then connecting your account to your new Instagram profile is very really helpful.

Right here’s how:

1. Open up your Instagram app.

2. Click on in your profile image on the underside right-hand nook.

3. Click on the hamburger menu on the highest right-hand nook.

4. Faucet “Settings.”

5. Below the Meta emblem, faucet “Accounts Heart.”

6. Faucet “Arrange Accounts Heart.”

7. Observe the prompts to log in into Fb.

Executed! Your two accounts are actually linked. Right here‘s the way it’ll appear to be when you’re completed:

Professional tip: Some customers report that mechanically sharing IG content material to FB could be buggy. For instance, the background music won’t switch throughout each platforms.

You may get round this by sharing posts individually as an alternative of mechanically.

And that‘s it! You’re in your approach to turning into a professional.

How one can Join Instagram to Different Social Accounts

Since IG and Fb are each Meta merchandise, you possibly can select to mechanically share your posts to each platforms on the identical time. (I’ll present you ways in only a second.)

In any other case, you’ll must cross-post on a per-post foundation.

Meta appears to alter the method nearly month-to-month, however right here’s the way you at the moment accomplish that:

1. Faucet in your profile image within the backside proper.

2. Faucet the gear icon within the high left.

3. Faucet “See extra in Accounts Heart”

4. Faucet “Related experiences”

5. Faucet “Sharing throughout profiles”

6. Choose the account you need to join.

7. Choose the account to “Share from” after which the account to “Share To”

8. Choose the kind of posts to share mechanically.

When you’ve linked your accounts for one submit, you possibly can then toggle the sharing choices for any new posts with no need to sign up once more.

When you join Instagram to Fb, you possibly can share your Tales throughout each accounts. We’ll discuss extra about how to do this under.

Information-Backed Instagram Advertising Suggestions

Listed below are 4 suggestions from a current HubSpot Weblog survey of practically 700 world Instagram entrepreneurs:

1. Be strategic along with your scheduling.

Over 50% of entrepreneurs say Friday is the very best day for engagement. After all, each viewers is totally different, however this can be a strong benchmark to start out experimenting with.

2. Pop these tags.

The vast majority of entrepreneurs used 10-15 hashtags on a given submit. Make sure you select tags which can be related to your product but additionally more likely to be searched (like PandaDoc).

3. Flaunt it in case you obtained it.

36.9% of entrepreneurs report that showcasing services will get essentially the most engagement out of their posts. Don’t be afraid to advertise your merchandise like Samsung.

4. Don’t sleep on static photographs.

Whereas entrepreneurs overwhelmingly selected movies because the format that will get essentially the most views and likes, it was commonplace picture posts that obtained essentially the most shares and feedback.

And given the excessive effort of creating high-quality movies, 26% of entrepreneurs pointed to pictures as having the very best ROI.

Learn: How one can Plan Your Instagram Posts [+22 Free Instagram Planning Templates]

Utilizing Instagram is Key for Rising Your Private Model

If you wish to develop each professionally and personally, then utilizing Instagram is extra vital than ever. You can begin by observing first and studying about Instagram’s algorithm, then start posting as you be taught your method across the person interface.

With over one billion customers, Instagram is an especially worthwhile social media platform to affix — and it’s solely set to continue to grow as time goes on.

Editor’s be aware: This submit was initially revealed in November 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.