It’s hard to remember a time before Instagram. At one time, “Do it for the ‘gram” was a common saying, which meant, essentially, “Do something so we can take a picture and post it to Instagram.”
Since then, Instagram has placed a larger and heavier emphasis on video. So you no longer hear the phrase “Do it for the ‘gram.” I bet, though, that a second version of the phrase will soon follow. (Maybe “Do it for reel?”)
If you’re not part of the one billion users on Instagram, you might want to reconsider. The app is a great chance to engage with top brands and stay a part of friends’ lives. When I want to see how my college friends are doing, I don’t check Facebook, I check Instagram. Plus, you can follow your favorite celebrities or political figures to see candid photos of their everyday lives.
Additionally, it’s a phenomenal 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.
f you’re ready to sign up for Instagram, follow these steps below:
- Go 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 in the form with your mobile number or email, name, username, and password. Then click “Sign up”.
- On Android, click “Sign Up With Email or Phone Number”.
- On iPhone, select “Sign Up”.
- Enter your email address or phone number, then click “Next”. Alternatively, you can sign up with your Facebook account.
- Once you’ve filled out your username and password, you will be instructed to fill out your profile info. Then, tap “Done”.
- If you register with Facebook, you’ll need to log into your Facebook account if you’re currently logged out.
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How to Use Instagram
Instagram is a visual social media platform and if you’re using it for business, you’ll need to be sure that you are consistently posting engaging content. So how do you use Instagram? In the simplest terms, you follow accounts that are interesting to you, and likewise, others will follow you for the same.
Instagram users can “like” a post by clicking the heart icon on the bottom left corner of the post or comment by clicking the comment icon.
Each time you open the app, you’ll be presented with a feed of content from the accounts you follow. On the bottom of your screen, you’ll find the main menu bar. Here’s what each of the icons mean and how to use them.
Home: The home button takes you to your main feed. It’s located on the far left and you can click it no matter where you are in the app.
Search: Pressing this magnifying glass button takes you to Instagram’s explore page where you can search accounts and hashtags. You can also browse content from accounts you don’t follow, but have been suggested based on your current likes and similar content you’ve viewed.
New Post: Pressing the “ + “ symbol in the center of the menu you can create a new post, story, reel, or go live.
Reels: This clapperboard symbol is the reels icon. When you click it, you’ll be taken to the reels page where you can watch short-form content.
Profile: This icon on the far right should be a small circle with your profile photo. Hitting this button directs you to your main profile page where you can see all of your posts, follower information and reels.
Now that you have a better understanding of the app’s interface, let’s look at how to create an Instagram profile.
How to Create an Instagram Account
Once you’ve downloaded the app and completed the signup process, it’s time to create a profile.
Your Instagram profile acts as the main hub for all posts, reels, stories, and videos. This is also the space where you can access your settings and account information as well as keep track of your followers and those you’re following.
Note: If you have an Android, these instructions may vary slightly.
Add or Edit Your Profile Picture
- Tap your profile picture on the top left to go to your profile.
- Tap “Edit Profile.”
- Tap “Change profile photo.”
- Click “Upload Photo,” then select your picture to import.
Add a Bio
- Click your profile picture on the left to go to your profile.
- Click “Edit Profile” at the top of the screen, then click the text box next to “Bio.”
- Write your bio.
- Click “Submit” to save your changes.
Add a Website
- Tap the profile symbol or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap “Edit Profile” at the top of the screen.
- Tap “Links,” then tap “Add external link” to add the URL for your website.
- Tap “Done.” You can also remove a link by tapping on the link and then tapping “Remove Link.”
- Tap “Back” (<), then tap “Done” to save your changes.
If you plan on using Instagram for business, you’ll definitely want to make use of the bio and website sections to help potential customers learn more about your brand.
How Do Instagram Notifications Work?
When your account is created, you’ll want to adjust your notifications so you only receive the information you want. For instance, you can choose to receive notifications when you get likes from everyone — but, alternatively, you might decide to only receive notifications when you get a like from someone you follow. Or, you might turn off notifications for likes altogether.
You can adjust notifications to “Off”, “From People I Follow”, or “From Everyone”, for the following categories — Comments, Comment Likes, Likes and Comments on Photos of You, Follower Requests, Accepted Follow Requests, Friends on Instagram, Instagram Direct, Photos of You, Reminders, First Posts and Stories, Product Announcements, View Counts, Support Requests, Live Videos, Mentions in Bio, IGTV Video Updates, and Video Chats.
If you’re overwhelmed by that list, I get it — I am, too. If you’re unsure what notifications you want to receive, you might start with your notifications on “From Everyone”, and if certain notifications begin to annoy you, you can turn them off later.