Instagram: Sharing Your Pictures

_{Share your pictures and videos with a few easy steps}

Instagram is designed for instantly sharing photos you take with your smartphone or tablet. You can find many services for sharing your photos, but the most popular (especially for mobile uploads) is Instagram. You can also take short, 15-second videos and post them to your Instagram page.

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play and join Instagram before you have a photo to post - Your first upload will move more quickly.

On the Instagram home page, click the box that is appropriate to your mobile operating system - If you have an iPhone, click Download on the App Store or Get it on Google Play if your mobile device runs on Android.

After you've signed up and become a member of Instagram, you can sign in to the web interface to view, Like, and comment on your friends' photos. You can only picture photos from a mobile device - Once the application is installed, tap the Instagram icon to open it.

Here you have the opportunity to register, to create a username (why not use your name so your friends can easily find your account?), select a password, and fill in a short sentence that identifies your account with a bio. Tap Done and your account page appear - Next, give Instagram permission to integrate with your Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Tap the three vertical dots (if you're using an Android device) or the cog (if you're using an iPhone) to get to your account options. In the Preferences, Sharing Settings, click each of your social media accounts and follow the prompts to connect them.

Upload from your mobile device - If you took a photo using your smartphone's camera, tap the camera icon at the bottom of the page, and then tap the icon that matches your photo gallery; from there, select an image touching shipping it.

Alternatively, take a photo through the Instagram app - Tap the camera icon, and select the camera (to take a picture) or the video camera makes take a 15-second video.

Crop the image to the standard square format used in Instagram - Note that a square has been imposed on model image. You can move the square to position it on the image, or zoom in and select a portion of the image by pinching the dots that surround the selection. When your image is just right, tap the arrow at the top right of your screen to proceed.

Tap on the scrolling selections at the bottom of your screen to see how your picture looks with each filter - If you don't want to add an artistic license to your image, just leave the selection on the default Normal. When you're happy with the effect, tap the arrow in the upper right of your screen to bring up the posting page.

Type your comment in the text box and select the social network (or networks) where you would like to share the photo - You can share your photo to your Instagram page and other social networks if you desire.

Post to Twitter - When you posted to Twitter, the picture posts with your comment and shortened link that directs people to your Instagram web page.

Post to Facebook - Posting to Facebook is a far more satisfying event. Since Facebook owns Instagram, your full image is posted to your Timeline, along with your comment - Note pictures makes shared from Instagram to Facebook are only visible to your Facebook friends, and not to the general public. If you want the picture to be publicly viewable, you may go to Facebook and change the image's privacy status.

Check the Instagram main feed to see the pictures your friends have posted - You can Like their images by tapping the heart icon, otouchingpping the cartoon text bubble and typing in a comment. Before you click the blue arrow to upload your image, decide whether you want the picture to immediately appear as a tweet or Facebook post with your text. If you don't - perhaps because you want to share it everywhere, just don't click the boxes to share on other sites. You can always go back to one of your Instagram images and share at any time.

Instagram has transformed tremendously from becoming just a simple photo sharing site to an active online sales medium. Not many people are aware that engagement in the platform is higher than the top social media sites. Meeting on Instagram is 15 times more than on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Interestingly, 13 percent of internet users are using Instagram while more than half of the top 100 brands have also established their presence on the site. Small business owners should also take advantage of this platform to promote their products.

Here are some of the best ways to do it

Use Appropriate Hashtags

Hashtags let people find you and your products on Instagram. Make sure then to use the right hashtags every time you post an update to reach more people who might be interested in the items you're selling.

Apart from using hashtags in your business name and products, it would be a good idea to include those that are frequently searched for and used on the platform. You may also want to use free online tools such as Iconosquare and Website to find popular hashtags based on your preferred keywords.

Use Filters Often

It's okay to post regular photos on Instagram but know that by using the site's filters, you can attract more attention to your images. A study published by TrackMaven showed that photos using the Mayfair filter, no filter, and the Inkwell filter gained more likes and comments on the site.

If you're new to using the filters, you can experiment with different types first then find out which is popular among your target audience by using an Instagram management tool.

Post at the Best Times

When posting on Instagram, you need to do it during the times when your target market is using the platform. You can use a tool to help you with this. IconoSquare features an optimization report that finds out the best times for you to post an update based on your previous interaction with your community.

Once you determine those best times, make it a point to post your updates during that period to attract more views, likes, and comments.

Connect with Other Followers

While you have your own set of followers, it won't hurt if you also interact with the followers of your competitors. By doing so, you have an opportunity to increase your followers and leads.

Again, there's a tool that can help you do this. The JustUnfollow tool can search for your competitors on Instagram through their names, and it will give provide you with their list of followers. You can them follow them and engage with them such as by commenting on their photos.

For this reason, business owners who are into selling products will greatly benefit if they add Instagram to their list of online sales channels.

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