Everything You Need To Know About Instagram
Instagram has quickly become one of the most famous social media platforms out there. With over a billion active monthly users, it is a great way to stay updated with what’s happening with your friends and family just by looking at their pictures and a powerful tool for businesses.
In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about Instagram, from the basics of creating an account to using advanced features.
Instagram's Humble Beginnings
Instagram originally started out as a photo-sharing app for iPhone users. It was launched in 2010 by software engineers Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and quickly gained popularity. Within two months of its launch, Instagram had one million registered users. By June 2012, that number had grown to 100 million. And by September 2015, Instagram reached 400 million users.
Since its launch, Instagram has released many updates and changes, and it was purchased by Facebook in 2012 in a 1 billion dollar acquisition. In 2016, it introduced a new feature modeled after Snapchat that lets users share photos and videos that disappear after 1 day and called this Instagram Stories. By 2022 the popular social media platform under the new Meta company umbrella has nearly 2 billion total users.
Why You Should Use Instagram
There are several reasons why you would want to use Instagram. First, it’s an excellent way to get updated with the latest happenings in your circle of friends and family. You can follow their accounts and see what they are up to, as well as “like” and comment on their pictures and videos.
Moreover, Instagram also has a few marketing tools that businesses can use to expand their reach. With almost one billion monthly active users, it gives you a great opportunity to reach new customers and grow your brand. You can use Instagram to promote your brand and develop relationships with your clients. Getting instant Instagram followers can help put you on the path to monetizing your account.
Instagram is also a great way to stay up-to-date on current events, discover new trends, and find out about new products and services. You can follow brands and influencers who can provide you with valuable information and insights, and it’s a great platform for networking,with like-minded people from all over the world.
Useful Instagram Features
Instagram has a variety of features that you can use for both personal and work purposes. For example, you can use the platform to edit and share photos and videos, as well as to send direct messages to other users. You can also use it to buy and sell products, market your services, and book appointments and reservations. Finally, businesses can use Instagram to create ads and track their analytics.
Here are some of its most popular features:
Instagram Stories
Instagram stories have the same 24-hour format as Snapchat stories. Besides adding texts, stickers, polls, GIFs, filters, and tagging friends, users can add stickers, stickers, polls, and GIFs to their posts. Because stories disappear after 24 hours, you can use the Highlight feature to keep them displayed on your profile and allow your followers to see them at any time.
Instagram also lets you to mute posts and stories to prevent you from seeing those you don't want to see.
Instagram Reels
Currently, Reels are gaining a lot of traction on Instagram. Using it, you can share short and entertaining videos with your followers.
IGTV
In addition to Instagram's famous photo feature, it has a standalone feature exclusively for posting long-form videos, almost similar to YouTube.
IGTV clearly has a long way to go before it is on the same level as YouTube, but even this early on in its life, there’s a lot going for it. The interface is easy to understand, it is integrated nicely into an app that billions of people are already using, and anyone can make their own IGTV content and manage it through their phone or a web client.
Follow Hashtags
Besides following user profiles, you can also follow hashtags on Instagram.This plays an important role in keeping the popularity of any trending topic on social media.
Using Instagram For Marketing
As a business owner, you can use Instagram to promote your brand, products, or services. To do this, you will need to create a business account and set up your profile.
Ads are a great way to get more people to see your content and follow your account. You can use them to target specific groups of people, interests, or even demographics. Additionally, ads can be a great way to get people to your website or blog.
Analytics is another great way to see how your content is performing and what kinds of people are following you. You can use analytics to track things like how many people are following you, how much engagement you are getting, what time of day people are most active, and more.
Using hashtags is one of the best ways to reach potential followers organically on Instagram. When you use fitting hashtags on your posts, it makes it a whole lot easier for users who are interested in the same topics to find your account.
Instagram Improvement
Instagram is a great way to stay updated not only with your friends and family, but also brands and celebrities you follow. You can share posts that contain photo or video, and even send direct messages. Plus, the platform is constantly expanding with new features, making it more and more user-friendly to improve your social media marketing results.
Whether you are new to Instagram or a seasoned user, there is always something new to learn. In this post, we went over some of the basics of using the platform, as well as some advanced tips and tricks. Now you are an Instagram expert!
