This document provides an overview of Instagram, including how it works, key settings, best practices, additional apps, and analytics. It explains the main features like posting photos and videos, Instagram stories, and live video. It offers tips for business accounts, such as filling out your profile, linking other accounts, using hashtags and location tags, and measuring success with analytics tools. The document serves as a guide for using Instagram effectively.

1. Instagram
Tips, Tricks, & Best Practices

2. 2
Contents
Introduction
How It Works
Key Settings
Best Practices
Additional Apps
Analytics

3. 3
Introduction
Over the years Instagram has risen in prominence in the
social media world. 32% of internet users are on
Instagram, that’s more than Twitter, and its popularity
continues to rise*. With the introduction of Instagram
Stories, and Instagram Live in the later half of 2016,
Instagram has consistently proven itself to be a marketing
essential.
*Social Media Update 2016, Pew Research Center 11/11/16

4. 4
How It Works
Part 1: Posting
Instagram’s primary purpose is for posting photos or
videos. Using either your own camera app, or the built in
Instagram camera, you can take photos or record a video
up to a minute long. Choose the size and filter, adjust the
edit applications, add a caption, and you’re good to go!

5. 5
How It Works
Part 2: Instagram Stories (Instastories)
Introduced in August 2016, Instagram Stories is a feature
that lets you share all the moments of your day through
pictures or 10 second videos that disappear after 24 hours.
Just swipe right to open your camera, shoot, draw or type,
and post!
*Images via Instagram

6. 6
How It Works
Part 2: Instagram Stories (Instastories) - Tagging
• Just like tagging a photo, you’re able to tag accounts on
Instagram Stories. Simply type @ and the person’s
handle to tag them.
• Verified accounts can now add links to their stories,
making it seamless to redirect Instagram followers to
products
• Read more about stories and linking on The Daily Rind

7. 7
How It Works
Part 3: Instagram Live
The newest feature to Instagram, Instagram Live, allows
you to connect with your followers in real time. To go live
just swipe right to open your camera and tap the “Start
Live Video” button. You can go live for up to an hour, and
once you finish the live story disappears from the app.
*Images via Instagram

8. 8
Key Settings
Profile
Decide whether to be a
regular or business account,
and be sure to fill in all
profile information. There
are sections for name
display, bio information, and
website. The website field is
the only place on Instagram
that allows a functioning
hyperlink for unverified
accounts. Don’t leave this
field blank.
*Image via @musicpronoun

9. 9
Key Settings
Options
In Options you are able to
link to multiple social
media accounts through
“Linked Accounts”. When
linking to Facebook you’ll
link to your personal
account, and from there
you can choose to switch to
your fan page.

10. 10
Best Practices
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some tips to
make your Instagram really shine!
*Images via @dietcigmusic

11. 11
Best Practices
Types of Content
• While Instagram can be used to
post promotional photos and
videos from press materials to
clips of official music videos,
this content doesn’t always
make for the best fan
experience.
• Aim for at least 70% authentic,
non promotional photo and
video posts. Fans get excited by
candid insight into the lives of
their favorite artists.
*Image via @jessicahernandezthedeltas

12. 12
Best Practices
Quality Check
• Be sure to take well composed, well lit photos that catch
the viewer’s attention
• Consider adding a theme to your photos through color
and filter choice to catch the viewer’s eye and
distinguish yourself in their feed
• Try different angled photos to vary up your gallery
*images via @TheRyanWhitman

13. 13
Best Practices
Social Sharing
• It’s best practice to upload photo and video natively to
each social platform
• Though at times sharing content from your
Instagram to Facebook and/or Tumblr can be a
great way to cross promote your platforms.
• Both services have great Instagram integrations, and by
sharing may let your fans know where to find you.

14. 14
Best Practices
Hashtags
• Posts using features like location tagging and hashtags tend
to over-index in engagement
• Hashtags help users from different communities find
content they’d be interested in
• Try expanding your community with some of these:
• #TBT (Throwback Thursday): An Older Photo
• #OOTD (Outfit of the Day): Fashion
• #justgoshoot: Great for any high quality shot
• #way2ill: Great for any high quality shot

15. 15
Best Practices
Location
Tagging your location on posts
adds them to the feed for that
spot, boosting discovery and
reach. Try including venues for
tour promo in advance.

16. 16
Best Practices
Tagging on Photos
• Tagging accounts on
photos will add your
photo to their tagged
section. This is great for
expanding your reach.
• Tagging accounts in your
captions and comments
will just notify the person
you tagged. This should
always be done when
responding to comments
*Image via @kinagrannis

17. 17
Additional Apps
Apps Created by Instagram
Instagram also has created its own photo tool apps to help
you create great content:
• Hyperlapse: Create your own time-lapse videos
• Boomerang: Make gif-like video posts
• Layout: Create photo collages and comparisons

18. 18
Additional Apps
Later (Formerly Latergramme)
Not in the Instagram family, Later
is an external app that allows you
to plan, schedule, and publish your
content to Instagram. It’s a great
app for when you’re on the go, or
want to work on gallery theme.

19. 19
Additional Apps
Repost for Instagram
Repost, another external app, lets
you share content from other
galleries while still giving credit to
the original photographer. This
app is a nice way to give fans or
partners a shout out on your feed.

20. 20
Analytics
Measuring Success
Instagram has introduced analytic tools (Insights as they
call them) for their business accounts. If you want to
remain a personal account, there are analytic tools out
there that let you analyze and track your audience, such
as:
• Iconosquare
• Instareport
• Instatrack

21. 21
Analytics
Instagram Insights for Business Accounts
Currently Insights provides
Instagram business accounts
with the following:
• Follower Demographic
Analytics
• Follower Location
• Gender and Age
• Follower Activity: when
your audience is active
• Your Top Posts
*Image via Later

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