As one of the most popular and used social media platforms in the world, Instagram’s unique features allow users to share photos and videos with their followers. The article is a beginner’s guide on how to use Instagram.

Download The App, and Sign Up For Free

First things first, you need to sign up by downloading the app on a desktop, iPhone, Android, or any smart device. Users have the ability to sign up through Facebook, email, or phone number and can create a personal username and password for their social media profile.

Uploading And Posting A Photo

At the bottom of the center of the screen, users can click the “+” button to post a photo from their library or take a new photo or video through the Instagram camera. After selecting a photo, click “next” where then users can both filter and edit their new photo or video. Users then can adjust the brightness, contrast, exposure on the photo while also selecting and adjusting different filters. After being satisfied with the photo or video, users can tag people in their posts and have the ability to add a unique caption that can include hashtags, links, or other usernames. When it is ready to be published, click “Share” at the top right of the screen to post on your social media profile.

Adding To Your Story

Instagram users have the ability to post a “story” to their profile that disappears after 24 hours. This feature allows more casual posting that allows for a glimpse into the users everyday lives. At the top left of the screen, click on the camera icon to then add a photo, video or post to your story. Instagram users have the ability to tag their location, other users, drawings, polls, text, music, stickers and links to their story.

Following Other Social Media Accounts

On the bottom of the screen, there is a magnifying glass icon where users can search for other profiles, hashtags, or places. This feature allows users to search anyone or anything on Instagram and follow their accounts. Once on their account, users can click the blue “follow” button to follow their account. The following article is another informative guide on how to use Instagram, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-instagram-how-to-use-guide

Adjusting Notifications

In order to make sure you stay on top of your updates, users can select personal perfections to adjust notifications received. Users can adjust notifications received for “likes”, “comments”, comments on photos of you”, “direct message”, and a handful of others. Users also have the ability to choose who you receive notifications from, whether it be “from everyone” or specific people that you follow. 

Make Sure To Connect Other Social Media Accounts

When posting content on Instagram, users have the ability to share it to their other social media accounts like Facebook or Twitter. On the applications settings tab, users can select and “link” their post to any of their other social media accounts. This feature allows for convenient and easy sharing across many social media platforms. To learn a little bit about social media usage, click on the following link, https://smusmc.com/03/07/2021/4-things-to-avoid-for-better-social-media-usage/

As an easy-to-use and engaging social media platform, Instagram allows users to share photos, videos, and stories with a larger audience while also connecting and staying in touch with friends.

With all the social media platforms out there, it can be confusing to try to figure out which one works best for you or your brand. The following guide will help you determine which social media application is best suited for you or your brand.

Platform for Sharing Photos and Videos: Instagram

Instagram is the perfect social media platform if you or your brand wants to share engaging content with your followers and target audience. This platform allows its users to post photos, videos, and stories for their followers, while also engaging with other users. Instagrams sole purpose is to enable its users to engage and share with their audience. Click on the following link to learn some helpful tips to remember when using Instagram, https://setapp.com/lifestyle/top-8-killer-instagram-tips-for-beginners.

Application For Organizing and Forming Ideas? Pinterest

Pinterest is the perfect social media platform to use if you are a creative person who needs help organizing ideas and also finding inspiration. This application is a visual discovery platform that allows users to organize photos, recipes, and ideas, into different “boards.” On the app, every idea is represented with an image that can be searched and saved by users to their personal boards. Users can also add links to their pins which makes it convenient for users to discover more about the pin, and potentially make a purchase. 

Which Platform Is Best For Instant Communication with Pictures or Videos? Snapchat

Snapchat is a social media platform that allows users to send photos and videos to friends, that eventually disappear after a certain amount of time. This application allows for instant and convenient communication with friends and family, while also offering an explore page where users can learn about emerging trends, breaking news, and product recommendations. Snapchat’s camera has thousands of filters and effects, making instant photo communication that much more exciting. 

Social Media Platform For Microblogging: Twitter

Twitter gives users the ability to write and post 140 characters “tweets’ ‘ that can be engaged with in many ways. These informative tweets can include photos, videos, and polls that can be retweeted, commented on, or liked by other users. This social media platform is considered a  ‘microblogging’ platform, that’s primary purpose is to connect people and allow people to share their thoughts with a larger audience. 

Social Media Platform For Connecting And Sharing With Friends or a Larger Audience: Facebook

Facebook is a people networking platform that allows users across the world to keep in touch and share personal content to their profiles.  By using it strategically, you or your brand drive traffic to your website, target specific demographics, and increase brand awareness.  Facebook is the perfect platform if you or your brand is trying to share pictures, music, videos, articles, and as well as their own thoughts and opinions with as many people as they would like. The following is an informative article about better understanding digital communication, https://smusmc.com/02/14/2021/cracking-the-code-of-digital-communication-and-social-media/

At the end of the day, if you or your brand is not maximizing the benefits that social media platforms provide, then it might be time to rethink your digital communication plan and start using other platforms.

Even though social media is easy to use, it is constantly being misused in various ways. It is necessary to be authentic with your audience while also posting engaging content. Here are four tips for guiding better social media usage.

Don’t Post the Same Content On All Of Your Platforms

Posting the same content on all of your accounts is just boring and by doing so, you will lose followers. Different platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook focus on different aspects of digital communication. Each of the channels has unique capabilities that allow users to post more than just photos. No one is going to follow your other accounts if all of the content is the exact same on all of the platforms. Use many social media platforms to best engage and interact with your audience and followers. By using different social media channels you can better target your audience and receive higher engagement.

No Insensitive Content

Avoid posting anything about drugs, guns, terrorism or sexual content on your social media because you will receive feedback. Your content can also be reported or your account can be shadow-banned from others searching your account. People tend to lean away from negative content, so try to avoid anything that isn’t likable. Today, even political views can be taken as offensive and can lead to loss of followers or damaged reputation. Stick to posting positive and engaging content for your followers to bring joy to their lives. The following is another informative article on what to avoid doing on Instagram, https://nealschaffer.com/what-not-to-do-instagram/.

No Buying Likes Or Followers

Even though at first it looks like you are receiving hundreds of new followers, most of these accounts are spam and slowly start to fall off over time. Instead of wasting your money on more followers, rather use that money towards a marketing or social media team that can use strategies to authentically increase your likes and followers.

Don’t Mix Up Your Accounts

This is where people can get in trouble by mistakingly posting the wrong content on their social media accounts. Instagram allows users to log into their multiple accounts and switch between profiles conveniently. It is easy to accidentally post the wrong photo on the wrong account. This little error can lead to negative comments, decreased engagement, damaged reputation, or loss in revenue. Click on the following link to read an article that focuses on more effective strategies for increased engagement,

Social media is not only an incredible tool for connecting with friends but also is strategically used by brands to reach a larger audience and increase credibility. Here are 5 tips to help increase your platform’s social media engagement.  

#1: Be Active And Post Frequently

Brands can use their social media bios to include, links, account names, and hashtags to increase their social media engagement. A useful tip is to include relevant keywords and thought-provoking content related to your industry in your profile. By following the latest trends, a brand can stay on top of what other brands or products their audience prefers.

In order to maintain a growing social media platform, it is critical to post new content frequently. That being said, it is helpful to set reminders on your phone in order to post consistently and save time. Click on the following link for another article to better understand social media scheduling tools, https://smusmc.com/02/14/2021/three-best-social-media-scheduling-tools-for-communications-professionals/.

#2: Set Social Media Goals

Your goal is what is driving your business and your brand’s social media strategy, and is the sole reason that you are on social media in the first place. Goals not only hold you accountable but also guide the road for improvement and success. “SMART Goals” is a popular goal-setting framework that can help create specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals. Individuals, brands, or large corporations can use the SMART Goals technique to set and obtain business or personal objectives.

#3: Outline Your Target Audience

Make sure to identify your target audience and or who you are trying to get your message across to. When defining your consumer demographic, it is important to keep in mind what social media platforms they most use, and focusing on the platforms most preferred. A helpful tip is to do some background research about your target audience’s favorite brands, influencers, and some of the challenges that they face. This allows the organizations to better understand how to make their brand rise above the others and increase their social media engagement. 

#4: Use Tools to Monitor Social Media

Social media monitoring programs provide data and analytics that prove extremely useful for better fulfilling the interests of your target audience. Better targeting and interacting with your audience leads to increased engagement, followers, and overall social media presence. Social media monitoring platforms such as Hootsuite, allow brands to analyze all mentions across their various social media networks in order to better organize their social media activity and engage with followers. 

#5: Create Personal Relationships With Followers

Another way to optimize your social media presence across your brand’s various accounts is to create relationships with your followers. Responding to customers quickly is essential for maintaining happy customers and strengthened relationships. When customers trust and respect your brand, word of mouth will spread regarding your brand’s products or services. Some useful tips for creating relationships with your audience are by addressing them by their first name when possible and being friendly.

By following the latest trends, a brand can stay on top of what other brands or products their audience prefers. With the use of social media, a brand increase their overall social media engagement while also reaching a larger audience.

Social media is not only used for sharing, learning, and marketing but also allows users to feel involved. Understanding social media uses can not only allow a brand to better connect with its audience but also benefit from increased engagement.

What is Digital Communication?

Digital communication is characterized as anything that involves any form of online or digital communication carried out by an organization or individual. This includes all forms of media and communication that is necessary to maintain and manage the reputation of an organization’s clients. This communication can be in the form of an email, Snapchat, social media post, tweet, text message, blog, or even videoconference message.

Who Are You Trying To Talk To?

In terms of digital communication, it is important to keep in mind, who you trying to get your message across to. More specifically, who are your current and potential clients, what do they like or dislike, what communities are they a part of and how do they influence these communities? These are known are the target audiences or key publics. Knowing the target audience or key publics is critical in order to create your goals and messages, communicate effectively, and receive the most engagement and positive results.

Social Media and Usage

Social media is often used to keep in touch with friends and family, share photos and ideas, discover trends, but also is utilized to promote brands, products, or individuals. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are among the most popular platforms used by hundreds of millions of people daily. With the advancement of technology, these platforms have become increasingly user friendly, making instant digital communication more convenient. Click the following link to read another blog post about further understanding social media, https://smusmc.com/02/14/2021/digital-communication-101-where-to-start/.

Misuse of Social Media

Even with all benefits that digital communication can provide an organization, it can easily be misused. When creating a personal social media account, there is a possibility that individual privacy is lost, and that the account could be hacked. Misuse is also present when there are individuals, ambassadors, or employees misrepresenting the organization’s views on social media.

Monitoring Digital Communication

In order to best engage with your target audience, a helpful tool to track social media conversations, mentions, and feedback is to use a social media monitoring program. These programs allow organizations to better connect with their consumers, analyze sentiments, listen for mentions and reach a wider audience. The use of data-driven analytics is essential for measuring engagement, brand mentions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and critiquing digital communication strategies.