How To Get Started On Instagram

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Instagram has received lots of press in the last week and you may be thinking about starting an account now. Or maybe you realize that this is the next platform that you should be using to market your business. With both photo and video capabilities, this is a great tool to get exposure for your brand. But, if you don’t have an account yet, you’re probably wondering how to get started.

Well then, here’s your step-by-step guide! I’ll list out the things you need to do to get started on Instagram. But I’m going to give you a little more than just that. I’m going to help you understand how to set up an account for successful marketing.

1. Get the App

Instagram is a mobile device app. You can’t do it on your computer, you need to use your mobile device. So, head over to the App Store or Google Play and download the Instagram app. Don’t worry, it’s free.

2. Register Your Account

Once you open the app after downloading, you’ll be prompted to Register or Sign In. If this is your first time, you’ll need to Register. Select this option and fill in your username and enter a password. When you type in your username, the icon will turn green or red. If it turns green, you are good to go. If it turns red, someone else is using that username and you’ll need to choose something else.

*Tip for Success: Use a consistent username! Use something that your audience, customers, and fans will recognize. You can even use the same name you use as your Twitter handle. Instagram doesn’t make it very easy to search for people so using a name that your audience recognizes, increases your chances of having them follow you. Avoid using weird or jumbled variations of your name – these will make you hard to find.

Click on the “Photo” box to upload a photo. You can choose to import a photo from Facebook, take a photo, or import a photo from your phone library. I recommend you use the same profile photo that you use on other sites. Again, you want to make it easy for your fans to find you and recognize you. People love consistency!

Fill in your profile info, including your name, email, and phone number (the phone number is optional). You can fill these in manually or you can choose to auto-fill this information based on your Facebook profile.

*Tip for Success: If you are using Instagram for your business profile, I recommend filling in this information manually. If you choose to auto-fill from Facebook, it will enter your personal information which may confuse your audience if they recognize you by a company name. Use your real name or your business name (however you would like to be recognized). This is the name that will appear beneath your username in the bio and searches, etc.

Once you’ve filled in these fields, click Register.

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