How to use Instagram - Are you social enough?
So maybe you're already an active user of Instagram, or maybe you're only just hearing about this growing monster of the social media world, but if you figure it's just for sharing pics of the kids, or that awesome meal you had on Friday down at the local?
Well think again.
Instagram has grown from a small trendy photo-sharing app, to in 5 years becoming a 400 million user per-month social media network giant.
Instagram grew so rapidly in it's early days that within 2 years of inception, it was gobbled up by social-networking giant Facebook, for the tidy price of $1.3 Billion.
With 75 million captive lookers logging in per day, can you afford not to be seen?
Of course, as we know only valuable and interesting content will be given the time of day, but if you have a niche which lends itself to interesting images, quotes or short video's, you may just be able to leverage the power of this multi-million follower-magnet to increase your visibility and grow traffic to your site. Add a few relevant hashtags, and you open the way to being seen by highly-targetted audiences globally.
If you grow to have over 1000 followers, did you know you can even earn money on Instagram itself as a promoter? To the tune of US$60 per post, not a bad sum for pressing a button.
New to Instragram? There's some great tutorials on Youtube. Simply search 'Instagram Tutorial' for tips on getting started. Even regular users will pick up some great tips.
If you're already an Instagram user, but have been perplexed by it's viability for your site due to it's mobile nature, you'll be pleased to know there is a PC-based solution!
Bluestacks is a FREE download which makes it possible to upload images directly from you PC to your apps, and whats more via Googleplay you can centralise almost any app directly from the interface including Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.
Tips to add images to Bluestacks.
1. Android tab is home to your downloaded apps.
2. Download the app ES File explore to view your images through Bluestacks.
3. To upload your images, go to the 'settings' tab via the cog on the top right of screen. From there go down to the 'Bluestacks settings' list to 'import windows files', click 'proceed' then browse your files.
You're away!
If you're not already using social media and adding buttons to your website, I'd highly recommend doing so.
Social media is in my opinion one of the most powerful tools available to any internet marketer, you can't afford not to grow your visibility to these audiences of millions.
Once you add social media buttons to your posts, it's oh-so-easy to simply share your own blogs straight to your growing little family of networks. And voila!.. you're going viral my friends!
I hope you enjoyed these little tips on growing your social media network with Instagram.
If you have other tips or comments, would love to hear them :)
To your success!
Yvette x
Disclaimer: Bluestacks will make almost any app available on your PC, I hold no responsibility for the possible game-downloads you may install via google-play and the inevitable distraction that will follow. Use with caution!! :P
Recent Comments
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Thanks for reading :)
I don't know how you find the time to work on WA with all those little bundles at home, but well done to you, and I wish you every success :). I'm glad if you found something in the article that works for you.
is this only for Android? I went through the full download and it looks that way. I have an iPhone
Hi Gina!
Thanks for taking the time to read the post.
This is a program that downloads like any other app, but it's on your PC desktop. it shouldn't really matter what phone you have unless you want to integrate on your phone as well (I too have iPhone, but I just use this solely pc based). I think for me, it would be a little complex to use on your phone, I just use my standard apps once I'm on the phone. The beauty of it I guess, is being able to interface to more image based social media from your PC. Hope that makes sense? Let me know if I can help :)
Okay I got it working, thanks.
Are you able to upload photos from this app? When I went to the gallery on Instagram is was just black.
Yes you can Gina.
If you haven't installed instagram on your phone, I'd recommend doing that, as Instragram will make a little more sense and you can start connecting with people.
Using it on your PC is really just the only way to get images onto Instagram that are on your computer (not your phone).
This is where there's a few little steps required, as you have to make the windows (or mac) files 'talk' or connect to the app.
You just need to follow the steps.
Once you have the extra ES file explorer app it will all connect.
1. Download the ES file explorer as one of the bluestacks apps and this holds the files you upload from your PC.
2. Then go into Bluestacks settings and start uploading files - they'll go into ES file explorer automatically.
3. Then go back to Instagram, click the camera button on the front, and you'll have a gallery to choose from out of the ES file explorer :)
Okay thanks. I've been on Instagram for years so I'm familiar with it.
I downloaded the app and am getting things going. Thanks!
Yay! That's great Gina. It can be a little confusing at first, but once you get your head around it, it's a neat way to get some good content up! :)
It is indeed something that I need to tackle myself. However, with Facebook, YouTube, and all of the other platforms it is getting harder to keep up with all of these different platforms. However, it is definitely working for a lot of people so I better get on it soon, lol! Definitely something that every affiliate should at least take a look at as it can only help you.
Thanks for commenting Sean. Yes it is incredibly difficult to keep up as there are so many social networks out there, and each can take time to invest in.
I think it's easier to spend time on the ones that are perhaps slightly more relevant for your niche...Ie, image related - Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr. Or Information related - Twitter, Google+ etc.
Facebook seems to still convert well, and is good on all aspects.
I certainly don't do all of them, at least not well. I try to choose those that I think work best for my niche.
Instagram is however, growing stronger and stronger as did Facebook, and these guys know how to market well, so I think it's a good medium.
I'm no pro, but if I can ever help, you only need holler! :)
Thank you for this very interesting post Yvette. I have never ventured into instagram, but I will go and take a look at it now :)
Thanks for reading Clare! Oh, I think you'll love instagram, so much fun on a personal level to share photo's within whatever safe circle you choose, but as a viral networking tool, it's extremely powerful. I'm just learning to use it this way, but it's also a great sneaky way to see what your competitors are up to..I've started following all of them! :D
Please let me know if I can help with anything at all :)
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I'm just starting! Next month I buy an iphone - my first ever!