How to Post on Instagram: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Create an Instagram Account

Start by downloading the Instagram app and signing up for an account. You’ll need to sign up with either your phone number or an email address and create a user name. 

Instagram also allows you to make your account a business account, so you can view certain stats and insights when you post. 

Once your account is created, you can add a profile image and write a description about yourself and your business in the bio section. Instagram also allows you to add a link to your website in the bio section. 

Step 2: Go to Your Profile and Click on the Plus Sign

Once you have your account set up, go to your Instagram profile and click on the plus sign icon in the top right corner.

Sometimes the app updates and the location of this plus sign can change, but it will always appear somewhere in the app, allowing you to create a post. 

Step 3: Click on the Type of Post You Want to Make

After clicking on the plus sign, you’ll see options such as: Reel, Story, Post, Story Highlight,  and more. 

If you want to create a post for your Instagram feed, you’ll click on the option that says ‘Post’.

Step 4: Choose Your Photo or Video

Next, you’ll need to give Instagram permission to access your phone’s camera roll and downloads if you haven’t already. Instagram will display recent pictures and videos from your phone and allow you to scroll through to make your selection for the post. 

If you choose to share more than one image or a series of static images and videos, Instagram allows you to upload up to 10 different graphics as part of one post. 

This is called a carousel post. To create one, you will need to click on the small square icon located just above your camera roll images. This will allow you to select multiple things and choose which order they appear in. 

For this article, we will just focus on posting one image to Instagram.

Step 5: Edit Your Image in the App

Once you’ve selected your image, click the ‘Next’ button in the top right hand corner. Instagram will then prompt you to edit the photo, if you wish. 

Instagram provides different filters and settings to adjust the image’s brightness, contrast, and more. During the editing process, you can also add music to appear with your post using the music icon at the top of the screen. 

Step 6: Add a Caption and Tag

Click on the ‘Next’ button again, then add a caption to your photo. Captions are a great way to tell your followers about a post, inspire them, or add humor. You can also add hashtags and tag people, locations, or brands in your post.  

If your Instagram page is connected to a Facebook account, you can also allow the same post to be shared on Facebook. 

Step 7: Review and Share

Give your post one more look to review before you click the share button. Once you share your post, it will show up on your profile and your followers’ feed. If you’ve included certain keywords in the caption or hashtags, your post will also show up when users search for content or browse the app.

After you’ve shared your post, you can edit the caption, location, and tags, but you won’t be able to edit the image or add any images or videos from a carousel. 
Instagram is also great for repurposing content, so you can share your post on other platforms, add it to your Instagram story, or create a Reel with it.

Schedule Content in Advance

Many businesses and entrepreneurs schedule Instagram content in advance as well, using external tools. If you want to post consistently or plan out content, you can use sites like Later or Planoly to schedule out your posts. 

These platforms allow you to upload photos and videos, create carousels, and add your captions and hashtags. You can schedule posts to automatically appear on your Instagram page at a certain time or give yourself the chance to manually review before the post goes up.

Posting With Instagram’s Shopping Feature

If your business has an online store and you want to share images of some of your products, Instagram allows you to link a shop to your profile. With this feature, users can shop your store right through your Instagram posts. 

Just create a shop through your profile on Instagram and you’ll be able to tag and link products to boost your sales. 

Summary

Posting on Instagram is a straightforward process that requires a few steps. It is essential to choose the right photo or video, edit it, and add a compelling caption. 

Hashtags and tags are also a vital part of Instagram to help your post reach a broader audience. Engaging with your followers is a key factor in growing your brand on Instagram. 

Remember, the more you practice posting on Instagram, the more confident you will become, and the more you will attract new followers, as you use this app as a tool to grow your business and engage with customers.

_{Information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be business, legal, tax, or accounting advice. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lendio. While Lendio strives to keep its content up-to-date, it is only accurate as of the date posted. Offers or trends may expire, or may no longer be relevant.}