Instagram is one of the most downloaded apps for smartphones. It’s a way to connect people from all across the world. Instagram is usually easy to figure out, but with all the new features being added, it’s hard to keep up with what’s going on. Some features of Instagram are clear, while some of them are hidden and hard to figure out. Lucky for you, the top 15 tips and tricks of Instagram are listed below. Once you are finished reading, you will confidently be able to use Instagram to its full extent.
#1. Use the built-in portrait mode
Some of you are lucky enough to own a smartphone with a built-in portrait mode and some of you aren’t so lucky. Thank goodness Instagram created its own portrait mode that goes by the name Focus. To access this feature, click the camera looking icon in the top left-hand corner of the app. This will take you to the Story screen. Once you are there, swipe left on the modes at the bottom of the screen until you see the Focus mode. This mode allows you to focus on the face and it will automatically blur out the rest of the image.
#2. Add face on top of photos
Sometimes you want to put your selfie on top of another background image. Thankfully, you can do this in Instagram stories. The first step of this feature is to open the Story mode and either take a new photo or upload one that you already took. Once that is done, click the sticker icon in the upper right-hand corner. After that click on the camera sticker. Tapping on the camera icon will then open a small camera view on top of the photo you already took. Tap on it to capture your selfie and then tap again to choose different modes.
#3. Share highlights
Instagram Highlights are something new, but they allow you to highlight specific moments of your life and share them to everyone. To accomplish this, open the Instagram profile that you wish to highlight. After that hold down the highlight so a pop-up menu shows. On that pop-up menu, click the Send button. This will allow you to share highlights over Instagram Direct Messages.
#4. Add multiple photos and videos
If you wanted to upload multiple photos or videos used to be complicated. However, Instagram has recently created a feature that lets you achieve this in easy steps. The first step is going into the Story mode and tapping the Gallery icon in the bottom left-hand corner. Once you are in the gallery, you can tap the small layered icon in the top right-hand corner. After tapping the layered icon, small bubbles will appear at the top right-hand corner of each photo. This is where you tap a photo if you want to share it. After you tap all the photos you want to upload, hit the Next button and share them to your story.
#5. Post stories longer than 15 seconds
One downfall of Instagram Stories is that they usually only appear for 15 seconds. This can be annoying if you are trying to promote something on your story. The best way to achieve this is by downloading Story Cutter for Instagram is you have an Android phone and downloading CutStory if you have an iPhone. These apps will cut your video into small clips, allowing you to uploading them to last longer than 15 seconds.
#6. Add color block to a story
One of the newest features Instagram has created is the ability to turn the background of your Instagram into a solid color other than black. First go to the Story mode and either take a new photo or upload an old one. After you have your photo, tap on the pen icon in the upper right-hand corner. Once you tap on the pen icon, you will see the colors appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the color of your choice and then hold anywhere on the picture until the color fills the image.
#7. Add interactive stickers to your story
Instagram now allows you to add interactive stickers to your story through polls, emoji slider, and the questions sticker. These stickers allow you to get a response from your followers. Tap on the sticker icon in the upper right-hand corner and tap on the sticker you wish to add to your photo.
#8. Blur background
The easiest way to add photos to your Story is through the traditional way, but this doesn’t always create the best image. With blurred backgrounds, you will give the photo the same effect as if you took it on portrait mode. The first step of this process is going to the profile that you want to share. On their feed, hold down on the photo you want to share on your Story. Without releasing your finger, take a screenshot of the photo and upload it to your story.
#9. Change pen size
How many times have you doodled on your photo, but have wanted it to be a different size? Luckily, Instagram has four different pen size options to choose from. All you have to do is tap on the pen icon in the story mode and then drag the slider up or down to increase or decrease the size.
#10. View all colors
When choosing a color for a pen or text, you see all the colors displayed at the bottom. Surely you’ve wondered if there were more color options. Instagram has hidden all of these different colors that are available to you. To gain access to all of these different color, hold down on any of the colors you see at the bottom and the other colors will appear.
#11. Remove data from old phones
When you add a an old photo to your story, Instagram automatically adds the date in sticker form onto that photo. This could be annoying because you may not want the date displayed on your photo. Thankfully it’s easy to remove. All you have to do is hold down on the date sticker and drag it to the trashcan icon.
#12. Share posts to stories
How many times have you posted to Instagram, but wished you could post it on your story? Well you can! There are a few easy steps you can take to share your post on your story. The first thing you need to do is go to the post you wish to share. Once you have that post pulled up, tap on the Send icon. After tapping on that icon, a small screen with several options will show up. Click on the option that says “Add post to your story”.
#13. Regram story
When someone mentions you in their story, you will receive a direct message notification telling you about the post. If you wish, you can share the same story on your profile. All you have to do is tap on the “Add to Your Story” option once you’ve received the message.
#14. Mute story
Instagram stories are a good way to stay into contact with people, but they can get annoying. Luckily, Instagram allows you to mute stories. The first thing to do is open the profile that you wish to mute. Once you have their profile pulled up, tap on the three-dot icon at the top-right hand corner of your screen. After you tap on the three dots, a small screen with several options will appear. The last step is tapping the mute option.
#15. Turn on story notifications
Now what are your options if you like someone’s stories and wish to be notified every time they publish a new one? Instagram has created a feature that allows you to turn on post notifications for a specific person that notifies you every time they create a new post. First you need to pull up the profile and tap the three-dot icon in the upper right-hand corner. After that select to turn on story notifications.
With all of these tips and tricks, you can now use Instagram to its full capacity.
Written by: Megan Williams
Social Media 4 Seniors phone number: (865)437-6656
Social Media 4 Seniors email: jdancu@socialmedia4seniors.net
Social Media 4 Seniors website: www.socialmedia4seniors.net
