From globe-trotters to dog lovers and every personality or niche in between, Instagram is the digital town square where 500 million people gather daily. Since its inception, the platform has evolved from a simple photo-sharing app into a multimedia powerhouse for video, storytelling, commerce, and community-building. If you’re ready to join this massive platform but don’t know where to start, this guide will walk you through everything you need to create your account and begin connecting.
1. Create an account.
To create an Instagram account, first download the Instagram app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Next, follow the app’s prompts to create an account using your Facebook account if you have one (since Instagram is owned by Meta) or with your email address. Then, create your unique username and password.
Once you have an account, set up your profile by uploading a profile picture. You can also add more profile information by going to your account, selecting “Edit Profile,” and adding any details you’d like, such as your full name, your Instagram bio, and links to a website or your other social media accounts.
2. Decide on an account type.
If you want to use Instagram to keep up with friends and share your own personal photos and videos, then a Personal account will suffice.
If you’re looking to use Instagram to make money by promoting your business or organization, then make your account a Business account. You can choose your account type within “Edit Profile” and select “Switch to professional account.”
If you are looking to become an influencer, work as a content creator, or share your work as an artist, consider a Creator account.
To choose your account type:
- Go to your profile and tap the “More” menu to open “Settings and activity.”
- Under “For professionals,” tap “Account type and tools,” then select “Switch to professional account.”
- Choose a category, then select Creator or Business.
- Tap “Next” and complete the optional setup steps, or skip to return to your profile.
3. Learn about Instagram post types.
Instagram allows you to post various types of media, including photos, videos, and live video feeds. Each type of content serves a slightly different purpose:
- Feed posts are photos or videos that appear permanently on your profile and in your followers’ feeds (unless you archive them). These can be images, videos, or carousels that include multiple photos and/or videos in one post.
- Reels are short-form videos designed for discovery. They were launched on the platform in August 2020 as Instagram’s response to TikTok’s explosive success, further fueling the rivalry between Instagram and TikTok. Users can watch Reels in the Reels tab and on the Explore page. Creating Reels is a great opportunity for new content creators without an established following to reach users.
- Stories are temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours. They’re typically more casual and are often used for quick updates, behind-the-scenes moments, or resharing posts either by other accounts or your own in promotional efforts.
- Instagram Live allows you to broadcast in real time to your followers, who can comment and interact as you stream. Only users who have public accounts with 1,000 or more followers can stream on Instagram Live.
4. Create and publish posts.
No matter what you’re trying to post, the process is meant to be easy and intuitive for new users.
- Swipe right until you reach the posting page. If it’s your first time here, Instagram will ask you to allow the app access to your camera, microphone, and photos/videos (if posting from your camera roll). Allow full access to continue.
- Select the type of post at the bottom of the screen. You will find the options: Post, Story, Reel, and Live.
- Capture or record your post directly within the Instagram app. Alternatively, you can post from your camera roll by selecting the small square with a preview of your camera roll on the bottom left of the screen.
- Edit your post within Instagram’s editing page. Here you can add music, text, overlays, filters, or edit your images or videos. Instagram has in-app editing features for all types of content, whether it’s a Story, Reel, or Post.
- Add a caption and details to your post on the final page. Captions provide context and additional information that help further engage viewers. Adding hashtags can also help users search or discover your post by keywords. You can also include details such as a location, tagged people, or collaborators for a joint post.
- Share your content when everything looks ready to go. If you want to continue to edit your post, you can always save it as a draft for later. You can also opt to schedule your post for a later time by selecting “More Options” and “Schedule this post.”
5. Curate your content.
Content performs best on Instagram when it can capture attention quickly, retain it, and encourage interaction, all while feeling authentic. Instagram rewards content that engages users in meaningful ways—primarily through shares, comments, and saves. Those who have found Instagram fame and success have capitalized on a few types of content. Rather than focusing on specific niches, let’s explore tips that can be applied across all types of content and creators.
- Short-form video has become the bread and butter of most social media platforms thanks to TikTok. Instagram Reels now account for half the time spent on Instagram, according to DemandSage. They’re easy to consume, cut to be quickly engaging, and prioritized by the Instagram algorithm.
- Story-driven content has become a major part of Instagram’s creator culture. Filmmakers, writers, and artists have taken advantage of the app as a direct-to-viewer platform for all of their creations. Primarily, story-driven content with a solid hook has been shown to quickly capture the attention of someone scrolling the app. An entertaining story told through visuals and audio can retain their attention and lead to new followers.
For example, photographer Katie Edwards has been documenting her train journeys across Europe on her account, sharing both her striking photographs and engaging stories that bring her experiences to life. - List-driven content tends to generate high engagement because it’s easy to consume and encourages viewers to swipe or keep watching—retaining their attention for longer periods of time. Creators can leverage listicles to provide quick tips, ranked recommendations, or step-by-step guides—formats that are not only shareable but also keep audiences engaged from start to finish. Thinking of lists as a structure allows you to adapt it to any type of content, from videos in Reels, to photos in carousels, to a Story series.
Lists can be created across different types of posts. For example, photo carousels like the lists created by @thefilmpope encourage viewers to read and swipe through to learn more about films they love or find new ones to watch. - Vlogs have found their way from YouTube to Reels. Trends like “GRWM,” “Come along with me…,” “Day in the Life of a…,” and “POV” have all become staple ways for creators to share parts of their life in short-form video. The vlog has become a great way for influencers with a primary career or interest to make lifestyle content for anyone interested in what they do. This POV video by @pierretlambert shows the images from the daily ferry commute into Manhattan as a working photographer.
