There has been a sudden interest in the blogging community to discover Instagram. I have to admit that if you had asked me what I thought of it last year I did not have a clue. I did not like the idea of having my raw photos exposed to the World, without so much as a watermark. But then I saw some fellow bloggers taking part in an #instahunt and I wanted to join in. You see the thing about blogging for me is the community. I had fallen out of love with devoting my time to linkys because I began to feel that to join in was a commitment and no longer fun. I found that there was a huge community of bloggers on Instagram that did not demand any more of my time than I had available.
Benefits for Bloggers on Instagram
Personally when reading blog posts my mind starts to wonder and I really rely on the images available. I started to consider what it was about Blogs which I liked and how aesthetically pleasing to the eye they are is a big factor. With this in mind I really wanted to try to improve my photography. I discovered that there are people other than bloggers on Instagram who are willing to help. By looking at images I have discovered more about what it is that I like, and the photographers have shared with me their tips as to how they achieved it.
Instagram is a community – and you can find people with similar interests or inspire you to find new ones. You can join in hashtags – by bloggers and non-bloggers, with no commitment to time. And as it does not rely on time you can comment on photos taken on the other side of the World and they can read it in their own time.
As I say it is a lot less time-consuming (especially if you are, selectively, liking pictures). This means you can support other bloggers on Instagram, and lots of them, without it taking up your whole day that you could be doing other things.
Top Tips for Bloggers on Instagram
Do embrace the community – follow those you admire, use the hashtags, like and comment on other’s photos, and tag them in with @. You can follow the top hashtags or popular users hashtags and even look at your stats.
You can use the filters on Instagram but do check out the apps you can adapt your photos on your phone. I simply put the word “photo” in at the app store and downloaded the free ones – there’s a lot to play with. I may need to buy an iTunes voucher soon though to upgrade to the nifty Christmas stuff!
Have your blog url in your bio. Think of Instagram as building your Brand/Audience and that users will want to find out more. How popular your pictures are gives a good indication to how visually pleasing they are – which you can go on to use in your blog posts, or to use as images to promote posts.
It helps to become more creative with your imagery. If you try to do this regularly it will really encourage you to think outside of the box.
Do you have any other Instagram tips? What are your favourite hashtags?
Please enter your Instagram Account in the comments below and find other like-minded individuals
If you want to follow my Lego photography on Instagram follow the hashtag #LegoJoy
Other Posts from Bloggers on Instagram
If you need help with getting started with Instagram
For more inspiration on How to Make the most of Instagram
This is such a good idea Joy – and really good tips too – I never knew you could look at your Instagram stats!
I really want to “get good” at Instagram, so am taking notes 🙂
thanks Joy this is a great post introducing IG and the linly idea is a great resource for discovering peeps x
Brilliant thank you so much for this. I just joined Instagram yesterday and was really disappointed that I couldn’t automatically connect to people I follow on twitter so this is a great way to find people to follow!
What a fab and useful post!
Some fab tips, who knew you could get instagram stats….genius, who doesn’t love stats!!!?
#pocolo
I think I am on all the social media sites, or the main ones anyway, and love them all (bar google plus bleugh!) but I have to say my absolute favourite is instagram- I just love it so much. These are great tips! 🙂
What a great idea to do this – really helpful for newbies like me who haven’t a clue what they are doing. Cheers, love xx
I love instagram, am off to investigate my stats
great idea! I am on instagram but haven’t used it much, certainly need to use it more
Great post! I’ve been in instagram for about a year and never knew you can check your stats! I try to share my blog post images and link to the blog, plus relevant hashtags, it’s great to find some other bloggers and get inspired 🙂
Great tips! I generally just use instagram as a way to share my fav pics on facebook so I have a lot to learn!
Thanks for some great tips. I have just joined up so am a little unsure of how to get the nest out of it. I have followed everyone I wasn’t already. Great way to find new people 🙂
Great post – I am just discovering instagram as I have only recently got a smartphone and I was always frustrated before that I could not post on it from a pc. My only problem is that my ‘phone’s camera isn’t great so I can’t take good pics on it but I have found out that I can use the pictures from my Google account and as I use Blogger this means I can share pictures published on my blog via instagram too – so that’s my top tip!
I’ve decided that instagram is a whole lot more than I once gave it credit for, great post! I summed up my take on it a while ago:
Thanks about the tips! Instagram is addicting. And I can stalk my exes in there too. I am also following a lot of my blogging faves in there. Photos are so good in their blogs and its the same in their IG & you can see it real time =) #pocolo
I joined just over a year ago and have become a real convert. I’d resisted joining for a while before that.
You are so right – I’m a bit lazy with Instagram but I do have the editing apps. Must make more effort – I used to like Instacollage especially
Great idea, especially as I only joined yesterday!
Oh great one! I used to love instagram when my iPhone camera was taking nice pictures. now…not so much but i have a new nokia to try out and i am loving instagram again. will go and follow some folk now 🙂 xx
Brilliant tips, thank you. I do instagram a bit but haven’t really used it to its full potential – time to change that with the new Tots metric I think!
I’ve never even known that Instagram gave out stats. That’s a new fact for me. Great post and very helpful x
I love instagram, it’s a great way for connection with people and sharing beautiful images. Great idea t do a linky 🙂
Great tips, I love instagram too x
I love using Instagram, pictures say so much more than words.
love love instagram! my favourite {and only one I use} photo app is VCSO
I must say I am quite warming to Instagram. It is quick and easy to ‘like’ and show support. Very inspiring at the same time.
Instagram is probably my favourite social media account! Great post and really informative. #SoFoLo is also for instagram this week! Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂 x
Brilliant tips – I’m still trying to get to grips with Instagram and want to learn more, so thank you!
I really need to get more visible on my instagram account, I tend to think that nobody is interested in my quick snaps so forget to share them. Great tips and I’ll be looking out for some of the hashtags.
Great tips Joy – and nice link up, just found a few I wasn’t following!
I didn’t know you could check Instagram stats! I love it as something quick and easy to flick through, like a magazine but don’t really exploit it tbh. #PoCoLo
Thanks for this….Great tips! I’m quite new to Instagram. Only been using it since I got my new phone last week 🙂
fab link up. thank u so much. found some great new inspiring bloggy instagrammers :):):)) xxx
Great idea for a post – lots of people are discovering Instagram at the minute aren’t they? I didn’t know you could check your stats and that hashtags link is interesting too x x
Fantastic post! I never knew you could look at your stats either! I love instagram, a picture can tell so much than what a few words can sometimes x
Fab post! I use Instagram but don’t really know the in’s and out’s so thank you for sharing x
Great idea to create a linky. I’ve added my Instagram (LilinhaAngel) and followed everyone on the list x
Great idea. I was on instagram, but wasn’t too sure how to use it effectively, so good post thank you.
#PoCoLo
Really great tips. I love Instagram but at the moment I don’t use it for my blog. I use it just to faff about on a personal level. As there’s people on there that don’t know about my blog I think I might have to open a blog focused one but at the moment I haven’t ventured.
A great idea, some really useful tips for something I have had on my phone, but never used much and being a new bloggger (www.my-family-ties.com/) Tips like these are so useful! I’ve added myself to the list, many thanks
I haven’t done anything with Instagram “yet”, but I will say that this post was very informative. Certainly provided information that I can use as I start to explore how to integrate Instagram into my blogging efforts.
Some fab tips! I love Instagram but go through stages with it where I post loads or don’t post for ages!
Brilliant idea! Thank you for all the tips. I love Instagram but there is always more to learn.
I adore instagram. I think I have been on it almost since the beginning and have been told I may “overshare” #oops
A timely post. Am still getting my head around the whole Instagram thing but what you said about brand awareness raising has given me a lightbulb moment 🙂
Thank you! This is so helpful! I love the photo aspect of blogging so think that I am going to love Instagram! xx