If you're good at Instagram, you probably know it. Your millions of followers and the endless stream of comments on your photos must mean you're doing something right.
But no matter how many followers you have on Instagram, it doesn't mean you're getting the most out of the photo-sharing app. There are so many tips and tricks that make using Instagram a billion times easier that you probably never even heard of. Here are nine Instagram hacks that will ensure you're using the app in the most efficient way possible so that you have more time to cultivate your following.
1. Save Your Photos
You put so much work into making your photos look good using Instagram, you're going to want to make sure you save them forever in case, God forbid, Instagram doesn't exist one day or you just want to have them around to use for other purposes. All you have to do is make sure the "Save Original Photos" option is turned on in your Instagram settings, and you will be able to cherish all of your edits for all of time.
2. Delete and Edit Comments
Whether you just made a typo or said something horribly offensive, we've all made comments online that we wish we could take back. Instagram is no different. Unfortunately, it's not very clear how to do that in the app exactly. Luckily, BuzzFeed has figured it out and has step-by-step instructions on how to do it so you can avoid online embarrassment, on Instagram at least.
3. Get Rid of Messages You Don't Want to See
It is really easy to get jealous, annoyed or downright disgusted by the photos that some people send you directly on Instagram. If this has happened to you, you can ignore the direct messages from that "friend" without taking the extreme measure of blocking him or her. It's polite, really.
4. Know Your Daily Hashtags
One of the keys to winning Instagram is knowing how to use your hashtags. A good way to get started with hashtags is to use the appropriate ones for each day of the week. PopSugar has a nice list of these, so you can be an Instagram pro 24/7.
5. Use Filters Without Posting on Instagram
One of the main reasons we all use Instagram is because the filters turn your photos into mini-masterpieces. But let's say you (gasp!) didn't want to share a photo but still wanted to make it look super-pretty with your fave Insta filter. It is possible, my friends. All you have to do is set your phone to Airplane Mode, upload and edit your photo as you normally would and then delete it once the app tells you your upload failed. The photo, in all its filtered glory, will be saved to your image library on your phone without the whole world seeing it too.
6. Zoom in on Photos
Whether you want to get a better look at your friend's engagement ring or prove its authenticity, zooming in on photos on Instagram would sure come in handy. I don't know about you, but I have spent minutes tirelessly swiping at my phone's screen to zoom in on a photo as you normally would, only to just move the screen a bit or accidentally like someone's photo. But there is a way to zoom in on photos, and OSXDaily has the answer.
7. Add Hashtags to Photos After Posting Them
How many times have you posted a photo only to have an awesome hashtag pop into your head immediately after? Remember, hashtags are crucial during your rise to Instagram super-stardom. But did you know that if you add hashtags to the photo in the comments, people will still be able to stumble upon your photo by searching that hashtag? Phew, that was a close one.
8. Hide or Remove Tagged Photos of Yourself
I know it's a difficult reality to accept, but none of us look amazing in photos 100 percent of the time. Either you have some food on your face, your smile is weird or you're doing something just plain embarrassing. But Instagram knows this and has given you the option to hide photos that you are tagged in or remove the tag altogether. You can find out how over on Jenn's Trends.
9. Share Photos on Other Platforms After Posting
Many people post different content on their various social media profiles. Sometimes you don't think you want to post something on both Instagram and Twitter, but then you change your mind. It happens. You're human. It may seem like it's too late by the time you post the photo on Instagram, but fear not because it's not. All you have to do is go to the photo you want to share, click on the three dots in the bottom right corner and then share it on the social media platform of your choice. Social media crisis averted.
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