It’s been a big couple of weeks for updates to Instagram.
With 1 Million estimated monthly unique visitors, Instagram is, beyond doubt, a force to be reckoned with.
There was quite a hoopla a couple weeks back when Hootsuite announced that you could now “schedule” posts to Instagram. It caused quite a rukus, and my hope was, after I read the article, that Hootsuite had done some kind of special deal with Instagram that allowed them, exclusively, around Instagram’s very tight API. This turned out to not be the case. Yes, you can schedule your Instagrams on Hoostuite. Kind of. Actually, what you do is upload your photo and write your description, then Hootsuite reminds you at the time you set to post it. You then log on to Instagram and complete the post. Sad Trombone. No different, as far as I can tell, than using an app like Latergramme.
In more exciting news, Instagram announced yesterday that you can now upload Portrait and Landscape images. This actually is a big deal, because in the past, it was square, square, and nothing but square. Now, when I’m shooting photos on my phone, it’s not a huge deal, as I just switch my camera to the square photo option. However, I sometimes shoot on my DSLR, and then upload those photos to Instagram, and in that case, I’d find myself using an app that “squarifies” my photos, like Squaredy. Well, no longer! I’m happy to delete that one.
Now, here’s today’s Infographic. You’ll remember this post from a while back: Top Instagram Hashtags for Food Bloggers. This one is a more general version of that.
Just to note: using a popular hashtag has pros and cons. Yes, there are more people searching that hashtag, but that means that there is also more competition for it. Additionally, don’t use hashtags that are not related to your post. Using #me, for example, on a photo of a donut, might be misleading, so I’d avoid that. My last note: I know they are popular, and they will get you likes and follows, but I avoid any hashtags that put me in a position where I am compelled to like someone else’s stuff back. I’m too much of a control freak for that!
Want a few more excellent Instagram tips? Check out this recent (and very funny) article from Vogue.
Now, here are Instagram’s Top Hashtags (as determined by their sheer volume):
