9 Step Nutshell Guide on How to Start Instagram
What is Instagram? Why do I need it? Is anyone using it? How to start Instagram? In a nutshell, Instagram is a photo sharing application for your phone that allows you to share pictures and information about that picture to anyone you’d like. Why do you need it? Well, you really don’t NEED it, but it is cool and a great way to quickly share fancy pictures or add a little bit of flavor to your status to your friends. It’s a lil sexier than just the 140 basic characters allowed by Twitter. And to the question of whether anyone is using it, of course they are. In fact, my daughter, who I consider an authority on all things in style uses it much more than Facebook. In fact, Facebook really has fallen out of favor for kids. So, if you are a parent or grandparent that wants to connect with your kids and see what they are doing, sign up for Instagram and get in the game!
What’s that you say? You have no idea what to do or where to start? Ok, let me put it to you in a nutshell and get you up and running.
1. How to start Instagram? First, get the Application (aka App)
On your phone you’ll have a few options to get started…
- Open your phone’s browser and type in instagram.com, once there you will have options to go get the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. If you have an iPhone, you’ll want the Apple App Store option. If you have something else, chances are you’ll need to go to Google Play.
- Go directly to the App Store on your phone and install the App
- Go directly to Google Play on your phone and install the App
2. Once the app is installed, let’s get registered!
Here is the first page you’ll see. Since you don’t have an account go to the bottom of the window and touch the ‘Register’ option.
3. Time to Register
The registration page requests basic information to get you up and running. Don’t worry about your picture at this time. You can always update this later. There is also an option to use your Facebook information to act as your login.
Basic information, not too painful.
4. Pick a username
Enter a username that you’d like to use for Instagram. If everything checks out and the name is available, the little person icon will turn green. If there are issues with the name you’ll have to try something else until the little guy goes green. Also, enter a password.
Whew, nutshell insider was available!
5. Enter remaining information
Scroll down the page and enter your email address and your ‘name’. The name here is what you’ll be seen as to friends.
More information, but not too bad so far.
6. Find Friends on Facebook
Even Instagram knows Facebook is not as cool as it used to be. This next page asks you if you want to hook into your Facebook profile and see if your friends are on Instagram as well. This helps get your Instagram up and running and plugged in with your existing friends. Feel free to hook into Facebook, but you can skip now and always come back to it. If you want to move on without Facebook, hit the ‘Next’ button up top or the Skip link in the middle.
Yoo hoo….Faceboooook
7. Making Contact?
Instagram also understands you have a lot of contacts stored locally. This step allows you to let Instagram decide if any of your existing contacts are also on Instagram. Again, they are trying to help you find your friends so your job later won’t be so tough. For now, you can skip by hitting the green ‘Next’ button up to p or the Skip link in the middle.
Full contact drill
8. Suggest you make some friends…
Instagram will next give you some recommendations of people to ‘Follow’. Following basically means you’ll be able to quickly and easily see pictures posted by these people. When you open Instagram, their pictures will show up and you’ll be able to interact with them easily. You can skip this step as well as you can always do it later.
Suggestions are just suggestions…
9. Congrats!
The next screen you’ll see is the home screen of your new Instagram account! Congratulations! Now it’s time to go snap some pictures of all the crazy things you see in your day to day life and share them. Feel free to explore and enjoy the experience. And look for family and friends so you can stay in touch more often and with beautiful pictures!
You are up and ready to roll…snap those pics!
Now that you are up and running, jump to the Instagram Help Center for those more detailed instructions and help files. Here at the Nutshell Insider, we get you up and running without all that extra information….nice and easy. Maximizing the Minimum!