How to Use Instagram: Part Two

A few months ago, I wrote a tutorial on how to use instagram. The basics on getting started with instagram: what it is, how to take pics, how to share them, and how to find friends on instagram. If you missed that and need a basic instagram tutorial, be sure to check that out.

In this follow up, I wanted to point out a few more instagram features for those of you still figuring out how to use instagram.

When you open instagram to your Feed, you may notice some numbers in a “talk” bubble above your News button.

getting started with instagram

This will tell you from left to right: how many new messages you have, how many new likes you have, and how many new people are following you on instagram. Click on your News button to see more.

how to use instagram

You can click on the pictures or the usernames to find out more info. The news stream will also tell you when a friend has joined instagram, as long as you have other social networks like twitter connected to your instagram account. If you still need to do that, you can check out my first instagram tutorial.

Another item you can see in your news stream is when someone tags you either in a photo or in a comment on another photo. To tag someone, you type the @ symbol, followed by their instagram username. If someone asks a question or makes a comment on a photo and you want them to be sure they will see your response, you need to tag them. Otherwise, they might not see your comment unless they revisit your photo and happen upon it. So, if it is something you want to be sure they do see, be sure to tag them!

instagram tutorial

I made sure to tag a friend who was just dying to know if that was a Tim McGraw impersonator that I was hanging out with this weekend. This way, the answer showed up in her News feed.

One last tip on how to use instagram: if you follow a lot of people, you may miss pictures from people that you really want to see. For me, I want to be sure not to miss a single photo that my brother or my sister-in-law post. You can easily find a user on instagram.

how do you use instagram

Click on your profile and select "Find Friends"

instagram tutorial

Select "Search names and usernames"

instagram how to use

Then type in their username

Then you can be sure to see all their pics. This is also how you can search for someone to follow on instagram by their username. Search for me, shellthings, if we don’t already follow each other!

Do you have any more questions about how to use instagram?

Comments

  1. Sela Toki says:

    I must live under a rock because this is the first time I’ve ever heard of that, Instagram.
    So many things to keep up with. LOL. I’ll get there eventually. Just don’t know when.
    Sela Toki recently posted..Officially a Zit PopperMy Profile

    • brooke says:

      i want to know how to write on the constaltion things how do you do it its bugging me i want to figure it out i must live under a rock too

  2. Kmama says:

    This is a great tutorial. I wish I had read something similar when I first started out using Instagram.
    Kmama recently posted..Nestle Paul Frank Holiday GiveawayMy Profile

  3. Barbara says:

    Who knew! Seriously, I just always used this to take pictures and maybe post on FB.
    Barbara recently posted..Christmas in FranceMy Profile

  4. Vinobaby says:

    I just noticed how many neat pics you had up on twitter. Now I know it’s because not only do you have adorable kids, but you are an instagram expert! I am SO hoping to get an updated phone when my contract is up so I can play with all these neat grown-up toys. Very cool.
    Vinobaby recently posted..Everything Was Beautiful at the Ballet {even with an 8-year-old Boy}My Profile

  5. Natalie says:

    I’m not on there but if I was I would follow you :)
    Natalie recently posted..Dinner and a MovieMy Profile

  6. Kristen says:

    I have a droid, I don’t believe Instagram is available yet but I know they were working on it. Can’t wait. I love seeing everyone use it on Twitter.
    Kristen recently posted..Dasher & Dancer & The Preppy Girl in Pink…My Profile

  7. Kim says:

    I have a Droid. :(
    Kim recently posted..Furry FacesMy Profile

  8. I love instagram. And I have also found that it is a great distraction for my children. They love scrolling through all the pictures. Like right now my 5 year old thinks that we are supposed to put a picture of our Elf on instagram everyday because she sees all the pictures of everyone else’s.

    Thanks for the great tutorial.

  9. Galit Breen says:

    EXCELLENT tips, friend- thank you!

    I have instagram downloaded and ready- but haven’t tried it yet! {Did I really just admit that?!}

    xo
    Galit Breen recently posted..A Phone CallMy Profile

  10. Kimberly says:

    Oh Lawd…I had no idea. I tried downloading the app a while ago but it never worked for some reason. Perhaps it was the person trying to work it. Meh.
    Kimberly recently posted..Got Pepto?My Profile

  11. I love instagram! One of my favorite apps and now I’m following you!

  12. Momof12 says:

    Never even heard of instagram! What does that say about me?
    Sandy
    Momof12 recently posted..Christmas LightsMy Profile

  13. Carolyn says:

    Is it only for iPhones? I have a Droid.
    Carolyn recently posted..Paper StarsMy Profile

  14. Thanks! This looks like a really good program. I can’t wait for the droid version!!
    Jessie Powell recently posted..Two Days until 35My Profile

  15. Andrea says:

    I can’t wait for it to come out for my phone. I covet the instagram program/app. :>
    Andrea recently posted..Wishes & Stitches ~ Book ReviewMy Profile

  16. Tonya says:

    I am a big Instagram fan. Nice tutorial.
    Tonya recently posted..My Day In NumbersMy Profile

  17. i have a blackberry, no instagram for me :(
    SassyModernMom recently posted..Rude People, Burnt Coffee & Pee On The SeatMy Profile

  18. I so need to get a smart phone!
    JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Pause Life for a Moment- Grumpy Grateful MomMy Profile

  19. Emmy says:

    Oh I didn’t realize that about searching for friends. Speaking of I need to go look at it again- I go through spurts with it
    Emmy recently posted..How to Recover Pillows with SweatersMy Profile

  20. Jessica says:

    I’m already following you on Instagram and I love using it to see pictures. I miss a lot of them on Twitter so it’s really nice to have Instagram to see them instead.
    Jessica recently posted..How To Change URLs In WordPressMy Profile

  21. Robin says:

    Haha – where was this a few months ago when I was trying to figure what the heck I was doing. LOL. I think a lot of people will find this helpful!
    Robin recently posted..The Dreaded Yankee SwapMy Profile

  22. Glamamom says:

    Thanks Babe. I use Instagram but just snap the photo, choose the filter, and leave it :)
    Glamamom recently posted..AMERICAN LIVING | MADE FOR GIVING {SPONSORED}My Profile

  23. Excellent tips. Thanks for the one about tagging people in comment replies especially.

    Now following you!

  24. Now following you – I’m Janmary (hint, hint!)
    Janmary, N Ireland recently posted..A Christmas Prayer Space in Lisburn on the 15th day of DecemberMy Profile

  25. Thanks for all the tips. Sometimes I just do the bare minimum when learning a new app and don’t get as much out of it…This tutorial really helped get to the important stuff without having to dig around. Wish I had found you sooner. Would have saved me some time in figuring it out!

  26. Mark says:

    Just read your Instagram tutorials yesterday, after having the app for 4 months and not getting what it’s all about. Now, I’m hooked! I can’t stop playing with it. Thanks for your help.

  27. Erams says:

    Thnk u for the tutorial. It was very helpful. I was hoping u can help me some more. I noticed people have several pics in one shot, how do u do it? I also notice people leave pics of shoes and other items in their comments. I would like to learn how to do it. Can u help me? Thanks

  28. Neeki says:

    Instagram: DivaCouture follow please ;-*

  29. Heather says:

    I am contemplating whether or not to join the instagram world so I have lots of questions! A few that instantly come to mind would be : 1. Does every picture I edit / use the filters on the app get downloaded for the instagram community to see? 2. Can I set my account to private so that only a
    select few can view my photos? 3. How do I request someone to allow me to view their photos? 4. I am just a mother of 2 who dabbles (quite seriously) in photography. I thought this would be a great way to view other photos and see how creative I can be with my new iPhone. Am I under the right impression or is this for the “younger” generation? I certainly hope instagram is easier than some of the newer social networks out there with their own special language that I still don’t understand! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! Take care of you …

  30. brittany says:

    I have instagram for Android and I can not figure out how to delete comments I tries sliding my finger across comments and tapping i just can’t figure it out please help!

  31. MimiG says:

    Thanks for this info. I’m new to instagram and find it really difficult to understand. I’m good with the filtering part but how do I save a picture? What if I don’t want to blast it into the ether and just want to save it? Can I take a bunch of pictures and mess with the filters later or do you have to take and create a picture one at a time? Instagram’s website should have a how to/tutorial. I’m glad you took the time to create this, but I still have a bunch of basic questions.

  32. Robert Williams says:

    How do you promote someone’s picture

  33. Lauren says:

    If someone is following you and you don’t know who he/she is how do you find out what there name is?

  34. Cool tips! thank you for sharing) I’ve learned a lot!
    Stacy Summers recently posted..How to Create a Wine Design Blog Layout in PhotoshopMy Profile

  35. Pworklocn says:

    MAN IM MAD AS HELL MY INSTAGRAM STILL IS NOT LETTING ME @ PPL LIKE I HAVE TO MANUALLY TYPE EVERYBODY SCREEN NAME IN IF I WANNA @ SOMEBODY WHAT THE FUCC DO I GOTTA DO TO FIX THIS SHIT I DELETED THE APP AND GOT IT BACC AND IT STILL WON’T LET ME @ PPL

  36. Gloria Lin says:

    I don’t know why i can’t tag new friends on instagram, I added them recently but can’t tag them in photos ):

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  38. Jaide says:

    How do you do this on a laptop? I can figure out how to search for people via Android but my laptop wont let me. ;_;

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  42. _ohYesssJenny_ says:

    Hi! Thanks for all this info! I’m new to Instagram so I’m still trying to get use to it (& u know, figure out what I can or can’t do, that I’m so use to doing on Facebook ). My teenage son set my account up & right after took a pic of us and posted it (just to sort of give me a quick “how to”). My question is: before my son posted the pic of us he wrote S/O _ohYesssJenny_ (& I was assuming he did that to tag me in the pic, so it would show up on my page as well, & it did!?) however since then I’ve tried doing the same thing to share w/ him or my daughter but the pic doesn’t appear on their walls, only mine?! What am I doing wrong? Is it even possible to tag/share my pic to someone else’s wall (I mean it must be cuz my son did it) . Sorry I would just ask him but he’s not around right now AND Sorry Made this question so long & drawn out ! Thanks again for you time & help!!

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