For this Sunday Round Up, I am going to focus on Instagram. This social media platform has a variety of photos, videos, gifs, collages, inspirational quotes, calligraphy, and everything in-between photography and video representation. With all the individuals, companies, groups, friends, family, cute animals, and most recently #hastags, you can follow, it can become overwhelming to decide where to begin following. For some, it can make you want to hold down the Instagram app on your phone, wait for the screen apps to shake, and in a moment of relief click the small "x" in the upper left hand corner to erase the overwhelming sensation. BUT let's not get hasty! There is a good method of organizing yourself with all the selections on Instagram to maintain a sense of calm and ease.
A great way to navigate the world of Instagram is to choose a topic that is of interest and begin your following search there. You can start an Instagram search for a well known organization or person that is part of your interest. Photography is a hobby of mine. I selected National Geographic (@natgeo) as my organization to search because I have always been fascinated with their photography and stories since I was a kid. After selecting an organization, you can continue the search based on the photographer that took the photo since @natgeo typically tags the photographer in the posted image. Most photographers that work or contribute to @natgeo do not have their profiles set to private, so you are able to browse their profile openly to decide if they are someone to follow. Additionally, each photo is tagged with hastags (i.e. #publicland, #nationalparks, #desertairbook, etc.). When clicked it takes you to other fascinating photos or videos that have been tagged with that hastag. Lastly, @natgeo is good at tagging the location of the photo or video (Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Queen Maud Land, Midway Atoll, etc.). You can click the location to search through other profiles that have taken pictures of that location. Those are two additional methods of searching for profiles. Now you can repeat the process to build your following base. And at times the accounts you follow will follow you back so don't forget to post some interesting and unique photos!
You can also repeat the above steps to increase your exposure and get more followers. Additionally, by tagging high-profile accounts or using hashtags you are letting other people know that you have similar work and relevance. Instagram, about a month ago, began allowing users to follow a hastag. #nationalparks has 908,557 people following this hastag. By aligning yourself with hastags that promote your material you are able to reach a larger audience. Remember, to keep your posts relevant to the hastag, unique to draw in viewership, and remain actively engaging on Instagram to promote yourself and work.
Why should you use Instagram? Instagram is a fun socially engaging media platform that allows oneself to visually expressive. Through its usage it can tell a story, share ideas, provide inspiration, and connect a community; both near and far. This is a good platform for distant learning institutions or businesses that work remotely across the country. It can help connect eLearning students and strengthen traditional classrooms by promoting learning beyond the school bell. For example, if students were discussing birds in science class they could spend a week capturing birds in their local community and discussing their finds to increase engagement and research skills. For businesses that are remote, it can keep coworkers engaged with one another by posting a specific theme (i.e. telecommunications sales, products, technology, customers, etc.) to create connection as well as motivate one another to reach combined and individual goals.
Here are some screenshots of how to start Instagram following based on the above instructions. Enjoy the visually stimulating journey!
Until the next Sunday Round Up...