Part I:  How to Set Up an Instagram Account and Why It’s Better Than Facebook (Especially If You’re a Visual Learner) –

Please, please, please start an Instagram account!  Don’t be afraid!  I’m going to tell you how to set up an Instagram account and why it’s better than Facebook, especially if you’re a visual learner!  In future posts, I’ll tell you:

• how to follow others and whom to follow
• if you should have a private account
• what Instastories are and how to watch them
• how to message someone
• what hashtags are and how to use them
• how to manage multiple instagram accounts without having to log in and log out

Why Instagram?

I’ve been wondering why it is that Instagram is my go-to social media venue.  I never really understood why Facebook just isn’t my groove.  Why do I prefer Instagram?  Why is it better? The answer came to me the other night while I was stuck in traffic on I-95.  (I get answers to many of life’s deep questions when I’m in my car.)  It hit me like a ton of bricks! Instagram is better (for me, anyway) because I’m a visual learner!

I don’t want to hear or read explanations.  I want to SEE! Whenever Neil tries to explain something to me, I tell him to draw a picture.  After I SEE what he’s talking about, I understand what he’s trying to explain.

Another reason I love Instagram is because it is so much easier than blogging!  It took me almost TWO HOURS just to format all of the pictures for this post.  With Instagram, I can reach more people in less time and relay the same information.  (Let me tell you that all of those mommy bloggers who have a jillion followers and who post on Instagram all day every day and post a blog entry every day definitely have paid help.  I don’t have time for all of that and I don’t have a jillion babies at home!!!)

How Do You Know If You’re a Visual Learner?

I’m sure you can Google and take a test to find out if you are a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.  I figured it out on my own.  I’ve always loved fashion magazines, not for the articles, but for the advertisements.  Who doesn’t love, love, love the September issue of Vogue, right?  I love it even though it is ONE HUGE AD for top fashion designers.  I don’t care, though.  The ads and the layouts and the photography are absolutely gorgeous.

And that’s exactly why I LOVE Instagram.  It’s like one big fashion magazine.  However, it doesn’t have to be. You can make Instagram be whatever you want it to be. It all depends on whom you follow.  I love fashion, so 95% of the accounts I follow are fashion accounts.

If you like fishing, follow fishing accounts.  Fitness fanatic?  After you explain to me how I can become one, too, you can follow fitness accounts.  Haircut accounts.  Business building accounts.  Recipe accounts.  Anything!  It’s like creating your own little interactive scrolling magazine.  (I haven’t read an actual fashion magazine in a very long time. I finally realized it’s because I’ve created my own fashion magazine, curated to follow the designers and models I want to follow.)

Okay, Let’s Get Started with Part I – Creating YOUR Instagram Account!

Step One:

Go to Instagram.com or download the free Instagram app for your phone or do both (You’re definitely going to need to download the app eventually, but if you’re more comfortable setting up accounts on your laptop or tablet, you can create your account from a larger device)

Step Two:

You’ll see a screen that looks like the one below.  DON’T sign up using Facebook.  I never sign up or sign in to any accounts using Facebook.  (They already know too much about us.)

• Enter your mobile number or email address because once you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation text or email that you’ll be prompted to enter to make sure you’re a real person.
• In the “name” box, enter the name that you would like to be known as on Instagram.  I have several different Instagram accounts, so here is an example that might help you decide:

charleneharreveld:  this is my unsername for my private Instagram account.  You can have a completely private IG account and I keep mine locked down pretty tightly.  This is where I post family photos.  I use this account to follow close friends and family members.

stampinwithcharlene:  this is the IG account I use for my Stampin Up business where I teach how to make greeting cards.  On this account, I only follow other Stampin Up people who only post cards made with Stampin Up products.

ewillowgreetingcards:  this is the IG account I use for my eWillow.com business where I post pics of the cards I’m working on that are part of the subscription greeting card boxes that are currently available for sale.  I use this account to follow other vendors who sell handmade items, Etsy, greeting card companies, etc.

cosmeticsforacause:  This is the social media footprint for Cosmetics for a Cause where we follow other non-profits in Palm Beach County and various cosmetic companies.

fashionmeetsfifty:  This is my fashion account where I share fashion tips and tricks, closet speed dating, great bargain finds, and product reviews.  This is where I do all of the work and where I have lots of things planned, and this is WHY YOU NEED TO START AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT!  I don’t want you to miss out on anything!

Step Three:

Enter the confirmation code when you’re prompted!

Step Four:

Please, please, please add a profile pic!  If you’re on your phone, allow IG to access your camera and select of pic from there, or, if you’re on your PC, upload a pic from your hard drive.

Step Five:

Follow people!  You can start by following my accounts listed above, or use the magnifying glass icon on the Instagram app or Instagram website to search for some of your favorite people to follow.

You should be all set!!!  If you have questions or if you get stuck, leave a comment below or email me at [email protected] and I’ll try to help.

And be sure to follow FashionMeetsFifty!!  I’ll be back soon with another post answering the topics I posted at the beginning of today’s post.  In the meantime, if you want to keep going and don’t want to wait for my tutorials, do a Google search or ask a five-year-old.  They’ll be able to help.  🙂