Instagram | Social Media

What is Instagram?

Instagram is a free-to-use social media app founded in 2010 and purchased by Facebook in 2012. Primarily a photo- and video-sharing app, this social media platform is mostly used on mobile phones and tablets, but it can be accessed via a computer as well. Instagram is similar to Twitter and Facebook in that it creates a news feed composed of posts from the individuals, groups, and organizations that you follow. In 2018, Instagram had one billion monthly active users and is one of the most popular social media apps.

Like other social media platforms, Instagram allows users to share information with followers and post content. Users can follow businesses, organizations, and individuals. Some accounts can be in private mode, which means the account’s manager must approve of each request to follow. As with Twitter and Facebook, Instagram creates a timeline, also called a feed, to display and promote the videos and pictures shared by the accounts you follow.

The posts on Instagram emphasize the photos and videos being shared rather than the captions and written content. Creating an account on Instagram allows your nonprofit to begin growing a social media presence, which can lead to an increase in the number of supporters and donors. Many nonprofits are already on Instagram to raise awareness for their cause, and yours can join them.

How Do Nonprofits Use Instagram?

As with other social media platforms, Instagram allows you to raise your social media presence through the following ways:

Sharing your nonprofit’s history
Showcasing how you’re benefiting the community
Inviting followers and supporters to the events your nonprofit is hosting
Posting striking visuals to capture the attention of other Instagram users
Interacting with supporters and nonprofits with similar goals and missions
Posting regularly with consistent hashtags

Ultimately any use of social media will allow you to raise awareness of your nonprofit and its goals, which will benefit your nonprofit.

Good Examples of How Nonprofits Use Instagram

Include Appealing Visuals to Enhance Your Posts

National Geographic runs its Instagram page with an emphasis on sharing visually appealing pictures and videos accompanied by a caption that elaborates on the image and explains the importance of it. Instagram thrives on appealing visuals, so when you want to share some information on this particular platform that your nonprofit believes is important, it is best to include an image or video that easy captures the audience’s attention and brings the information to life.

Demonstrate to Your Audience Who They Are Helping

St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that helps children with cancer, shares an image of a child in need and gives a brief bio. This allows the audience to see who their donations are helping and inspires them to continue donating.

Share Engaging Stories along with Your Images

The Museum of Modern Art includes an interesting story with each image posted in order to engage with the audience and spark interest in what the image shows. A good story in the caption also allows you to explain the importance of the image and why you’re posting it.

Add Text to Your Graphics to Make Them Shareable

The Humane Society places text into some of the images it shares in order to make the images easy to skim and see the main message that the organization is trying to emphasize. Text on the images gets the point across easily and draws the audience’s attention fast than if they were trying to read the caption.

What Kind of Audience Does Instagram Usually Reach?

According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, the largest demographic who uses Instagram are between the ages of 18 and 24. Almost 90 percent of Instagram users are younger than 35. Instagram users skew younger, so if your nonprofit hopes primarily to reach a younger target audience, this might be the right social media platform for your organization. For more information about the demographics found on Instagram, visit the Pew Research Center webpage to determine if Instagram is the right fit for your audience.

How Do You Set Up an Account?

Below are the steps to set up an account on Facebook, or if it’s easier for you, you can download a PDF version HERE.

Create an Instagram Account

Introduction

Instagram accounts are for individuals and organizations to share images and videos as well as updates with followers. An Instagram account can be private, which means that individuals and organizations must seek and receive approval to follow your account, and public, which means anyone with internet access can view your account and posts. A public account broadens your potential audience.

Instagram accounts are efficient ways to connect and reach out to potential new supporters. Focused mostly on images and videos, Instagram allows you to showcase the work you’re doing in your community in a visually appealing and stimulating way.

Creating a Instagram account requires a few simple, easy-to-follow steps and gives your nonprofit a voice and presence to reach more followers and supporters as well as to connect with more members of your community.

Create an Instagram Account from Your Computer.

Step One

Navigate to the following webpage: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/emailsignup/?hl=en. You will see the page pictured below:

Step Two

Select Sign up in the bottom box.

Step Three

If your organization already has a Facebook Account, you can select Log in with Facebook to connect the two accounts. To follow those steps, skip to Log in with Facebook section. To continue creating an account, fill in the following information:

Mobile Number or Email
Full Name (of your organization)
Username
Password

Then select Sign up.

Step Four

Instagram will send a verification code to the email or number that you used to sign up. Enter the verification code into the box and select Confirm.

Step Five

The next pop-up box will allow you to choose whether you want to allow notifications or not. (Note that since one of the more important facets of social media is to build a relationship with your supporters, you should probably allow notifications so that you can interact with anyone who might try to reach out to you.)

Step Six

Instagram will offer you suggestions of accounts to follow, or you can search for accounts with the search bar.

Step Seven

To access your account, select the human-shaped icon in the top right corner of the screen. Note that you cannot

Step Eight

Select Edit Profile to create a bio for your organization.

Step Nine

Write a short bio for your organization. This bio will be visible to anyone who visits your account. Add a link to your website in the appropriate tab.

Step Ten

Select Change Profile Picture. This will allow you to search your device for a profile picture for your nonprofit. Keep in mind that your profile picture should make it easy for followers and supporters to identify your nonprofit with ease. This profile picture will be attached to each post you share, so choose one that will allow your followers to recognize your brand.

Step Eleven

You cannot post to Instagram from your computer, so you will need to download the Instagram app onto your mobile device.

Step Twelve

To download the app, select the App Store (if you have an iPhone or iPad) or the Google Play Store (if you have an Android device).

Step Thirteen

Search for Instagram and select download. Log into your account from your mobile device.

Create an Account by Logging in with Facebook

Step One

Select Log in with Facebook.

Step Two

In the new window, enter your Facebook account credentials and select Log In.

Step Three

To access your account, select the human-shaped icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Step Four

Select Edit Profile to create a bio for your organization.

Step Five

Write a short bio for your organization. This bio will be visible to anyone who visits your account. Add a link to your website in the appropriate tab.