How to Post on Instagram Step by Step

Ready to share your first, or your fiftieth, post on Instagram but want to make sure you're doing it right? You’ve come to the right place. This guide provides a complete, step-by-step walkthrough for posting photos, Carousels, Reels, and Stories, complete with actionable tips to help your content actually get noticed.

Understanding Instagram's Main Post Types

Before jumping into the step-by-step instructions, it's helpful to know the different ways you can share content on Instagram. Each format serves a unique purpose and connects with your audience in a different way.

• Feed Posts (Photos & Videos): This is the classic Instagram post that appears on your main grid. You can share a single photo, a multi-image gallery called a Carousel (up to 10 photos/videos), or a single video clip. These posts are permanent and form the visual identity of your profile.
• Instagram Reels: Short-form, vertical videos set to music or original audio. Reels are designed for entertainment and discoverability, often reaching people who don't follow you yet through the Reels tab and Explore page. They are the single most powerful format for organic growth on the platform right now.
• Instagram Stories: These are temporary photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours (unless saved to a Highlight). Stories are meant for more casual, behind-the-scenes content and are perfect for engaging your current followers with interactive features like polls, quizzes, and Q&A stickers.

How to Post a Photo or Carousel to Your Instagram Feed

Feed posts are the foundation of your Instagram profile. They tell your brand’s story, showcase your products, or share beautifully crafted moments. A Carousel is simply a feed post with multiple images or videos that users can swipe through. Here’s how to create one, step by step.

Step 1: Open the App and Tap the Plus (+) Icon

To start a new post, open the Instagram app on your phone. Look for the plus sign [+] icon. It's typically located in the center of the bottom navigation bar. Tapping this opens up your phone's photo library, ready for you to select your content.

Step 2: Select Your Photo(s) or Video

Your phone’s gallery will appear. Scroll through and tap the photo or video you want to post.

To create a Carousel post with multiple images/videos, look for the "Select Multiple" icon, which looks like a square layered on top of another. After tapping it, you can select up to 10 photos and videos in the order you'd like them to appear. The numbers on the thumbnails show their sequence. Once you've made your selections, tap "Next" in the top right corner.

Step 3: Edit and Filter Your Content (Optional)

Instagram offers a suite of built-in editing tools. You can apply pre-set filters to give your photos a consistent look or tap "Edit" for more granular control over lighting, color, and sharpness. You can adjust settings like:

• Brightness: To make your image lighter or darker.
• Contrast: To make the light and dark areas more distinct.
• Saturation: To boost the intensity of the colors.
• Structure: To bring out more texture and detail.

For carousels, you can apply filters and edits to each photo individually by tapping on its thumbnail. When you're happy with how your visuals look, tap "Next."

Step 4: Write a Compelling Caption

This is where you give your post context and connect with your audience. A great caption can spark conversation, tell a story, or drive an action. Don't just describe the photo, add value.

Tips for a great caption:

• Start with a strong hook: The first line is the most important. Ask a question, state a bold opinion, or share a surprising fact to get people to stop scrolling.
• Use spacing and emojis: Break up long blocks of text with line breaks and use emojis to add personality. This makes your caption easier to read.
• Include a call to action (CTA): What do you want your audience to do? Ask them to "comment below," "tag a friend who needs to see this," or "click the link in bio."

Step 5: Add Relevant Hashtags

Hashtags act like keywords, making your content discoverable to users searching for specific topics. You can add up to 30, but quality beats quantity. For the best results, use a mix of:

• Broad hashtags: High-volume tags like #SocialMediaMarketing (can be hard to stand out).
• Niche hashtags: More specific tags like #ContentCreationTipsForRealtors (reaches a highly relevant audience).
• Community hashtags: Tags related to your industry or interest group, like #CraftersOfInstagram.
• Branded hashtags: A unique tag for your business, such as #YourBrandName.

You can place your hashtags directly at the end of your caption or add them in the first comment immediately after posting.

Step 6: Tag People and Add a Location

Does your post feature other people, brands, or collaborators? Tag their Instagram accounts by tapping "Tag People." This sends them a notification and can encourage them to share your post.

Adding a location by tapping "Add Location" is also a smart move. It allows your post to show up in location-based searches, increasing your visibility to people in that specific area.

Step 7: Check Advanced Settings

Before you hit share, tap on "Advanced Settings" at the bottom of the screen. Here you can:

• Write Alt Text: Describe your photo for visually impaired users. This is important for accessibility and can help with SEO.
• Turn Off Commenting: If you don't want people commenting on a specific post.

Step 8: Share Your Post

Once you’ve written your caption, added tags, and configured your settings, it’s time to go live. Tap the "Share" button in the top right corner. Your post will now appear on your profile grid and in your followers' feeds.

How to Post an Instagram Reel

Reels are fundamental to growing an Instagram account today. They are bite-sized, engaging videos that have the potential to go viral. The creation process is a bit different from a standard feed post.

Step 1: Access the Reels Creator

Tap the same plus [+] icon on the bottom navigation bar, but this time, slide the bottom menu over to select "REEL." Alternatively, you can swipe left from your home feed to open the camera and select "REEL" there.

Step 2: Choose Your Audio

Music and trending audio are the heartbeat of Reels. Tap the music note icon on the left side of the screen to browse trending songs, saved audio, or import audio from a video on your phone. Using a popular audio clip can significantly boost your Reel's visibility.

Step 3: Record or Upload Your Video Clips

You can either press and hold the record button to capture video directly in the app or tap the icon in the bottom left corner to upload pre-recorded videos from your camera roll. You can add one or multiple clips to build out your Reel. You can also adjust the speed of your video, set a timer for hands-free recording, and use other built-in tools.

Step 4: Preview and Add Final Touches

Once you have your clips assembled, tap "Next." Here, you can add text overlays that appear and disappear at specific times, use stickers (like polls and quizzes), add closed captions, and apply effects or filters. This is where you can infuse your Reel with personality and make it more dynamic.

Step 5: Write Your Caption and Choose a Cover Photo

Tap "Next" again to move to the final screen. Write a caption and add hashtags just like you would for a feed post. Then, tap "Edit cover" on the video's thumbnail to select a frame from your video or upload a custom image from your gallery. A compelling cover photo can entice users to click on your Reel from your profile grid or the Explore page.

Make sure the "Also share to feed" option is toggled on to maximize its reach. This will publish the Reel to your main profile grid as well as the Reels tab.

Step 6: Share Your Reel

Everything look good? Tap "Share," and your Reel will be published.

How to Post an Instagram Story

Stories are for more spontaneous and interactive content. Since they disappear after 24 hours, they don't have to be as polished as a feed post, which makes them perfect for daily updates, asking questions, and sharing behind-the-scenes moments.

Step 1: Open the Story Camera

From your home feed, either tap the plus [+] icon in the top right of your screen and select "Story" or simply swipe right from anywhere in the feed. This will open the Story camera.

Step 2: Create or Upload Your Content

You can take a photo or record a video right there by tapping or holding the shutter button. Or, to use content from your phone, swipe up or tap the gallery icon in the bottom left corner to access your camera roll.

Step 3: Get Creative with Stickers, Text, and GIFs

Now for the fun part. Tap the sticker icon (a smiley square) at the top of the screen to access a library of interactive elements. Some of the most popular include:

• Polls: Ask your audience to vote on two options.
• Quiz: Create a multiple-choice question to test their knowledge.
• Q&,A: Invite your followers to ask you questions.
• Link Sticker: Share a clickable link to an external website.

You can also add text in various fonts and colors, draw with different brushes, and search for animated GIFs to add motion to your Story.

Step 4: Share Your Story

When your creation is ready, tap the "Your Story" button in the bottom left to share it with all your followers. You can also choose to share it only with a select group of people by adding them to your "Close Friends" list and sharing to that instead.

Final Thoughts

Posting on Instagram is straightforward once you understand the different content formats and their unique features. Whether you're sharing a polished photo on your feed, an entertaining Reel, or a casual moment in your Story, these steps will ensure you’re using the platform to its full potential.

Once you’ve mastered the art of creating content, the next challenge is managing it all consistently without getting overwhelmed. That's exactly why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar lets you plan and schedule your Feed posts, Reels, and Stories in one place, so you can see your entire strategy at a glance. We focused on making it a reliable, modern tool that handles today's content formats - especially short-form video - making it easier for you to stay consistent and grow your brand.