Chapter 6: Publishing Photos and Videos (Posts, Reels, and Albums)

Lesson 3: Understanding Post Types and Media Selection

To begin publishing content, simply tap the plus icon (+) located at the top or bottom navigation bar. Instagram offers multiple content formats, and understanding their differences ensures you always choose the best medium for your message.

Single Photo Posts, Carousel Albums, and Reels Videos

A Single Photo Post displays one static image. However, if you want to share a series of images or videos, choose a Carousel Album, allowing users to swipe left to view up to 20 media items. Short vertical videos are automatically categorized as Reels, which receive maximum reach on the Explore page.

Selecting Media from Gallery and Cropping Aspect Ratios

Tapping the plus button opens your phone gallery. To choose multiple items for an album, tap the Select Multiple icon. To adjust the frame aspect ratio, tap the Crop icon (two angles) in the bottom-left corner of the preview area to switch between square (1:1) and vertical (4:5) display modes.

Lesson 7: Tagging Options and Publishing Features

After selecting your media and tapping Next, you will reach the final share settings screen. This section provides options to enrich your post for both viewers and Instagram algorithms.

Writing Captions and Adding Emojis

At the top of this menu, locate the Write a caption text field. Provide a detailed description of your post here. Use relevant Emojis to enhance visual appeal and break up long text blocks, encouraging users to spend more time reading your post.

Tagging People and Inviting Collaborators

To mention accounts featured in your post, tap Tag People. If you created joint content with another account, use the Invite Collaborator feature inside this menu. Once accepted, the post will simultaneously appear on both profiles.

Adding Locations and Background Music

Specify your location or business address by tapping Add Location and choosing from the list. To make static photo posts more engaging, tap Add Music to embed a background audio track from the Instagram music library.

Selecting Relevant Topics for Enhanced Reach

Locate the Add Topics option further down the page. Select up to 3 relevant categories matching your content focus. This helps Instagram accurately serve your content to users interested in those specific niches.

Lesson 8: Drafts and Pre-Publishing Settings

Before tapping share, Instagram offers pre-publishing tools to streamline your workflow and control post engagement settings effectively.

Saving Posts to Drafts and Retrieving Them Later

If your post is prepared but not ready to go live, tap the back arrow in the top corner. When prompted, tap Save Draft. To access your saved work later, open the creation screen via the plus (+) button; a dedicated Drafts tab will appear above your gallery.

Disabling Comments and Hiding Like Counts

Scroll to the bottom of the sharing screen and tap Advanced Settings. Enable Turn off commenting if you wish to close the comment section for that specific post. You can also toggle on Hide like and view counts to keep your engagement metrics private from viewers.

Scheduling Posts for Automatic Publishing

Inside the Advanced Settings menu, locate Schedule this post. Toggling this feature allows you to select a future date and time for Instagram to automatically publish your content without manual intervention.