In this five-part series on Instagram, we reach the fifth installment. Here, you’ll read about Instagram image and video apps.
Instagram Apps for Your Images and Stories
Canva
Of course, I first have to start with Canva, my favorite image-creating app. It’s so easy to use, and fortunately, you can even use it to create your Instagram stories.
Also, you can use Canva to create images for your blog and to resize images for social media.
Canva offers ready-made templates, or you can create your own. I used Canva recently to create a two-page Instagram Story about my Pinterest ebook. Then I highlighted it so if you go to my profile, you’ll see it below my bio.
You can learn how to use Canva by watching some of their tutorials.
Canva is free to use; however, there is a paid version. If you have a one-person business, the free account is all you’ll need. But if you have a crew of employees helping you with your marketing, you’ll want the paid version.
Buffer, the social media scheduling app, has Pablo, an image creating app, and now Stories Creator.
Creating Stories with Buffer’s app is super easy so try it out.
You can start using PiktoChart for free, but the fees are $24.17 a month for it’s Pro plan.
If you want to hit your following with data-driven Instagram Stories, PiktoChart can help.
The app has 36 adjustable layouts, 32 vintage borders, and 92 effects to apply to photos. You’ll find it in the app store for iPhones and iPads.
Using my favorite model, my dog, I can show you how it works.
Go to iTunes and pay $1.99 for the Instagram app. Be sure to connect it to your camera roll.
Select a collage style. I chose the three-image style. Using Framatic, I took three pictures of my dog.
Next, I decided whether I wanted to create an Instagram Story or just add the collage to my feed. I chose only to add it to my feed.
Next, there were various options to add filters. I almost chose the black-and-white filter, but in the end, I decided not to add a filter and tapped Next.
I think that Framatic would be a great app to use for Instagram Stories. My only complaint is the watermark.
Layout
Instagram also has a collage creator. You can use images from your camera roll or ones that you take live. It also includes filters.
Just go to iTunes if you have an iPhone and look for Layout from Instagram.
Square Sized is another app you can find in the iTunes store. Basically, it allows users to import photos from personal albums on Facebook and optimize them for Instagram. You can also use this app to edit your images.
LiPix – Photo Collage Maker, Picture Editor
LiPix has 90 adjustable templates, 54 different borders, and 20 photo effects.
Instagram Video Apps
Instagram’s Boomerang feature has been around for quite some time. It works like a GIF except that a boomerang plays a video forward and backward really fast. You can have a lot of fun with it.
This is another app you can find in iTunes. This app provides borders, filters, voice-overs, and more.
The app is specially designed to make the content fit in with your feed and your Instagram Stories.
VSCO has free filters so you can keep a cohesive brand aesthetic. You can also make adjustments to contrast and brightness. Video editing will cost you $19.99/year.
According to the app’s makers, “Color Story is all about making images cracks with intensity and life.”
To edit your video, select Albums then choose your video clip. Then, select your filters, effects, and tools to change the overall look of your video content.
Frances Caballo is an online marketing consultant and the author of six books on social media. Click here to schedule an appointment with her. Writing a book can serve as the best possible business card you can have and establish your authority and expertise in your field. Once you publish your book, learn to market it by visiting my other website, SocialMediaJustforWriters.com.
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