After Facebook, Instagram is the most used social media platform on desktop and mobile.
But which medium do you choose for posting your brand’s or clients’ content on Instagram?
Aren’t you tired of posting content on Instagram from your mobile device?
Don’t you find editing and posting content on a small screen frustrating?
Although Instagram’s mobile app is the primary means of posting content for most users, for marketers, the accessibility to post from a PC or Mac could simplify and improve Instagram management.
So, are you aware of the posting process on Instagram from a PC or Mac?
Don’t worry. We’ll help you go through the simple techniques for easily posting on Instagram from your PC.
But that’s not all.
We’ll also cover some benefits of posting on Instagram from your PC and provide detailed insights on alternative ways.
Let’s get started with the basics.
Can You Post to Instagram from a PC?
Instagram has improved a lot since its launch in 2010.
Evolved from its initial design as a social media platform exclusive to square image posts, it has expanded its functionality.
The Instragram app now supports posting multiple images at once, facilitates private conversations, and offers an extensive suite of editing features. These tools can transform an ordinary smartphone photo into a piece that emulates professional quality.
But in 2021, it introduced a new capability to post to the app from a PC or Mac.
The feature is a boon for marketers.
7 Easy Steps to Post on Instagram from a PC
Whether you are using a Mac or PC, you can post on Instagram from your desktop. Instagram’s web version allows you to upload a post on Instagram just like you would on your mobile phone.
You can post Instagram Reels as videos, but you must set the right aspect ratio while editing to get the right fit.
Here’s How to Post on Instagram from a PC using Chrome and Safari browsers:
1. Open your browser
First, you’ll want to open a browser to access the Instagram website. You can choose the desired web browser, like Safari, Google Chrome, or Brave, based on your preference.
We have chosen Google Chrome.
2. Open Instagram’s website
Now, you must navigate Instagram.com and log in using your Facebook credentials, phone number, username, or email address.
If you have saved your login credentials before, you can click on “Continue as [username]” to log in automatically.
3. Click the “+” button
You can scroll to the ‘Create’ option on the left side of your screen in Instagram’s web version. Click the “+” sign.
4. Click “Select from computer”
A popup will appear. Click “Select from computer” and browse your image or video on your PC to upload it.
5. Edit your image
Instagram provides various editing options, such as changing the aspect ratio, zooming in, or adding more media to the same post.
To access these editing features, click on the image you uploaded and then select the “Edit” option at the bottom left.
You’ll also find the add more media button in the lower right-hand corner.
That’s not it.
You can also choose a filter, and adjust brightness, saturation, contrast, and other options.
Once done, click “Next” in the top right of your screen.
6. Add a caption, alt text, location, and tags
On the next screen, you can add a caption, location, or tag people.
7. Share
Congratulations! You have successfully posted on Instagram using a PC. When done, click “Share” in the top right of your screen.
It’s that simple, isn’t it?
But you can post Instagram videos and photos from a PC. You can also share Instagram Reels from a PC.
But, there are no scheduling options available.
So, to be a successful marketer, go beyond just publishing content from your PC.
Combine your posting effort with robust analytics and reporting to know how your Instagram posts perform and how audiences react, among other key metrics.
That’s where exploring alternative ways to post on Instagram can help you.
SocialPilot: The Best Alternative Way to Post to Instagram from a Computer
Managing multiple Instagram accounts efficiently and productively is very challenging. Especially when relying solely on Instagram’s native desktop experience, it’s a struggle that marketing agencies often face.
This is where SocialPilot comes in.
It offers enhanced capabilities beyond what the web version of Instagram provides, such as:
- The ability to schedule direct publishing of Post, Reels, and stories (no reminders needed)
- Analyze engagement metrics
- Manage multiple accounts
- Instagram inbox
These features can improve the overall efficiency of managing an Instagram account, especially for businesses or individuals who post frequently.
Let’s see how to schedule posts from your PC in SocialPilot:
Step 1: Log Into Your SocialPilot Account.
To begin, access SocialPilot and initiate a connection with your Instagram Business account by selecting the “Connect Account” option.
Step 2: Create a Post
Now open the Composer by selecting the ‘Create Post’ button at the dashboard’s top right corner.
Click on the Instagram icon to post from your Instagram account. You can publish reels, posts, and stories from here and access a separate tab for each type to help you further enhance your post.
Step 3: Add and Edit Your Post
There are multiple ways to add media in SocialPIlot composer.
You can upload images from your local storage, cloud storage, SocialPilot’s content library, or its Unsplash integration. SocialPilot helps you add one Reel or 10 images for one post at a time.
Once your media file is uploaded, you can access the inbuilt editor to edit your posts and add watermarks.
It also gives you solutions to edit your images, so you don’t have to use a separate tool. You can crop, resize, finetune, filter, annotate, and add stickers based on your preferences.
Step 4: Add a Caption and Start Tagging
You can script a caption for your post in the ‘Type post description here’ box. The character limit is 2200 characters; you can add emojis and geolocation tags too.
The tool also allows you to tag profiles on images while scheduling your post on Instagram via Direct Publishing.
Step 5: Advanced Customization
You can further customize your post for Instagram using the create and edit features under the Instagram tab.
SocialPilot provides additional features such as Custom Fields and UTM parameters. Custom fields allow you to add specific account-related information in advance and utilize it while posting. UTM parameters enable tracking and analyzing your posts’ added links to evaluate their performance.
Step 6: Schedule Your Post
SocialPilot provides you with five options to schedule your post. You can choose based on your preference. Once done, preview your post before publishing it from the Post Preview option.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Additionally, SocialPilot enables bulk scheduling to publish simultaneously. You can gain access to analytics and reports on your published posts to monitor their engagement.
By planning and setting a weekly or monthly posting schedule with SocialPilot, professionals, teams, and businesses can automate their social media management, enhancing their content’s impact.
Try it yourself for free!
Why Post on Instagram From Your Computer?
If you are running a professional Instagram business account, you can’t ignore the option of posting to Instagram on a desktop. Because it can:
1. Streamline your content publishing
Once you start using a desktop, you can save time and energy while managing your marketing efforts.
For example, you can directly post an image or video from your company desktop or laptop without downloading it to your mobile phone and then uploading it to Instagram.
In addition, using a desktop can give you access to more advanced editing tools, like Photoshop, to create more polished and professional-looking content that stands out on Instagram.
2. Optimize content quality
Using a program like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Grammarly on your PC, you can cross-check for spelling or grammar errors and ensure that your captions and hashtags are on point before copying and pasting them into your post.
That’s not it.
Leveraging the benefit of a larger screen, you can more readily identify potential issues within your creative content. The aspect ratio or resolution inconsistencies become more noticeable, which you can fix efficiently to enhance the visual appeal and professionalism of the final output.
3. More control
Posting from your computer provides the advantage of having greater control over the timing of your posts. You can use Creator Studio or third-party scheduling tools like SocialPilot to schedule your posts beforehand.
This enables your posts to go live when your audience is most active online. By doing so, you can optimize your post’s engagement and reach.
4. Minimize the chances of errors
Like other marketers or businesses, you might use your phone to manage multiple Instagram business accounts.
But if you take a step wrong, you might post on the wrong profile.
This misstep can lead to adverse impacts like brand mockery.
You don’t want that, right?
So, you must use a laptop or desktop to post on Instagram, which can maximize your visibility on your efforts and help you bypass mishaps.
Best Practices for Posting on Instagram from a PC
While posting content on Instagram from your PC, there are multiple things you must consider to bypass complications or hurdles.
1. Use high-quality images and videos
While posting from your PC, you might not get the right aspect ratio or resolution for your content. This can lead to distorted outcomes, such as stretched or cropped images and videos, negatively impacting the overall aesthetic of your posts.
Thoroughly check and ensure that your images and videos are properly sized for Instagram. It can improve the visual appeal of your posts and increase the likelihood of engagement.
2. Optimize your captions and hashtags
Sometimes, while posting from your desktop or laptop, you might skip adding captions and hashtags.
Incorporating industry-specific hashtags can increase the discoverability and effectiveness of your posts.
Also, ensure that your captions are to the point and creative. Don’t overdo it, and stuff your caption with random keywords.
Adherence to several dos and don’ts when creating hashtags and captions is important. Using highly specific hashtags helps your posts reach the audience and more users simultaneously.
For instance, if your post focuses on a specific business strategy, generic hashtags like #business or #entrepreneur may not provide the desired results.
3. Post at the right time
While the content you post on Instagram is important, the timing of your posts is even more crucial. And everything remains the same for publishing content from the PC.
Instagram’s algorithm undergoes regular changes, and to stay up-to-date, you must experiment and discover the best time to post.
This approach can also assist you in determining when your target audience is most active on the platform and willing to engage. By posting at various times and evaluating the results, you can determine what works and what doesn’t, which will benefit you in the long run.
4. Engage with your followers
Social media is a two-way communication channel; merely posting content is insufficient. You must keep your audience engaged.
Hosting regular contests and creating high-engagement posts from your PC, such as “photography competitions,” “like, comment, and tag three friends to win the giveaway,” and “DM us to get a discount,” are a few ways to entertain your followers and make your account worth following.
Summing Up
Get an extra edge and streamline the process by posting content on Instagram from PC as a smart marketer.
You can achieve your desired results with finesse using the detailed steps mentioned.
But if you want an all-in-one Instagram marketing management tool for your social media posting endeavors, try out SocialPilot.
You can schedule and organize their Instagram content and social media accounts using SocialPilot.
Try it yourself!
Kickstart the free trial or schedule a demo call.
