Instagram Tips and Tricks

Are you getting whiplash from Instagram's changes? You're not alone--me too. The bad part about things, I knew nothing about it until I started seeing posts from people I wasn't following. I guess IG was thinking I needed to see these posts--you know, based on the algorithm, which I'm still trying to figure out lol. I see more "suggested" posts than posts from people I actually follow and want to see. It's frustrating, but what can we do, right?

So, I thought I'd begin the new year by sharing a few things I learned by reading some of the posts that IG thinks I should be reading.

First of all, I did notice that they changed their sizes. I just thought it was how they formatted my page on my phone and PC. I didn't realize the actual sizes of the posts had changed. Yep, they changed. They went from the square, which I did like, to an oblong shape with the 1080X1350 PX size. Of course, according to some posts, the actual size is really 1080X1440, which Canva only makes if you insert the custom size in. And then when you upload it to Meta, they automatically change it to whatever size (I have no idea what that size is). When you use the 1350 height, it doesn't adjust the size, so I've been using it.

This image is set to the new size.

It has been growing on me, but I'm still confused because the posts don't really connect properly if you want to use a grid to create one larger image. It took me a while to figure that part out.

If you do want to connect the images in a grid, you have to create a smaller "safe" zone within the 1080X1440 PX size.

See this image? That's the original 3-post carousel that I made, which is pinned on my wall. In order for these three images to connect on the wall as if they were one image, I had to create a safe zone within the area. A "cushion" had to be created between images so when they were cut into three seperate images, they would connect perfectly. Each side needed 130PX, between them, that size is doubled (260PX). The top and bottom was set to 165PX. See the image below. The "6" would be 3. The "54" for the gap would 260. The margin would be 130. The second row where all those "0"s are, you would add in 165 for the margin.

This image, the one above here, shows the lines for the 3 individual posts.

As you can see, once the posts are separated into the 3 posts, this is what you get. This would be the 1st of 3 images in the carousel. I created the guidelines by going to the "settings". I created a custom size of 3240X1350 (1350 is height) by (3240 is width). You change this by multiplying the width by how many posts you want to create or how many carousel images you want to use. When you create the carousels, you don't need to create safe areas, just work with the full image and then cut them apart using the "apps".

"Image Splitter" is the app you want to use. First, save the longer image. Then open a new file, using the size of the post you want to create and open the splitter app and choose how many you want to create. In this post, I would choose 3. Then add each piece to the work area and save each one. If it's the carousel, you'd save them in order. If you are making different posts, remember to reverse the order so they appear in the proper order on the wall.

I learned another trick on Canva. I can create "folders" and get everything organized for easy access. If you use images a lot, they can be grouped together. If you create a new post and like the images you used, you can save them under a new folder or "star" the image for later. That's kind of a folder too. I have a free account and have a lot of folders. If you star the folders, they will be at the top for easy access.

I learned a lot by reading these new posts and even subscribed to their newsletters so I can continue to learn so my posts from here on in can look better. This new "package" is important. My theme is organized chaos and this method that I'm using now feeds on that theme. I like making grids as wells as the carousels, giving a fresh vibe in my feed. We're always learning, and I hope it shows what I've learned.

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