Surprise! The biggest social networking site on the planet just bought the world’s trendiest photo-sharing mobile app. The unexpected $1 billion acquisition comes just days after the notoriously iOS-only service launched its Android app. As we continue to process and analyze this news and what it means for the future of both social networks, let’s take a fresh look back at some of ReadWriteWeb’s previous coverage of how to make the most of the Instagram experience.
How to Get More Followers on Instagram
Last week, many of us who were already active Instagram users saw a flood of new followers, thanks to the sudden influx of Android device owners. That was an easy way to boost one’s following without trying, but it’s not a scenario that’s likely to be replicated anytime soon (unless Windows Phone manages to become a major force in the marketplace).
So how can you ensure your vintage-filtered square images of cats, sunsets and your lunch don’t get lost in all the beautiful noise?
First and foremost, the best way to win at Instagram is self-evident: Upload well-composed or otherwise interesting photos. And don’t overdo it. Paying attention to what kinds of images get the strongest response will go a long way. So will strategic use of hash tags, comments and geolocation. It’s also worth remembering that Instagram is a social network. Actively seeking out new people to follow and genuinely commenting on their stuff will pay off.
Read: 6 Effective Ways to Get More Instagram Followers
How to View Instagram Photos on the Desktop Web
Instagram may be an Android app now, but it still doesn’t have an official website from which users can browse photos or use any of the service’s social features. That may well change now as the Instagram team joins Facebook.
In the meantime, there is a long list of third-party sites and apps that let you view Instagram photos outside the service’s official apps for iOS and Android. Some of them put renewed emphasis on location data by laying out photos on a map. Others go well beyond Instagram’s native functionality by offering detailed analytics for your photos.
Read: 6 Gorgeous Ways to View Instagram Photos Outside the iPhone App
Of course, if you’re not comfortable with the idea of Facebook owning your favorite photo-sharing app, you can always head over to Instaport and back up your Instagram photos before Mark Zuckerberg can get his grubby little hands on them. It’s worth noting, however, that Facebook also lets users export their photos and other data so there’s probably no reason to panic.
