Emily Blackwood, author at the Backlight blog

Shadowban on Instagram: How to know if you’re shadowbanned and what to do about it

Shadowbanning is one of the most elusive and frustrating things that can happen to your Instagram account — especially if you’re trying to grow your following. And despite thousands of…

When is the best time to post on Instagram, and is there a peak time? (Header image)

View Post

When is the best time to post on Instagram, and is there a peak time at all?

The ideal time to post on Instagram has long been debated by influencers and social media experts. In the past, studies collectively concluded the prime times and days for active…

View Post

The Close Friends list on Instagram: What it is and how to use it

When it comes to Instagram followers, most people subscribe to the idea that more is better. While growing your follower count can result in an increased number of likes and…

View Post

How to use IGTV as a photographer or video creator

Instagram may have started out as a platform for sharing heavily filtered still photographs, but since then, it’s transformed into so much more. With Stories, live broadcasts, and mini loops…

View Post

15 Instagram tips, tricks, and hacks only influencers know

Instagram can be a tricky beast to master, especially for those who are new to the platform. If expanding your reach and growing your follower count are among your goals,…

View Post

The full guide to Instagram Live for iPhone photographers

If you’re a photographer, you’re probably used to staying behind the camera. But if you want to build an authentic, transparent relationship with your social media followers, you’ll need to…

View Post

How to print Instagram photos on your iPhone and online

As much as we love posting content to our virtual worlds, there’s something a bit different about having a tangible picture you can hold in real life. If social media…

View Post

How to find and use cool Instagram fonts for your bio and posts

When it comes to social media platforms, Instagram leads the pack in terms of creativity. From pop culture GIFs to collage grids, the artistic possibilities are practically endless. So it…

How to make unique Instagram Highlight covers, aka Story icons: Header image

View Post

How to make Instagram Highlight covers in 3 easy steps

For those with personal Instagram accounts, Instagram Highlights are modern-day scrapbooks, providing a clean way to virtually categorize all of the precious moments shared in your Stories. Creators and influencers,…

View Post

10 authentic ways to get more likes on Instagram

If there’s one Instagram metric that reigns supreme, it’s likes. Not only can the number of likes determine the overall success of a post, but having more of them can…

View Post

How to remove Instagram followers, and what happens when you do

Nothing lasts forever — especially when it comes to Instagram followers. But, thankfully, you don’t have to wait for someone to unfollow you or delete their account to remove them.…

View Post

A guide to the ideal Instagram profile picture: Size and best practices

While it may be small, your Instagram profile picture is a prominent part of your personal brand. It’s the first visual introduction that new visitors to your page will see,…

View Post

How to create multiple Instagram accounts and switch between them

Sometimes, one Instagram account is not enough. Whether you’re starting a business, managing a feed for your job, or just want a place specifically reserved for showcasing your photography, it’s…

Why you need an Instagram business account and how to create one

View Post

Why you need an Instagram business account, and how to set it up

Like many social media platforms, Instagram started as a humble way to connect virtually. But as its popularity steadily increased over the years — becoming one of the most used…

View Post

10 Instagram theme ideas for your photography account

If you want to showcase your photography, Instagram is one of the top visual platforms to do so. While Stories, videos, and hilarious memes have recently taken up space on…

View Post

How to save an Instagram Story and download it to your iPhone

When Instagram first hit the App Store in 2010, it garnered a great deal of attention and soon became one of the world’s leading social media networks. But the best…

View Post

9 Instagram Story templates to show off your photos

While Stories can be credited for fueling the creation of fun polls, long-form videos, and face filter games, the vast possibilities for creativity make Stories one of the most popular…

View Post

The ultimate Instagram photo size guide: Stories, posts, and more

Gone are the days when Instagram users were limited to posting their photos only in the form of cropped squares. As the popular social media app has grown its platform,…

View Post

How to schedule Instagram posts on iPhone and on desktop

While Instagram may have started as a simple photo-sharing mobile app, it’s grown to become one of the most influential social media platforms in the world. Users have found incredible…

View Post

How to add music to an Instagram Story, with and without stickers

In 2018, Instagram introduced the option to share music on Stories, allowing users to add their favorite songs to their photos and videos. This move allowed Instagrammers to access thousands…

View Post

How to take the perfect selfie with your iPhone

Gracing your Instagram followers with a photo of your face is a far more daunting task than it should be. Even if you’re satisfied with your appearance in the mirror,…

View Post

How do you save Instagram photos to an iPhone, and is it ok to do so?

Instagram is, without a doubt, the most popular visual platform of the modern era. With hundreds of thousands of beautiful, aesthetically pleasing photos available with just a swipe of your…

View Post

How iPhone camera timer can help you take better photos

For far too long, high-quality photos were only available to the professionals — and the people with enough money to pay for them. But the rise of Instagram has resulted…

View Post

How to post a video on Instagram: Tricks you didn’t know

There is no content format quite as entertaining as video. For years, Instagram advertised itself strictly as a photo-sharing platform. In fact, it wasn’t until the (formerly) popular six-second video-sharing…

6 Instagram photo editors favored by Influencers: Header image

View Post

6 Instagram photo editor apps favored by influencers

Social media influencers didn’t even exist a few years ago. But witty captions and perfectly timed photos have created a new kind of celebrity. One who has thousands of followers,…

View Post

7 free Instagram post templates to freshen up your feed

From artfully curated GIF stickers on Stories to the ability to create an enviable puzzle grid, there are literally thousands of ways you can flex your creative muscles for your…

View Post

How to use iPhone Portrait mode for near-professional portraits

As Apple’s popular device has grown increasingly technologically advanced, iPhone photography has skyrocketed. With features like HDR, Live Photos, and Night mode, iPhone’s sophisticated camera has given millions of amateurs…

View Post

The 10 best selfie apps to take that perfect selfie

Amid the ever-growing popularity of social media, there is one trend that surpasses them all: the selfie. The self-portrait has transformed not only into an Instagram feed staple but has…

View Post

What’s the best Instagram video size, format, and resolution?

When Instagram first graced our iPhone Home screens, it was primarily a photo-sharing app. But as the quality of our picture-taking (and editing) skills increased, so did the app’s capability…

View Post

7 photo background apps for iPhone to change the background of your shot

There are times when you take a photo, and almost everything is perfect. There’s no blurry movement, no closed eyes, and no bad lighting. It’s almost Instagram-worthy — except for…

View Post

The full guide to iPhone Camera filters (including the hidden ones)

Prior to the launch of Instagram, photo editing was reserved for the pros. The most any amateur photographer could do was make a picture black and white or color it…

View Post

How to add a link to your Instagram Story, post, or IGTV video

The number of things you can do on Instagram has grown exponentially since the app was launched in 2010. You can add a GIF of Taylor Swift winking to your…

View Post

How to use Instagram Highlights to showcase your best Stories

Stories are one of the most popular features on Instagram — and for a good reason. Not only are they quick and easy to put together, but they’re a great…

View Post

How to delete an Instagram post: The tricks you didn’t know

Ah, the glory days of early 2010s Instagram. Back when using the Valencia filter on every photo was hip, and getting 25 likes was more than enough. Nothing was curated…

How to delete your Instagram account: Header image

View Post

How to delete your Instagram account forever or just for now

When it comes to social media, Instagram is the ultimate virtual connector. With stunning visuals and increasingly useful features, Instagram is easily one of the top social media platforms in…

View Post

How to block someone on Instagram and unblock them later

Instagram aims to promote more virtual connection and social interaction — but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will always get along. Now and then, we all come across users whom…

View Post

The 10 best Instagram apps for creating and posting on the go

With nearly a billion people actively posting, sharing, and tagging each other, Instagram has risen to the top of the social media game. If you’ve been a user since the…

View Post

How to edit, hide, turn off, and delete comments on Instagram

Users in the early days of social media commented without the ability to edit. If an unsavory character left an awkward comment, it would remain there indefinitely. It wasn’t until…

View Post

How to come up with the best bio for your Instagram

If Instagram is the gateway to online social connection, then your bio is your first impression. It’s what potential followers initially see when they stumble across your profile. And while…

View Post

Is Instagram down again or just not working? Here’s how to tell

In today’s world, there is quite possibly nothing more frustrating than technology not working the way it should. Whether it’s a slow internet connection or a Netflix loading symbol that…

View Post

How to change your Instagram name, and is it a bad practice?

There’s a lot of room to be creative on Instagram. You can post aesthetically pleasing photos of your morning coffee, show off your music skills in your Stories, and display…

View Post

How to repost on Instagram and why you should

Instagram was built for social connection. While commenting and liking another account’s post is a great way to show some love, the best way to increase your engagement with other…