As I learned to use Instagram, one of the first tactics I learned was to add my hashtags as my first comment on the post.

But I wasted time looking for a tool to do this. You don’t need a tool to do this.

We add hashtags as the first comment because:

• then they don’t clutter up the description,
• as your post receives more comments, the hashtags are eventually hidden away behind the “see more comments” link.

Tools, Tools, Tools

Because I am tech-savvy, I have a tendency to look for supporting tools. And I went off to look for a tool to help me do this.

Instagram is one of the harder platforms to automate because they especially forbid a lot of automation through their API.

Therefore when we automate post creation, all the tools have a manual step on a mobile device where you have to finish the upload process.

• the image is added and ready for you to apply filters
• the description is added to your clipboard ready to paste

Automating the creation of a first comment is not supported. Most likely because the API only allows you to create comments as ‘replies’.

Obviously then. I set out to look for a tool to help me create that first comment.

First Comment Tool

Long story short, I didn’t find one.

I was tempted to write one… but didn’t.

First Comment Tool Not Needed

I only realised what I should do after adopting the following tactics:

• typing in hashtags through the mobile device (painful)
• using a bluetooth keyboard to type in hashtags to the mobile device (time consuming)
• copy and pasting from evernote (hassle)

Belatedly, I realised that I already had everything I needed during the workflow I was using.

What to do

I tend to work from my desktop or laptop, therefore I schedule the posting of Instagram through PromoRepublic

• I create an image either in PromoRepublic or Stencil
• I write the post description in Evernote, and copy that into PromoRepublic - I always write my online posts offline to reduce the risk of browser or connection failure
• I use my HashTag Tracking and Research Spreadsheet to select the Hashtags that I’m targetting
• I add these HashTags to Evernote
• I copy and paste from Evernote, into PromoRepublic when scheduling the post - this includes both the description and the hashtags
• When PromoRepublic prompts me on my mobile device to complete the post upload to instagram, during the process where I paste in the description
  • Prior to hitting “Next” to upload the post, I select and then ‘cut’ the HashTags so they are not part of the post
• When the post has been uploaded, I add my first comment, which is the set of HashTags from the device clipboard that I cut out of the description

No Additional Tools Needed

I don’t need any additional tools.

I never did.

Too often I jump to tooling to solve a perceived problem, when the fact is I just needed more practice on the platform.

This is why we have to remain practioners and constantly explore the platforms that we work with. Even for simple activities like cut/copy/paste.