Instagram 101: The Best Ways to Keep Your Instagram Stories Looking Clean & Clutter-Free

The Best Ways to Keep Your Instagram Stories Looking Clean & Clutter-Free

If you've ever seen me glued to my iPhone, huddled on the corner of the 23rd St subway station fidgeting with my stupid hot pink nails trying to Instagram Story, then now you are about to find out exactly what I've been doing.

I've been hiding those tags, stickers, and locations to the point where you can't even see them. Why? They can look pretty ugly. I recommend not cluttering up your face, your boomerang, or anything else. Sometimes, it's best to keep it simple.

Okay, yeah, but how do I keep it simple and increase engagement at the same time? I'm going to show you how to do just that.

As a very active Instagrammer, I don't want to Story every gym post or Gadget Hacks video with a multiple Aa text icon hashtags, #GETFITGETLIT tags or NEW YORK, NEW YORK location stickers. That's annoying.

You should always use tags as often as you can in your IG Stories to increase engagement, but you don't have to always show them.

So how do we get around this?

Open up Instagram and go to post a Story like you'd normally do. Once you've picked out your content. Tap on the Aa text icon to start typing out your hashtags. You can also tap on the stickers icon at the top of your screen and choose whichever stickers that you prefer. That's the one that looks like a half-smiling smiley.

The stickers that I like to hide are the "#HASHTAG" one and the "Location" one.

Hashtags don't have to be seen, they just have to be used so people can find out about you.

So, to maximize Story engagement, type in whatever hashtags you want (you can type a max of 10) in your Story by using the Aa text button. Then, tap "Done." Then, with your thumb and index finger, minimize the tag until it's impossible to see. Place it somewhere on your image or in your video where you can't see it. You can also push it out of frame or pin it onto something so that it doesn't move around.

This works because it does two great things at once. First, it gives you a chance to be featured on the Explore Page's Stories where Stories are categorized into locations, common hashtags, stickers, emojis, and days. It also lets other people searching for #GETFITGETLIT or your location know that you are around.

Second, it hides those tags so they don't take up valuable real estate on your content. Sometimes, a selfie of just your dog, does not need a supersized #DOG tag on its beautiful face, if you all know what I mean.

Now, whenever you Story, create tags until you can't anymore. Minimize, and hide them till you can't make them any smaller, and increase your Instagram engagement.

Follow me on Instagram @b3t.tina to see how I'm currently using these tips and tricks on my own profile page!

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Cover image, screenshots, and .gifs by Bettina Mangiaracina/Gadget Hacks

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