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      Instagram Integration Guide

      How to integrate your Instagram account and share content

      Users with social media posting abilities and prior broker-dealer approval can seamlessly integrate FMG with Instagram! Managed by Meta, Instagram is an image-first platform that prioritizes visuals over text and links, distinguishing it from other platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook. In this article, we will walk you through the process of integrating an Instagram account and the guidelines for posting content to Instagram. 

      Before you begin

      • Facebook Administrator Role: Your Instagram account must be linked to a personal Facebook account as the administrator for third-party integrations like FMG. If your Instagram "Business" or "Creator" account is not yet linked to a Facebook page, refer to this help article.
      • Instagram Account Type: Your Instagram account must be a Business or Creator account (also known as a “Professional Account”). If not, you can switch your account type by following these instructions.*
        • *Note: Transitioning a personal Instagram account to a Business or Creator account may take 48 hours for processing. The account will not be available for integration with FMG until Meta has completed this process.

      What’s in this guide?


      Note: The Instagram integration may not be available in your account based on broker-dealer approval. 

      How to Integrate Your Instagram Account

      To integrate your Instagram account:

      1. In your FMG Admin, navigate to Social > Manage Social Media.
      2. Click Connect Instagram:
      3. Log in to Facebook: Since your Instagram Business or Creator account must be connected to a personal Facebook page for this third-party integration, you will be prompted to enter your Facebook credentials first before continuing.
      4. Continue Facebook Workflow:
        • Follow the prompts to continue the integration process. 
        • You will be asked to enter your Instagram login credentials during this step.
      5. Select Instagram Account: You will see a list of Instagram accounts associated with the Facebook page/account. You must choose to either opt in to all current and future accounts or limit your selection to current accounts only; however, you must select all. 

      6. Confirm Permissions:
        • Confirm the permissions for the Instagram account. 
        • Finally, select the Instagram page and click Add Profile to complete the integration.

      Integration Status

      After you've completed the process above, your Instagram integration will be submitted to compliance for review and will have the Pending status described below. The following are the possible social media integration statuses you may see:

      • Active: The integration is valid and approved. You can post content!
      • Pending: The integration is awaiting compliance review. If you have self-managed compliance, go to your compliance folder and approve the social media integration. 
      • Expired: Your integration has expired. Click the "Review" button to reintegrate your account. Note: Your social media connections may expire after 365 days. This is a security setting on the social networks' end, over which we have no control.
      • Invalid: Your integration is no longer valid. If your password has changed, you can click on the "Review" button to either disconnect the account or renew the account.
      • Rejected: The integration has been rejected by your compliance department. You can review the notes in your compliance folder.

      Once compliance approves the integration, you can start posting content to Instagram from your FMG account!

      Posting Content to Instagram from FMG

      Since Instagram is a unique platform, there are some guidelines you should know before posting content to Instagram:

      • Images: Images are required in order to post content to Instagram.
      • Image Sizing: Instagram has strict image requirements with supported aspect ratios:
        • Square (1:1) - 1080 x 1080 pixels
        • Portrait (4:5) - 1080 x 1350 pixels
        • Landscape (1.91:1) - 1080 x 566 pixels
          • You can use tools like Instasize and Croppola to resize images to the ideal ratios.
      • Character Limit: The Instagram character limit for custom social post captions is 2,200 characters.
      • URLs: URLs are not clickable on Instagram. If you include URLs in your Instagram posts, you will see a warning that the URL link will not be clickable once shared to Instagram.
      • Carousels: On Instagram, you can make single-image or multi-image posts, known as Carousels. When sharing content through FMG, you can post up to 9 images. If you upload multiple images, the order will be maintained and shared in a single post on Instagram. 
      • Carousel Conditions: If you are posting a Carousel, your images must be at least 1080 x 1080 pixels with a 1:1 ratio. The shape you choose for the first slide will apply to the rest of the Carousel. 
        • You can use tools like Instasize and Croppola to resize images to the ideal ratios.

      To create a social post:

      1. Navigate to Social > Post on Social Media.
      2. Select your Instagram account.
      3. Add a caption to your post. Remember, the Instagram character limit for captions is 2,200 characters, and URLs are not clickable on Instagram captions.
      4. Upload Image(s)
        • You must add an image to complete a post. 
        • You can share up to 9 images on Instagram. 
        • In the image uploader, you will see the following options:
          1. My Device: Upload an image from your device.
          2. Unsplash: Use Unsplash to search the web for free high-resolution images.
          3. Link (URL): Upload an image via a direct URL.
          4. Design an Image: Use Canva to design an image. Click here to learn more about using Canva.
      5. Now, you can schedule your post! 

      💡 Want to learn how to use FMG content to post on Instagram? Check out these related help articles: