In this article, we'll show how to display Instagram posts on your digital signs with OptiSigns.
With the Instagram Business app, it's possible to display Instagram posts on your digital signs. Show the latest posts from an Instagram profile, or follow a hashtag, and let your screens keep up as new posts come in.
Here's a single post on screen (view a live example):
And here's the Social Wall View (view a live example):
Let's get started.
What You'll Need
- An OptiSigns account - Standard Plan or higher
- An Instagram Business or Creator account. Personal accounts can't be used, as this is Meta's policy. Switching is free and only takes a few clicks (see how)
- Your Instagram account linked to a Facebook Page (see how)
- An OptiSigns-enabled device
- A screen, set up and paired with OptiSigns (see our Getting Started guide)
Creating an Instagram Business App
From the OptiSigns portal, go to Files/Assets and select Apps.
Search for Instagram Business and select the Instagram Business app.
Click Continue with Facebook and sign in. Facebook requires your Instagram Business account to be connected through Facebook before a third-party app like OptiSigns can use it.
The Instagram Business app settings will open.
Fill in the following:
- Name - The name of your Instagram Business asset. This is for organizational purposes within OptiSigns only and will not display on your screens.
- Page - The Facebook Page linked to your Instagram account, if you have more than one. This can only be set when you create the app. To change it later, create a new Instagram Business app.
- Posts Type - Choose Hashtag or Profile. This can only be set when you create the app.
- Hashtag or Profile - The hashtag (without the #) or the profile's username. For example, enter nasa for https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/nasa or https://www.instagram.com/nasa. The link below the field shows the page the app will use, so you can check it on Instagram first.
- Display Mode - How your posts are laid out. Choose from Social Kiosk View, Single Post View, Social Wall View, Timeline View, Bricks View, Modern View or Flip Card View.
- Theme - Choose Light Theme or Dark Theme, or Custom to pick your own colors.
- Speed - How fast the app moves between posts. Choose Slow, Medium or Fast, or Custom to set your own speed.
- Font Size - Keep Default, or choose Custom to set your own size.
When Theme is set to Custom, color fields appear so you can set the colors of your wall, such as Background Color and Text Color. The fields shown depend on your Display Mode.
When Speed is set to Custom, drag the slider to choose a speed from 1 to 20.
Advanced
Click Advanced for more options:
- Always show new posts - On by default, so new posts appear automatically. Turn it off to approve posts before they show, and click the gear icon to review them. Learn more about moderating your social media feeds.
- Filter Posts - Choose None, By Quantity to show only the latest number of posts you set, or By Time to show only posts from the last number of days you set.
- Only show posts with image - Turn this on to hide posts without an image.
- Scrolling Strip Font Size - If you place the app in a Split Screen zone set up as a scrolling strip, keep Default or choose Custom to set the text size.
- Continue Playing Content in Playlist - On by default. In a Playlist, the app picks up where it left off each time it comes around, instead of starting again from the first post.
- Show QR Code - Turn this on to show a QR code linking to each post.
| NOTE |
| For hashtags, the app shows a mix of top posts and recent posts from the last 24 hours. Posts older than 24-48 hours may not appear unless they're among Instagram's top posts for that hashtag. |
Now hit Save. You'll have created an Instagram Business app, and it will appear in your Files/Assets. It may take a few seconds for the app to fetch your posts.
Deploying an Instagram Business App
To push your Instagram Business app to a screen, go to the Screens tab, then click Edit next to the screen you want to display it on.
The Edit Screen pop-up will appear. Select Asset under Content Type, then hit Change next to Selected Asset.
The Select Asset window will open. Search for your Instagram Business app, click it, then hit Select.
Back in Edit Screen, hit Save. Your Instagram posts will now display on your screen.
Your Instagram Business app can also be displayed in a Playlist or Schedule, or as one zone of a Split Screen.
That’s all!
OptiSigns is the leader in digital signage software. If you have any additional questions, concerns or any feedback about OptiSigns, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@optisigns.com.