Add Instagram to Showit: Our 2 Best Methods

Looking to add your Instagram to Showit? Instagram is great for connecting with your audience. But adding it directly might slow down your site a little. In this article, I’ll share 2 methods to integrate Instagram, letting you choose the best fit for your site.

Option 1: Using the Showit Social Grid Widget

The Showit Social Grid Widget is a handy tool designed to display your Instagram feed directly on your Showit website. This widget automatically pulls your latest Instagram posts and arranges them in a stylish grid format, allowing your site visitors to see your most recent social media activity at a glance. The only downside is that it does slow down your website, so if you are suffering from a slow website I would recommend option 2.

How to Set Up the Showit Instagram Widget

Step 1: Find the Perfect Location for Your Instagram Widget

The first step in adding your Instagram feed to your Showit website is to decide where it will make the most impact. Many users prefer to place their Instagram feed in the website footer, as it allows visitors to see your latest social updates without overwhelming the primary content on your pages.

Step 2: Adding the Social Grid Widget to Showit

To integrate the Instagram Social Grid into your Showit site, follow these steps:

1. Select the Canvas: First, decide which part of your site will host the Instagram feed. Open your Showit site editor and select the canvas where you’d like to add the widget.
2. Insert the Social Grid: From the objects menu located at the bottom bar of the Showit app, select ‘Social Grid.’ Drag this widget to the chosen canvas.

Step 3: Connect Your Instagram Account

Connecting your Instagram account allows your feed to display seamlessly on your website. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Access Widget Settings: Click on the Social Grid widget you’ve just placed on your canvas to activate its settings.
2. Connect to Instagram: In the right sidebar under ‘Social Grid Settings,’ click on ‘Connect Instagram.’
3. Authenticate and Permissions: Follow the on-screen prompts to log into your Instagram account. You’ll need to authorize Showit to access your Instagram photos.
4. Select Your Instagram Account: After connecting, select your account from the ‘Social Grid Settings’ tab in the Showit design app. If your account doesn’t appear immediately, try refreshing the browser.
5. Customize the Widget: Adjust the Social Grid settings according to your preferences to ensure it blends well with your site’s design.

Fallback Images

The Social Grid widget supports the use of fallback images. These are useful in scenarios where Instagram’s servers are down or if there are issues with your Instagram account connection.

• Set Fallback Images: Choose any images from your Media Library to be used as fallback images. These will display instead of your Instagram feed under certain conditions.
• Template Preview: When sharing templates or if no Instagram account is selected, fallback images will be shown.

🔥 Tip: Utilize Showit’s edge locking tool to fine-tune the widget size and ensure it looks great on different devices and screen sizes.

By following these detailed steps, you’ll be able to enhance your Showit site with a dynamic Instagram feed that engages visitors and complements your overall site aesthetics.

Pros of Using the Showit Social Grid Widget

• Dynamic Updates: The widget updates automatically to display your latest Instagram posts, keeping your website content fresh and engaging.
• Ease of Integration: With just a few clicks and an embed code, you can integrate your Instagram feed into your Showit site without any technical hassle.

Cons of Using the Showit Social Grid Widget

• Impact on Webpage Loading Speed: The widget can slow down your site’s loading time because it loads images directly from Instagram.
• Limited Aesthetic Control: While the widget offers convenience, it doesn’t allow much flexibility in how the posts are displayed, which might not perfectly align with your website’s design.

Option 2: Using Static Instagram Images

If you prefer not to use live updates or worry about website speed, setting up static images from your Instagram on your Showit site is a great option. This way, you can choose your favourite photos to display, creating a fixed Instagram-like gallery that doesn’t change unless you update it yourself.

How to Set Up Static Instagram Images

Here’s how to add a static Instagram display to your Showit site:

1. Choose Your Photos: Select the best Instagram photos that showcase your work or products. Ensure these images are high-quality and convey your brand story effectively.
2. Download Images: Use the ‘Image Downloader’ Chrome extension to easily download your chosen Instagram photos.
3. Upload and Arrange: Upload the images to your Showit site. Arrange them in a row or grid to mimic an Instagram feed. Resize the images to perfect squares for a clean, uniform look.
4. Link Each Photo to Instagram: Use the ‘click actions’ feature in Showit to link each image directly to its corresponding Instagram post. This encourages visitors to engage with your Instagram content directly from your website.
5. Optimize for SEO: Add descriptive alt text to each image and update the title to enhance SEO and accessibility. This helps improve your site’s search engine visibility and user experience.

Pros of Using Static Images

• Faster Website: These photos are part of your site and don’t need to load from elsewhere, so your page loads quicker.
• You’re in Control: You decide exactly which photos to show and how they’re arranged. Everything stays consistent and matches your style.

Cons of Using Static Images

• Manual Updates Needed: If you want new photos to show, you have to add them by hand. They won’t change by themselves.
• Not Automatically Updated: This setup doesn’t show your newest Instagram posts unless you update the images on your site.

Why Embed Instagram on a Website?

Embedding Instagram on your website is a great way to keep things lively and engaging. When you show your Instagram feed right on your site, you give visitors a fresh look at what you’re all about without needing to leave your page. This helps keep your audience interested and staying longer, which is good for your site. Plus, it makes your brand look more connected and up-to-date, and even helps a bit with your website’s search engine ranking by showing you’re always adding new content.

Adding Instagram to your Showit site is a great way to combine your social media and website together. Whether you go for the real-time updates of the Social Grid Widget or the more controlled static images, both ways have their perks. Integrating Instagram helps keep your content fresh and engaging, drawing more visitors to interact with your brand. Pick the method that works best for you and start showing off your Instagram on your Showit site today.