Oh, you didn’t think that you could just use the Instagram app did you? Gaining a loyal following on Instagram that translates into a profitable business requires a few extra steps. Gone are the days of just posting whatever is on your iPhone. They key to growing a loyal audience on Instagram is to have high quality photos. Lucky for you, you don’t need to spend a fortune to do that. Today we are sharing the 5 apps that you absolutely can’t live without for Instagram. 

Dropbox

We used to painstakenly email ourselves a photo everytime we wanted to transfer a photo from our computer to our phone. With the Dropbox app, this isn’t necessary and save you so much time!

Download the Dropbox app for free to your computer and your phone. Create a folder named Instagram to store your photos in. Now all you have to do is open the image in the Dropbox app on your phone and save it to your camera roll.

The majority of our photos are taken with our DSLR camera, so we just upload a bunch of our photos to Dropbox from our computer. When we need to post a photo to Instagram, we just open Dropbox, choose a photo and export it to our camera roll. Easy, right?!

PicTapGo

PicTapGo is a simple, and fun photo app that takes your editing to the next level. It includes over 70 filters and photo effects to layer over your folder. There are tons of editing features available to you. Adjust brightness, color, contrast and saturation. Adjust straight and clarity of the photo effect. Crop and rotate/straighten tool.

The best part about PicTapGo is the recipe feature. Once you find yourself doing the same editing steps over and over again, you can create your own custom filter recipes.

Our Instagram feed is very light, bright and airy, therefore this editing app works way better for us than VSCO. However, even if you have a darker editing style, this app will help you make any adjustments you need.

UnUm

Have you ever found yourself flicking through someone’s feed and think to yourself, meh? Maybe there are too many mismatching colors. Maybe they just use too many filters. At some point, we have all committed one of these Instagram’s mistakes, but UnUm fixes that for you.

UnUm is an Instagram grid planning tool that helps you perfect your cohesive feed before posting anything. You can rearrange your photos, add captions, and set a reminder for when to post. We use this app to monitor the best times to post, and other analytics that it includes.

We're OBSESSED with the UnUm app that plans your Instagram feed. Click To Tweet

UnUm appears in grid format and preloads your existing Instagram feed from your account. The blue borders are the current feed and the white are those yet to be uploaded.

Download it right now to try it for yourself, it’s completely free.

FaceTune

There is nothing worse than having a zit. Am I right?! You’re trying to take the perfect selfie, but all you can see is that red pimple staring back at you. Well, Facetune can take care of that. With a swipe of the finger, you can eliminate blemishes, whiten teeth and so much more.

There are countless editing apps available, but this one is the best that you can download for free. Simply allow the app to access your camera roll. Edit an existing photo by clicking on the two squares in the upper right hand corner. Or, use the front facing camera to edit a live photo. Then, edit to your hearts desire from the toolbox of retouching options.

Snapchat

You weren’t expecting that, were you?! So, what does Snapchat have to do with Instagram? Let us explain.

Whether you’re a die hard Instagram fan, or loyal Snapchat user, you’re going to want to read our step-by-step tutorial. In this tutorial, we teach you how to add your Snapchat Story to your Instagram Story. 

This will help you get the most mileage out of the content you create for both social media apps. You essentially will get double the amount of content for the same amount of effort! Even more, you will have full access to the cute lenses and stickers Snapchat currently has, that Instagram does not.

If you don’t have a solid Instagram strategy to follow, it can be overwhelming trying to grow your account.

That’s why we’ve created the #InstauthorityChallenge, a FREE step-by-step email course that teaches you how to build a solid foundation and grow your Instagram in just 7 days.

If you want to grow your Instagram in 2017, it’s time to start planning NOW. You can REGISTER here and get started today!

What is your favorite app to grow your Instagram following?