WordPress quick tip: How to add an Instagram feed to your site

The problem with WordPress plugins for social media is that every platform is different and always changing. A lot of free plugins come from developers looking for a better way, not finding it, and then creating it themselves for a project. Sometimes, it’s pretty simple to keep it up to date. But with social media, platforms release updates more frequently, requiring a lot of upkeep on the plugin too. That’s why it’s hard to find reliable plugins to feed your social media into your site.

Now, I can’t guarantee it will be around for forever, but my current favorite plugin for adding Instagram feeds is the Instagram Slider widget. It’s responsive, customizable, allows you to display either a slider or thumbnail grid, and even comes with a shortcode generator so you can easily add an Instagram feed to any page (it’s what I use on my about page!).

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Plugins > Add New and search for Instagram Slider Widget, then install.
2. Go to Appearance > Widgets, and you’ll see a new widget called “Instagram Slider.” You’ll also see a new widget area for the shortcode generator.
3. To use in your sidebar, drag the widget over to the widget area for your sidebar. To use on a page, drag the widget over to the widget area for the shortcode generator.
4. The settings are pretty straightforward, but be sure to enter your Instagram username without the @ symbol. You have three templates to choose from: A basic slider, a slider that overlays the captions on hover, and thumbnails, which shows a static grid of images.

If you’d prefer not to rely on a plugin, another option for adding an Instagram to your site is SnapWidget (it works on non-WordPress sites as well). Enter your preferences on their home page, and they will generate the code you need to add to your website. In WordPress, you can add it to your sidebar using a text widget, or add it to a page by clicking over to the HTML tab in the editor.

Want to add an Instagram feed to your site? Here are two easy ways!
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P.S. The ultimate guide to plugins.

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