Connect your Instagram

You sign in with Instagram itself. It takes about two minutes, and you do not need a Facebook page.

What you need

• The salon's Instagram username and password
• A Business or Creator account. Instagram does not let any app post to a personal account. To switch, open Instagram, go to your profile, then Settings > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account. It is free and you can switch back.

Steps

1. In Gloss Front, open Social > Accounts and press Connect Instagram.
2. Instagram opens. Sign in to the salon's account if it asks.
3. Instagram lists what Gloss Front may do: read your profile and publish posts. Press Allow.
4. You come back to Social > Accounts with the account shown as Connected.

How posting works

• Every Instagram post needs a picture. The post editor asks for one before it can be scheduled.
• Square or portrait (4:5) pictures work best. Instagram refuses very tall or very wide ones.
• At the time you scheduled, the post goes out on its own, and the post page shows a link to it.
• The sign-in lasts 60 days and is renewed automatically. If Instagram ever stops accepting it, the account shows Needs reconnecting and the salon's admins are told.

If something goes wrong

"Instagram only lets apps post to Business and Creator accounts": switch the account type as above, then press Connect again.

The Connect button is not there: Gloss Front is still finishing its setup with Instagram, and the screen says so. Nothing on your side needs changing.

To stop: press Disconnect on Social > Accounts, or remove Gloss Front in Instagram under Settings > Website permissions > Apps and websites.