I'm starting to realize why so many people love Instagram. And it might not be what you think. Yes, it's full of wonderful, colorful, and stunning photos. Yes, you can see what your friends and family are up to through their life of images. But, more importantly, it's so easy to use, it's almost lazy!

Yup, I think that's why so many people like it. They don't have to do much.

You upload a photo. Done. You double tap to like someone's photo. Done. It's just this simple. I mean, you can "like" tens of photos in a matter of seconds. How many other social media sites offer that much convenience?

Most of the larger, more common social media sites are filled with text-based posts. You actually have to stop, read, process, and then determine if you like the status. But on Instagram, your brain has processed in a matter of milliseconds if you like the image.

For our largely rushed, multi-tasking society, Instagram is a social media user's wet dream!

And to be honest, I fell into this same trap. I scrolled through my feed double-tapping image after image. But then, as my number of followers grew, I noticed people were commenting on my photos. Wait... what? A conversation on Instagram? I wasn't expecting this. But it was awesome! The new level of excitement that came from "talking" to someone about a photo took my obsession with Instagram to a whole new level!

If anyone has ever complimented one of your photos or engaged in a conversation with you, you probably have some idea of what I'm talking about.

So, if I was enjoying these comments on my photos so much, I determined it was worth it to start commenting on others' photos. And the conversations and connections grew from there!

You see, most Instagram users really are pretty lazy. They double-tap to like and that's it. They don't take the time to actually type up a comment. You'll see tons of photos with 100's of likes but only 10 comments. Sure, if you consistently like someone's photos, they'll probably notice you and learn to recognize your name in their notifications. But what else do they know about you? Taking the time to comment on their photos and tell them what you like about the image, or why it struck a chord with you, brings an actual human dimension to your avatar. And this is where the connections are really formed.

Also, if you decide to start following someone on Instagram, don't just follow them and like their latest photo. Comment on at least one of their photos! You can even mention that this photo inspired you to follow them. Reaching out to them like this will establish a strong connection from the start and they will often follow you back as a result. Keep the relationship growing by continuing to comment on additional photos in the future.

When posting images, it's even more important that you are using descriptions on your photos! Especially if you are using Instagram as a part of your marketing strategy and not just for personal use. Do you know how many times I see a beautiful photo but there's no description attached to it. Sure I can see it's a lovely sunset, or flower, or abstract image of skyscrapers. But where was the photo taken? Why did it inspire the photographer? Was there a special meaning behind the image? Is the photographer in their hometown or on travel? You get my point. If you want people to connect with you, they need to know YOU. And if your photos are a reflection of you (or your brand), use the description of your photo to connect with others. You'll be surprised how much your engagement on your photos goes up when you include a description.

So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, generate real engagement on your photos, create relationships with others, and get more followers, start commenting! It's really that simple.

Feel free to come join me over on Instagram. You can find me at jennherman31