I’ve been playing with a new app. It’s called Pressgram. It’s basically an Instagram where you can share cool, filtered photos and connect with others.
But there’s one little difference:
You OWN the pictures because you can publish them (automatically) to your blog.
OK. So, remember when Facebook bought Instagram and everyone cried? Then Instagram changed their privacy policies and everyone freaked because it meant Instagram could use your pictures however they wanted? Then they changed them and assured us that we really own our own pictures?
Well. This is how Pressgram started. John Saddington (one of my he’s-so-smart-he’s-too-smart-too-even-be-one-of-my-hereos) began designing the app and fundeded it via Kickstarter. Apparently he wanted to make sure everyone has creative control over their own pictures.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Ugh. Another social media site? WHY? WHY?” But that’s not really what Pressgram is about–they don’t want you to add it to your list of apps and sites. They want you to leave Facebook and Instagram and marry them instead.
Why? Why would anyone want to do that?
Well, let me tell you what I think about Pressgram as a result of using it for five whole days. (That makes me an expert, right?!.)
1. It’s easy to use. It’s got all the functionality of Instagram and/or the Facebook apps. (It could use a scroll to top button and maybe a white background but that’s it.)
2. It publishes to your WordPress blog.
OK. Here’s how it works:
You publish a picture just like in Instagram. Take a picture, choose a filter and add a caption.
THEN, add a post title.
Add tags if you want.
Add a category. This category is one you’ve pre-determined and connected to the Pressgram Plugin. Whenever you use this category, your Pressgram pictures will be posted to your blog BUT not on your main page. They will only be available with a direct link to the post or category.
Under PUBLISH, click the button of whichever blog you want to publish to. (This is easy to set up. Just login with your blog credentials. You can have several blogs on there!)
Boom. Your picture has been published to Pressgram and to your blog.
Then! Here’s the best part! Go to your category URL. Mine is http://ohamanda.com/category/pics.
You can see all your Pressgrams looking just like a blog post with titles…
captions…
and a watermark.
A WATERMARK! (There is an option in settings to turn the watermark on. It’s not automatic.)
How awesome is that?!
Now that these adorable filtered photos of your day are on your blog you can:
- share them with non-Pressgram users on Twitter, Facebook or even via email. They will be able to leave comments and share via their favorite social media site. Think of it! Pinning your pictures! All with links back to your blog!
- beef up the published Pressgram captions with affiliate links, sticky links to your blog and even SEO stuff.
On top of that, the Pressgram posts do not show up on your front page or even in your subscribers’ feeds. They are really and truly just a part of your blog–your home base for when you need and want them.
3. It publishes to Twitter.
This is cool. When you tweet your Pressgram it shows up like a normal tweet but with TWO links. One link to the Twitter Pic and one with a link to YOUR BLOG. For example:
You know, just drinking kombucha out of a glass from Cinderella’s Royal Table. #disney http://t.co/ZlhgPjw9GE pic.twitter.com/kNuyaLgBnX
— oh amanda (@oohamanda) September 9, 2013
Anyone remember what happens when you click an Instagram link in Twitter? It goes to Instagram. For traffic alone, a Pressgram tweet is gold!
{Also, just saw this on the Pressgram forums–if you don’t want to tweet or Facebook direclty from the app, you can easily do it via your blog with Jetpack!}
4. It publishes to your WordPress blog WITH A WATERMARK.
Have I mentioned that?! Seriously, a watermark is the key to my bloggy little heart. (More on my love for the watermark.)
So, what do you think bloggers? Is Pressgram worth the switch? I’m gonna try it for awhile. I’d love for you to join me–my handle is ohAmanda!
Not a sponsored post or a review. Just something I thought you’d wanna know about. 🙂
