How to Do Text to Speech on Instagram?

Anyone who uses Instagram regularly knows the platform's power in storytelling. In 2020, Instagram reached over 1.2 billion users worldwide, each sharing their unique stories through posts and stories. Yet, creating engaging content can be daunting when you're trying to stand out in this crowded space. This is where learning how to do text to speech on Instagram becomes valuable. It’s a feature-packed tool that can amplify your content reach, making it more accessible and engaging for different audiences, including those with visual impairments.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What text to speech on Instagram is and why it’s important
• How to activate text to speech for Instagram Stories
• Tools and apps that enhance the text to speech experience on Instagram
• Tips for making your text to speech content more engaging

Understanding the Importance of Text to Speech

Text to speech (TTS) allows visually impaired users and multitaskers to engage with Instagram content in a revolutionary way. This feature transforms written words into spoken ones, thereby broadening your reach. For marketers and content creators, this feature isn’t just about accessibility; it’s about providing a richer, more inclusive user experience. So, how to do text to speech on Instagram effectively?

How to Activate Text to Speech on Instagram Stories

Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in text to speech feature for stories. However, there are simple workarounds that can help achieve the same goal.

Use the Instagram Caption Sticker

Instagram recently introduced the Caption sticker, which automatically converts speech in a video to text. While this isn't exactly text to speech, it’s a stepping stone to creating accessible content. Here’s how:

1. Open Instagram Stories: Swipe right from your home feed or click on your profile picture.
2. Record a Video: Hold the capture button to record a short video.
3. Tap the Sticker Icon: Select the Caption sticker. Instagram will process the video and display text on the screen.
4. Edit as Needed: Edit the text for accuracy. While this feature isn’t perfect for TTS, it paves the way for accommodating all users.

Utilize Third-Party Apps

Since Instagram itself doesn’t support TTS directly in stories, third-party apps are your best bet. Here are a few apps that support text to speech for Instagram content:

• VoiceOver (iOS): A highly effective app for enabling TTS. It's simple to use: type your text, and select a voice to read it aloud.
• T2S: Text to Voice (Android): This app offers text to speech conversion efficiently, allowing users to copy the audio output directly into Instagram.

Here’s how you use them:

1. Download and Install the app suited for your device.
2. Create Your Text using the app’s interface and customize using available voice options.
3. Export the Audio file in a compatible format.
4. Embed this file into your Story using video editing tools like InShot or directly if your app supports it.

Enhancing Text to Speech with Tools

InShot

InShot is a terrific tool for iOS and Android, effectively bridging gaps between various media formats. Although known as a video editor, InShot can be a great way to incorporate text to speech audio into your Instagram Stories.

1. Upload Your Video: Open InShot and upload the story video you wish to edit.
2. Add Audio Files: Import the audio file produced by your TTS app.
3. Sync Up: Ensure that the audio aligns correctly with the intended text in your visual story.
4. Export and Share: Once satisfied, export the video and upload it to Instagram.

Clips by Apple

For Apple users, Clips offers another way of marrying video content with text to speech-generated audio.

1. Create a Project: Open Clips and start a new project.
2. Record or Import Video: Record a new clip or import a pre-recorded file.
3. Add the Audio Layer: Use the Share Audio feature to import the TTS-generated audio.
4. Combine and Export: Once combined, share your clip to Instagram.

Tips for Effective Text to Speech Content

Crafting content with text to speech is an art. Here’s how you can create more engaging stories with text to speech:

• Choose the Right Voice: Depending on your message, select a voice that conveys the appropriate emotion and tone.
• Keep it Concise: Don’t overwhelm viewers with too much text. Short, simple sentences are easier to convert and understand.
• Use Punctuation for Clarity: The TTS engine uses punctuation to determine flow and emphasis. Utilize it to guide the speech output.
• Test with Your Audience: Before publishing, share with a small audience to obtain feedback on clarity and engagement.

FAQs on How to Do Text to Speech on Instagram

Can I use text to speech for Instagram Reels as well as Stories?

Yes, text to speech can be used for both Instagram Reels and Stories by following similar steps for embedding audio files. Third-party apps will be needed for TTS in Reels, as Instagram doesn’t natively support it.

What languages does text to speech support?

Both app-based and web-based TTS tools offer a myriad of language support. Popular apps like VoiceOver and T2S support numerous languages, expanding your audience base.

How can text to speech improve engagement on my Instagram account?

By using text to speech on Instagram, you enable a wider audience, including visually impaired users, to interact with your content. It also caters to users who consume content passively, such as during commutes.

Are there any drawbacks to using text to speech?

While highly beneficial, the TTS technology is dependent on the app's language capabilities and voice options. Speech may sound robotic if not carefully selected, potentially impacting the natural feel of your content.

Is text to speech suitable for all types of Instagram content?

Text to speech works best for stories and reels where conveying information audibly can enhance the viewer experience. However, content that relies heavily on visual appeal might not gain as much from TTS.

Conclusion

Understanding how to do text to speech on Instagram can significantly enhance your social media storytelling. By following this guide and selecting appropriate tools, you can create dynamic, accessible, and engaging content that reaches a broader audience. Whether you are a brand aiming to improve engagement or an influencer wanting to modernize content, the implementation of text to speech is a valuable addition to your Instagram strategy.