Instagram #hashtag contest – DO NOT WORK

Update August 2020: for now the add-on is not working anymore due to the Instagram updates.

A platform built on visual engagement, Instagram is the top social media network for visual branding. Furthermore, because the platform encourages sharing the most interesting moments in life, it has become a driver for social desire and envy. Hosting an Instagram competition can generate significant brand awareness and purchase intent.

This addon gives you the ability to get all photos from Instagram with specified #hashtag and insert to contest as local entries.

The perfect tool to increase your website activity and social traffic with WordPress Instagram Contest!

Please note – there are no guarantees that this add-on will work properly in the long run due to the Instagram politics to restrict access to any public data.

How it works

Every N minutes (20, 60, …) runs a script that:

  • Get list photos by #hashtag (up to 100 items) [just if Contest upload dates are currently active, else contest will be skipped]
  • Process each photo (download new photos to WordPress media library + add to contest and sync likes count for exists, if this option enabled)

Important notes:

When images are added from Instagram they contain just:

  • nickname (not available since 20th June 2017)
  • caption
  • image

Any other information (like name, user url, email, etc) can’t be collected automatically.

Since version 1.30 possible manually parse some user data (Full name, profile pic, username) in admin.

Addon installation:

  1. Install as plugin and activate
  2. Naviage to “Photo contest” => “Addons” and set up addon settings
  3. Create a new contest and set up Hashtag and Name & Description templates

FAQ

Does this addon use official Instagram API?

No, as official Instagram API disabled since the 2016 year. Because of this, there was a chance that addon can stop working due to removing some unofficial API endpoints.

Does this addon require any API keys?

No.

Are there any limits to photos count?

By default per iteration, addon gets max ~360 last photos and download max 110 photos.

If you have too many entries per short time (> 110 per 15 minutes) you can increase how deep to crawl with:

define('FV_IG_MAX_PAGES_PER_RUN', 3); // Increase deep up to max ~570 per iteration

Why numbers are about? Because Instagram can return a slightly different count per request (usually about 180-190).

Note: if enabled Sync likes count, then plugin will run as above and after get all not processed photos for sync Likes for them. In case too many total photos in the feed (> 1000), there was a chance that your server IP will be temporarily blocked.

Can I use default upload form together with Instagram Submit?

Yes, you can.

How can I limit Instagram Submit dates?

The script will add new photos from Instagram just if Contest upload dates are currently active.

Does addon support Videos?

No, all videos will be skipped.

Changelog:

/* version 1.43 # 19.01.2019 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.609

  • Updated PHP Instagram Scrapping library

/* version 1.40 # 25.06.2018 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.609

  • After Deprecating public Instagram api moved to another library that require Login and Password for Scrapping

/* version 1.30 # 22.01.2018 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.609

  • [fix] Ability to manually Parse usernames

/* version 1.20 # 21.09.2017 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.609

  • – [fix] compatibility fix with WP Foto Vote >= 2.2.609

/* version 1.12 # 15.09.2017 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.510

  • – [fix] Fixed issue with AWS S3 addon thumbnails retrieving

/* version 1.11 # 17.08.2017 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.510

  • – [new] Added option “Parse photos added only after contest “Upload start” date?”, to avoid parsing old photos.

/* version 1.10 # 27.06.2017 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.510

  • – [fix] Small fixes
  • – [new] Added new page “Instagram hashtag checker” where possible check real hashtag photos count https://monosnap.com/file/pRZBLy0671bTrKc5uIxymYxkfPwZ4v

/* version 1.01 # 27.06.2016 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.510

  • – [fix] Fixed parser, that stop working due to Instagram API changes

/* version 0.9 # 16.02.2016 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.509

  • – [tweak] Code & performance improvements
  • – [tweak] Contest settings migrated to new Contest Settings API

/* version 0.8 # 16.02.2016 */ ** REQUIRED 2.2.373

  • – [tweak] added notice, if DISABLE_WP_CRON defined in wp-config.php (can be removed via defining FV_IG_SKIP_DISABLED_WP_CRON)

== version 0.7 # 3.02.2016 ==

  • [tweak] better settings values sanitization
  • [fix] compatibility fix with >= 2.2.373

== version 0.6 # 30.11.2016 == ** REQUIRED 2.2.373

  • [fix] fixed bug with moderation (photos was published automatically, even if Moderation enabled in Contest config)

== version 0.5 # 25.11.2016 == ** REQUIRED 2.2.373

  • restored intagram parsing after Intagram api update

== version 0.4 # 11.11.2016 == ** REQUIRED 2.2.373

  • now contest option “Max photos per user” can be also applied for Instagram photos
  • bug with Emoji

== version 0.3 # 10.11.2016 == ** REQUIRED 2.2.373

  • option to block removed photos
  • ability edit list of blocked photos
  • better Emoji support
  • fix for missed spaces between Hashtags (like “#aaa#bbb#sdfdfsdf#dfgdfggf”) – this broken contest layout

== version 0.2 # 03.11.2016 ==

  • Added option “Where to save image” with CDN (not need download images to hosting), CDN + WP and WP options
  • If used not WP option – rotation was disabled

v0.1 / October 27, 2016

  • Initial release

To do list:

  • Add ability fetch Videos
  • ++ Add ability to use Instagram CDN instead download image local or donwload image but whatever use Instagram CDN

Screenshots