Top 6 Expert Instagram SEO Techniques to Increase Your Visibility and Business Reach

SEO techniques will help your content rank higher in search engines. There are expert SEO techniques that work for the three search engines- Google, Bing, and Yahoo. In addition to sending your content or business to higher ranks, these SEO techniques will also help your business appear more frequently in-app searches. This content discusses how Instagram ranks your profiles and content and ways to boost long-term visibility on the social media platform.

What is Instagram Search Engine Optimization?

Simply put, Instagram search engine optimization is a combined effort to optimize your content, or account to rank higher in Instagram search results. These SEO strategies will increase reach while driving more followers and conversions to your social media account.

You need to know that it is practically impossible to convert people into customers when they can hardly find you online. Instagram SEO will give your business brand higher visibility when you leverage the right approach and techniques.

People type search queries into Instagram the way they do on search engines, only the right SEO tactics can help your post appear on the top search results. These search results may include your videos, tags, audio, and other content your page is associated with. The top content that appears in search results are those that Instagram considers as the most relevant. This is the reason why you should optimize every part of your Instagram profile and the content you post. You need to optimize your Instagram bio and other minor details to be able to stay relevant in search queries.

Reasons You Should Use Search Engine Optimization on Instagram

The main reason you should use SEO on Instagram is to connect you and your business with people searching for content related to your business. It is the ideal way to build an engaging followership that will likely convert to customers in the short or long term.

Another reason you should perform Instagram SEO is that the social media platform is going to be relevant for many years to come. Presently, there are more than 2 billion active Instagram monthly users out there, so it will make a lot of business sense to tap into this huge marketing platform. According to the platform owners, there are more than 200 million Instagram business accounts users visit daily.

According to recent surveys, roughly half of Instagram users say they discover new branded products and services through the platform’s search tool. Roughly the same number of users also say they buy products and services weekly using tags and the shop features. These statistics confirm the reasons why you should enhance your visibility on the platform.

What are the Key Instagram Ranking Factors to Consider?

The three most important Instagram ranking factors for marketers are; user activity, search texts, and popularity signals. The platform uses different processes and classifiers to rank users differently hence there is no single Instagram algorithm for ranking profiles.

1. Search Text Factor

Instagram will tailor content for search results based on how its users use the app. The feed and stories for instance a factor used to rank your pages based on recent posts from your followers, including friends and family.

The Explore feature is a factor that ranks your profile based on content discovery and recommendations from those accounts you follow. Reels are entertaining content mostly from those Instagram accounts you don’t follow.

Search is a factor that ranks your profile based on relevant content found when specific search terms are typed.

Just like regular SEO, search text is the text a user types into the Instagram search bar and this remains the most Instagram ranking factor.

Instagram’s search function is the primary way of navigating content on social media. The search queries people type will reveal specific content while people use social media. The social media platform will also recommend phrases to help users search more quickly.

Based on the terms users use, the Instagram search engine will automatically detect relevant captions, bios, hashtags, and captions that likely match the users’ intent. In some cases, Hashtags can also be one of the main ways users discover content on Instagram but they are not as popular as keyword-rich captions.

2. User Activity

Instagram often pays attention to content and the accounts its users have engaged with recently. The platform can use this to understand what posts are most relevant to specific audiences. Instagram will probably recommend relevant e-commerce store accounts if users watch more fashion-related videos.

The social media platform also checks the link between the viewer and the content owner. Followers who have viewed your content or commented on it before will always see your new content in their feeds. Having a mutual connection with followers has a huge impact on visibility. Followers of people who directly follow you on Instagram will also see your profile ranked higher in search results which means it will be easier for people within your target audience to search and discover you more quickly.

3. Popularity Signals

Naturally, Instagram will boost any content that is gaining popularity and this means more people will see such content even when they don’t follow the platform’s content history.

Instagram may also consider any information about a person posting content. If for instance an influencer who had lots of interaction with a business or product or service a user is searching for in the past few weeks will be ranked higher than someone new to the platform. Popularity signals will make more impact on the Reel Pages and the Explore features of Instagram, while individual preferences will make more impact on the home page content.

6 Experts Instagram SEO Tactics to Boost Visibility

There is no one sure-fire to get to the top of Instagram’s search recommendations, but there are 6 expert tips and ideas that will increase your visibility significantly.

1. Use Keywords that Will Boost Your Instagram’s SEO Ranking

Each time an Instagram user searches for a specific keyword related to your business or profile, your chances of driving traffic to your profile increase. According to Instagram SEO experts, the platform looks at four things on your profile when indexing it for search, and these are; Handle, profile name, bio, and caption. Target these four spots to include the right keywords on your profile. With your handle likely to include your brand name, you must include the right keywords in your profile name and bio. Check your main rivals and you will see their handles, profile names, and bios including the right keywords.

You should also consider adding location tags to your Bio, this is particularly important for location-specific business. Experts recommend that you make your caption as descriptive as it can be and with the use of the right keywords. If you are unsure of what keywords to use in your profile, bio, and caption, you should consider the SEMrush keyword magic tool to discover what your target audience is searching for online.

2. Use at least 3 Hashtags in Your Captions

While tactical use of keywords often results in better search results for your Instagram profile, the use of hashtags will help the social media site understand your content’s context much better. Experts believe that while hashtags will not necessarily alter your profile’s reach, they can drive more engagement on it. Remember, using relevant hashtags in your captions will add more context to your Instagram posts. Avoid using more than 5 hashtags, they can make your posts appear spammy.

3. Remove Watermarks and Logos from Your Instagram Reels

Recently, Instagram has been removing content that is recycled from other social media platforms. Instagram recommends less, content with watermarks and logos than those without. If you create content for TikTok for instance, you should avoid using the same on Instagram to avoid this issue.

Having a logo or watermark on your Instagram reels is often considered low quality and will be down-ranked, hence you must avoid them. To avoid being downgraded, upload your content directly on Instagram first before sharing it on other social media platforms.

4. Maximize the Instagram Alt Text

Writing a keyword-rich alternative text (alt-text) can improve your Instagram post-performance. Instagram uses your profile text to understand what your images and videos are about before presenting them to users; hence you should use your alt texts to describe your videos and images to increase accessibility. To add alt text to your videos and images, scroll down once you write a caption and then choose “Advanced settings”, then select “accessibility” before clicking on “write alt text”. Add your photo description, and then add relevant keywords if possible. Click on “Done” when you complete writing your alt text.

5. Choose the Right Days and Times to Post New Content

Your audience interaction is a critical component of Instagram’s ranking factors, this means, that posting when your followers are most active will naturally boost your visibility and organic reach. According to expert researchers, the top 4 best times for businesses to post on Instagram are; 9:00 am, 9:01 am, 7:59 pm, and 8:00 pm. The top 5 best hours to post are; 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The worst times of the day to post content on Instagram according to experts are between 2:00 am and 5:00 am. The top 3 best days to share new content are; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the worst days to share a new post are; Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Most activities on Instagram do happen after lunch and office hours, these are probably the best times your followers are most active. You may want to use the SEMrush social media toolkit to remove any guesswork on the best times your followers are most active on your Instagram profile.

6. Engage Yourself to Encourage Follower Engagements

Engaging with similar Instagram accounts in your niche can also boost your SEO ranking because Instagram will understand better where you fit in. Since engagement is one of the most important ranking factors on the platform, you should increase your engagement with similar accounts in your niche to build and expand a dedicated followership.

Conclusion

Make sure you research your target audience and understand the type of content they enjoy interacting with. Ask your followers questions in your captions and encourage them to share their answers. Conduct occasional giveaways and competitions where real prizes are won, then track your content reach and engagement statistics to understand what resonates most with them and create similar content often. Remember, Instagram SEO is a long-term approach to boosting your visibility and not a short-term quick fix, you need to track and re-adjust your strategies to achieve your long-term goals.