Strong SEO is crucial for every business.
It can make or break your brands success on the internet.
Most of you are probably familiar with SEO via search engines – right? But Instagram – you might feel a little out of your depths.
Polishing off your SEO skills will help you to build a powerful community and draw attention to your brand.
SEO on Instagram is all about tailoring your content so that it shows up in as many places as possible.
Ever spotted a “suggested post” – that’s where you want your brand to be.
To break it down, the better your SEO, the more people exposed to your content and the greater chance you have at growing your following, meaning you can build a robust community.
Instagram’s complex algorithm gathers information from every post on the app and uses this data to understand the context of specific posts, and who might find them interesting.
Although the Instagram’s algorithm is out of our control, there are a few tactics you can use in order to increase your discoverability to consumers.
Just like you would search a term into Google, you can use the search bar on Instagram’s Explore page to discover accounts, hashtags, locations, or even products.
The “suggested posts” are generated and based on posts from accounts you follow and posts similar to the ones you like or save.
With a strong Instagram SEO strategy, you have more of a chance of appearing in relevant searches via the Explore page and in suggested content feeds, right in front of your consumers eyes.
On the Gen Z dominated app, this is the ultimate tactic for reaching your target audience and securing the reach your organic content deserves.
According to Instagram, the most important factors to take into account when creating your SEO strategy are:
- Relevance to the search query – Instagram’s algorithm will try to match what you have searched using top posts, accounts, audio etc.
- User activity – Instagram will prioritise posts in your search results depending on your previous activity on the app.
- Search results information – if there are a lot of results, the metrics of an account come into play and popularity will help to determine the contents position in the search results.
So that’s what Instagram says – now here are our top 5 hacks to become more discoverable on one of the world’s most popular social media apps.
Hack #1: Be Relevant and Use Keywords In Your Captions
For a long time, Instagram has allowed users to search via hashtags, location tags and profile names.
Well now they let you search using keywords.
Using descriptive keywords in your captions will increase the likelihood of your brand appearing on the Explore page, meaning more eyes will be on your content.
Hack #2: Add Keywords To Your Bio
To use Instagram’s algorithm to your advantage, you need to optimise your Instagram profile.
Use keywords in your username to help you stand out from the crowd.
Don’t have enough room to add them to your username? Your name field (at the top of your bio) can just be as effective and keep your profile looking tidy when engaging with other accounts.
Hack #3: Be Specific With Your Hashtags – And Use All 30 Of Them!
Using targeted hashtags on posts and stories will have an instant effect on your discoverability and increase your reach rapidly.
Relevant hashtags can help put your content in front of those you’ve never even connected with before.
Without a clear and elaborate hashtag strategy, you could be closing off opportunities and minimising your engagement massively.
Hack #4: Use Descriptive Alt Text In Your Instagram Posts
Just like normal SEO, Instagram alt text allows you to write customer alternative text for a richer description of your images, and to make your content more accessible and inclusive.
Currently, Instagram generates alt text automatically so that people can hear descriptions of content through a screen reader.
It uses object recognition technology to help identify the content – but has varied levels of success.
Manually inputting alt text will add extra value to your content and allow all users to consume its full potential.
Note: to add alt text to a post, find the ‘Advanced Settings’ button at the bottom of your screen before hitting ‘Share’.
Hack #5: Stick To Your Niche
As shown, being consistent and relevant to your brand will never let you down.
Consistency teaches Instagram who you are and what you offer to followers.
Posting regularly will mean your content is served to the right accounts as they browse Instagram.
Now you know the hacks, why not put them into play?
If you have any further questions about how your brand can build a stronger SEO strategy over on Instagram, don’t hesitate to get in touch via fleurtheagency@gmail.com.
Featured image via Unsplash.
Fleur The Agency 