How to Optimize Your Instagram SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on Instagram has been a hot topic lately, and it's essential to know the ins and outs. To help you get started with your Instagram SEO optimization success, we've put together this guide that will give insight into everything from ranking factors to keywords to alt text.

What is Instagram SEO?

Instagram SEO is the process of optimizing your content to rank your profile higher in the Instagram search results. When anyone searches for a  keyword or hashtag in the Instagram search bar, your account should be near the top of that list if you have optimized your Instagram page properly.

The Instagram search bar shows you what your followers see when using the app. Doing this means that if someone searches for strawberries, then all of their posts about eating berries will come up first in a feed-style layout with hashtags and other information included alongside each image or video clip

Instagram SEO ranking factors

A lot goes into ranking websites on Google's SERPs (search engine result pages), but there are some signals which stand out as being particularly relevant to this article about how to optimize your Instagram SEO, such as:

  • Search text
  • User activity
  • Popularity signals
  • Search text

Instagram always looks for relevant usernames, bios, captions, and hashtags. So it's no surprise that what someone types in their search bar shape how they find new content to like or follow! Google Analytics can tell you exactly which phrases lead people directly towards your company page - so take advantage of this by using those keywords as bio text instead.

User activity

When you search on Instagram, your account rank matters, and so do the hashtags and accounts that are followed or interacted with in past posts - but not as much if it's an entirely new hashtag or profile! 

The more time spent interacting with these influential users who share similar interests to yours, their recommendations will show up higher than those from less-followed individuals, even though they might have fewer followers.

If you want people to see your posts, make sure they are public and engage with them!

If someone uses hashtags in their searches - even if they aren't specific to any brand or product- that person will likely come across content posted by other brands. So when posting on social media channels like Instagram, use related tags so that not only does every post have a high chance of being noticed but also promotes interaction from potential followers.

Popularity signals

Find out what's trending now so you can post content that will rank highly in search results. Instagram ranks popularity using signals like clicks, likes, and shares for an account or hashtag - but only if it's relevant enough! You should also consider the best time to share your product information with potential customers. Hootsuite provides customized recommendations on published posts based on their most recent studies showing success rates depending upon where they are located worldwide

Businesses find the right time to post is when people are online and ready for you! There's no one perfect answer, but with Hootsuite or another scheduler, they can make sure that your posts reach their audience. Their customized best times recommend when it will have maximum impact on social media channels like Instagram or Facebook, so they don't go ignored in this busy world.

Instagram SEO strategies to increase your reach

Here are a few tricks for optimizing your Instagram profile:

  • Make your profile public
  • Choose a colorful, on-brand profile image
  • Create a recognizable and searchable @Username
  • Create an easily searchable business name
  • Register for an Instagram Business account
  • Include a trackable link in your bio

 

Optimize your Instagram profile for search

Instagram ranks popularity using signals like clicks, likes, and shares for an account or hashtag - but only if it's relevant enough! Find out what's trending now so you can post content that will rank highly in search results.

 Hootsuite and other schedulers provide customized recommendations on published posts based on their most recent studies showing success rates depending upon where they are located worldwide. You should also consider the best time to share your product information with potential customers.

Give your Instagram account a professional tone by adding relevant keywords in the bio. For example, if you are an influencer specializing in beauty, then mention this when posting content or using hashtags for searches. Mentioning what type of thing one can expect from looking at their grid is also important!

If you're a business owner, add your location in the bio if it's relevant. Only Professional accounts can edit this information, which will help attract more customers looking for services or products close by!

Your location will only appear on your profile page, not the web version of Instagram. But once it's attached to an account in-app or online social media network- both can be considered ranking signals for search engine optimization purposes no matter how many users are accessing them through different channels at any given time!

Use the right hashtags

Hashtags in captions are no longer just for hashtagging! Instagram has revealed that keywords and tags should appear directly within your caption to impact search results. They also shared some specific tips on how you can use them effectively: 

  • Use an #instagram Story shoutout as opposed to a regular one because this will show up higher when people type "shoutouts."
  • Use relevant hashtags.
  • Use a mixture of well-known, niche, and specific hashtags.
  • Don't use irrelevant or generic hashtags like. 
  • Limit hashtags to 3 to 5 per Instagram post.

Hashtags are a great way to increase your Instagram's visibility organically, but it is essential not to use too many. Adding 10-20 hashtags will not help you get additional distribution on the app.

Hashtags can be a powerful tool for any content marketing strategy. To get the most out of hashtags, you need an understanding of how they work and what hashtags will resonate with your audience and those in related industries or fields that might interest them! 

The good news is there's plenty you don't have to do: simply choosing 3 -5 relevant tags should give strong results while keeping things simple; plus, using Social Listening tools makes discovering popular keywords easy.

Use the right keywords

Searching on Instagram used to be a hit-or-miss experience, with no guarantee that you'll find what you're looking for. But not anymore! The new search algorithms now show relevant accounts and keywords in addition to places - which means people can explore different perspectives from those they follow daily.

Clicking on keyword results pages (indicated with a magnifying glass) will open up your entire screen to browse. With each click, it becomes an Explore page for that specific topic! You can also find popular hashtags by looking at the tags tab inside each one.

Add alt text to images

Instagram alt text is like the web's alternative; it describes images or videos if it fails to load them. It also helps Instagram better understand what's happening within your content which can result in more relevant searches on their platform!

The first thing to note is that this information doesn't provide context for what's in the photo. It might not be enough if you want people who view your account via screen readers or other assistive technology, such as Assistito, to read more about how they can make their brand stand out from the competitors!

Maintain a quality account

Instagram has a strict set of guidelines that they follow when ranking search results. Accounts that do not meet these standards will be ranked lower or eliminated from appearing in this manner, depending on what infraction it is. 

Instagram search avoids pushing out content that is "low-quality, objectionable, or sensitive," as well as content that "may be inappropriate for younger viewers." Some specific examples of what NOT to include:

  • Clickbait or engagement bait
  • Exaggerated health claims
  • Unoriginal content copied from another source
  • Misleading claims or content
  • Buying likes

The Takeaway

If you want to SEO-optimize your Instagram account, follow these guidelines. You will want to adhere to and utilize search text, user activity, and popularity signals to help your ranking factors. In addition to those factors, tactics to optimize are essential. 

These tactics include optimizing your Instagram profile, using the right hashtags and keywords, adding alt text to your images, and maintaining a quality account. Contact Power Move Marketing to get more information about how we can manage your social media and Instagram SEO optimization.


Author: Kristi James