How to Get Discovered and Grow Your Account on Instagram Using SEO
As a professional Instagram marketer, one of the most common questions I get is: "Does SEO even work on Instagram?" The answer is an astounding YES.
An effective SEO strategy is crucial for expanding your reach on the platform.
From mastering hashtags to optimizing alt text, this guide will walk you through the process of making your content more discoverable, attracting new followers, and driving engagement.
Listen to the full episode here:
What is SEO?
Let’s start with the basics. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Here’s a simple way to understand it:
Imagine you have a favorite book hidden in a vast library. You want your friends to find and read this book, so you write keywords or phrases describing the book and stick them on the library shelves. When your friends search for books on those topics, they see your keywords and find your book more easily.
In the digital world, websites and profiles are like books in a library, and SEO is the keywords on the shelves. Using SEO on a website or social media profile makes it easier for search engines like Google, Instagram, or Facebook to find and show your content to people searching for information on specific topics. The better your keywords match what people are searching for, the more likely they are to find you. So, SEO is all about getting noticed.
SEO for Instagram
When it comes to Instagram SEO, your goal is to optimize your content so that it appears in as many places as possible—from search results to the Explore Page. SEO is essential for improving your discoverability. The more people who discover your content, the greater your chance of growing your following and building an engaged community.
How Instagram SEO Works: 3 Key Factors
Optimizing your Instagram posts for SEO is a critical part of the platform’s algorithm. Instagram processes every piece of content to understand what it's about. Here are the three key factors Instagram uses to serve content based on search results:
The Text: The text you type into the search bar is crucial. Instagram matches your search with relevant keywords, accounts, hashtags, and places.
User Activity: Instagram prioritizes posts based on what it thinks users will be more interested in, based on their previous activity, such as posts viewed and accounts followed.
Information About the Search Results: Popularity plays a role. Results with more clicks, likes, and shares are favored, similar to how Google ranks websites.
In summary, making your Instagram page more visible involves helping Instagram understand what your posts are about, increasing the likelihood of showing your content to interested users.
5 Instagram SEO Tactics to Reach More People
1. Write Descriptive Captions with Keywords
Keywords in your captions significantly impact your content’s discoverability. Now, when you search on Instagram, results are based on hashtags, popular posts, accounts, audio, and locations. Use keywords in your captions, username, and page name.
2. Add Keywords to Your Instagram Profile Name
Optimizing your bio is crucial for discoverability. Incorporate keywords into your name and bio. For example, my username is socialmarketingqueen, and my page name is Katelyn Rhoades | Social Media Agency. I also use "social media" in my bio. If you can’t fit a keyword into your username, adding it to your page name is just as valuable.
3. Include Relevant Hashtags
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, but quality over quantity is key. Use hashtags related to your post or industry. Avoid hashtag stuffing, which doesn’t attract the right audience. Aim to be discovered by your target audience.
4. Add Alt Text to Your Instagram Posts
Instagram's alt text feature allows you to write descriptions for your photos, improving accessibility and SEO. While Instagram automatically generates alt text, you can add it manually in the advanced settings of your post. Focus on accessibility first and avoid keyword stuffing.
5. Be Consistent with Your Niche
Consistency helps the algorithm understand your account. Define 3-5 content pillars around your main offering. For instance, a motherhood creator might have pillars like New Mom Tips, Funny New Mom Memes, Styling Tips for New Moms, and Newborn and Infant Education.
Want to hear this information explained in more detail? Listen to the Call Her Creator Podcast
Listen to the full episode HERE
Follow me on Instagram @thekatelynrhoades or @callhercreator.
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