Instagram SEO: Increase Your Engagement & Followers

Undoubtedly, Instagram is popular in several countries. Among those, the USA is the second highest country with a huge client base on Instagram. Statistics show that 168.8 million Americans are active users on instagram. This makes it a highly competitive platform for social media marketing. If you are wondering how to leave your rivals in the dust, a strong Instagram SEO is your key to success.

Most people use Instagram because it is easy for them to stay updated about the world. So, if you want to find the sweet spot on Instagram, you will have to take the help of SEO strategies for your marketing efforts.

What is Instagram SEO?

Instagram search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your Instagram content by infusing relevant keywords and hashtags, posting engaging content daily, and using other Instagram SEO tactics. It bolsters your chances of appearing on the Explore page whenever an Instagram user searches for any content.

SEO focuses on monitoring Instagram’s key metrics to make your social media marketing on Instagram more effective. It gives you insights into your individual posts, stories and reels to improve your visibility among your niche audience.

What Are The Benefits Of Instagram SEO?

Instead of surfing through the countless content on the Explore page, people use the Instagram search bar to directly land on what they are finding. When this is the case, having your posts SEO-optimized will enable you to enjoy enhanced visibility and other favorable benefits.

Let us take a look at the benefits that come from implementing a full-proof Instagram SEO strategy for your posts.

• Enhanced Reach

SEO for Instagram enables your content to reach a wider spectrum of audiences. It boosts your online visibility, and more new eyes land on your account page as followers. A searchable name and bio with strategic use of keywords in it and the content ensures enhanced exposure.

• More Number of Likes and Shares

Instagram SEO informs you of the recent trends creating buzz on the platform. For instance, it enables you to find high-ranking keywords or hashtags on which creating content can prove beneficial. So, when viewers find your content relevant and highly engaging, it gets viral with an accelerated amount of likes and shares.

• Improves Brand Awareness

A well-optimized profile consisting of high-end content automatically establishes a sense of credibility in viewers. When trust increases, so does popularity. Therefore, it improves brand awareness significantly.

Suppose, a fashion blogger reviews beauty products. A viewer purchases a product after watching the reel or post. The reviews came out to be true.

What happens here is that the fashion blogger gains the trust of a viewer who has shared reviews by tagging the blogger on the post. This increases the blogger’s popularity and credibility among the target audience actively searching for feedback videos.

• High Conversion Rate

Instagram SEO makes your posts highly shoppable. Uploading relevant content using the right hashtags and keywords makes your profile visible to potential customers. The proper placement of links and engaging captions can drive more active clients, increasing the conversion rate. 

• Increases Opportunities for Collaboration

An effective Instagram SEO makes your posts visible to brands as well. If they find your profile aligning with their vision and mission, they might even approach you with a collaboration offer. This in turn results in your market growth and reputation. Additionally, followers of those brands will also learn about your profile. You gain more followers, likes and comments through collaboration. 

• Cost-Effective Growth

SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy that promises to yield positive long-term results. With a minimal amount of investment, it gives favorable results, leading to increased business growth. Cash in on SEO, as it can act as a follower booster while making your profile go viral.

What Are The Ranking Factors On Instagram?

It is not wrong to say that Instagram SEO is a balanced blend of art and strategies. There is no hard and fast rule to bolster your ranking on Instagram search results. However, if you focus on the three ranking factors mentioned below, you can find your post in the suggested content feeds.

• Search Text

Similar to traditional SEO, a search text in this context refers to the specific search query a user types in the Instagram search bar. Against the search text, the Instagram algorithm navigates through relevant captions, bios, usernames, and hashtags. Then, it shows all the relevant content on the Explore page.

• Popularity Signals

Popularity signals on Instagram imply the trending posts and reels that have created a buzz on the internet. Content that has received the most clicks, likes, shares and follow are the ones to have higher search rankings. That is how Instagram posts become popular.

Besides these, Instagram also considers the person or page posting the content. If posted by someone who has a good record of engagement with their target audience, it can influence that particular post’s ranking on the search results.

If your post is trending in popularity and has a significant number of views, it will receive a search boost from Instagram search engines.

• User Activity

Have you ever realized how Instagram shows relevant content to users? If you have liked or commented on many “Get Ready With Me” content, it keeps showing you more of those daily. That is how the Instagram algorithm and user activity work.

User Activity involves the actions from the user’s end, the accounts followed or interacted with, posts liked and saved and Instagram keeps monitoring it. These influence the ranking of those accounts on the search results

In simple terms, Instagram closely pays attention to the connections between content creators and their viewers. This helps to understand what content is gaining popularity and what kind of audience it is catering to.

Instagram SEO tips for better online visibility

Whether you are a brand, influencer, or a simple user, implementing solid SEO strategies to your Instagram can help you stay strong in the competition. You can maximize your reach and engagement if you plan strategies as per these tips mentioned below. 

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Optimizing instagram profile involves securing the basics like optimizing profile pictures, highlight covers etc. Try updating the username with basic keywords if you can. 

For instance, if you sell candles, a username like Candles by Your Name or Candles & Essence can help you chart up on Instagram searches. 

These are just the initial steps of optimizing your instagram page. There’s a long way to go to get a high volume of visitors. 

1. Choosing a Searchable Username

Username forms the foundation of an Instagram seo-optimized handle. Unless and until your account has a searchable username that gives a glance of what your account is about, you are losing on potential viewers.

While creating a username, make sure to add keywords related to your niche. For instance, if you are running or associated with makeup or fashion, incorporate words like “Beauty” and “Clothing” to give viewers an idea about the page right away. Adding these target keywords to the username will increase the chances of ranking higher on the Instagram search results page.

Use relevant keywords in the username, such as Fashioninflux and The Skincare Diary. It gives an immediate idea regarding the page’s content to the users. 

2. A Bio with Relevant Keywords Boosts Rank on Instagram Searches

An Instagram account is not complete without its bio. Catchy one-liners or short, crisp sentences about the content creator or the content make an Instagram bio.

Right below the username, use the space by filling it with a compelling bio that includes the relevant keyword. For instance, if “beauty” is your primary keyword, “skincare” and “makeup” will be the secondary keywords. So, your bio might look like,

The Skincare Diary

Beauty, Make-Up, and Personal Care. Give your skin the real glow it deserves.

While crafting a bio, avoid keyword stuffing. Otherwise, it looks like a bunch of keywords stitched together without making any sense.

3. Selecting a Profile Picture That Represents Your Brand

Having a proper profile picture positively impacts your Instagram SEO process. So, if you think that simply adding a random picture as your profile photo will do the job then you are definitely wrong. You will have to use a picture that prominently shows your face or your creation. Only this will help to increase your follower count.

2. Creating SEO-Friendly Instagram Posts

Wondering what is SEO-friendly content? Well, it is the content that is created to rank high on the search engines. This kind of content includes things like using relevant hashtags, interesting captions, and adding location. But most important of all it should have the right keywords. Creating SEO-friendly posts is just a clever Instagram strategy. This helps to improve your reach and results in organic traffic to your profile.

1. Using Relevant Hashtags to Increase Discoverability

Hashtags enable the Instagram algorithm to understand the context of the content on your profile. Organically using SEO-driven hashtags directly in the Instagram captions can positively impact search results. If every post has 3 to 5 hashtags that are highly trending in your niche, you are likely to increase the visibility to relevant users.

In case you want to see the trending hashtags or get an idea of which ones are driving significant organic traffic to your posts, you can use Instagram Insights to do the analysis. To perform hashtag research, you can use the search bar for that matter.

2. Writing Engaging Captions With the Right Keyword

When it comes to impressing the ‘Grams algorithm, keeping the content authentic and engaging is the key. What makes the content more interesting is its caption. After looking at the post, viewers’ eyes always fall on the caption. That is the time when you shoot for the aim.

An interesting caption with the right keyword plays a great role in having a positive impact on the viewers. The content becomes more discoverable on Explore pages and the suggested content feed section.

3. Use Instagram Alt text to Enhance Accessibility

One of Instagram’s advanced settings is its accessibility feature. It has the “write alt text” option for every Instagram post, which enables you to craft a perfect description of the image. The feature makes the content readable to visually impaired users and, of course, to search bots.

Therefore, add descriptive alt text to the images and video and boost your chances of appearing as the top result on the Instagram Explore page or For You page. Just make sure it does not exceed 100 characters.

3. Utilizing Instagram Stories for SEO

Instagram stories are a feature that allows users to post photos or videos for 24 hours, unlike ordinary posts. Using relevant keywords and hashtags and highlighting the important stories makes your account navigable, polished, and well-organized.

1. Incorporating Keywords in Story Captions and Hashtags

Apart from the bio, the other sweet spots for integrating keywords are your story captions and hashtags. Using relevant keywords in your captions can push you one step closer to appearing on the keyword results pages. Therefore, write descriptive captions and make them engaging with an interesting use of words and emojis.

In case of hashtags, strategically using them will boost your visibility across a wide spectrum of audiences. Instead of stuffing your stories with every relevant hashtag you find, select 3 to 5 and use them wisely.

However, if you are chasing the same hashtag used by billions of users out there, you might find yourself drowning in the crowd. Therefore, you can change the Instagram hashtags by clicking on them and monitoring what other users do.

2. Highlighting Stories to Improve Visibility

The highlights feature of Instagram is very interesting. It improves your profile visibility and helps you to gain real followers. For instance, if you are an Instagram dance artist, posting videos of your dance shoots randomly on stories is a great move. 

That being said, story highlights allow you to create separate sections on your dance covers. This is completely based on their genre or purpose like K-Pop dance covers, Workshop sessions, etc.

It allows users to directly see those stories they find relevant from the title. This ensures a smooth user experience and keeps them engaged. For example, if someone wants to see the K-pop dance stories, they will click on the story highlight marked against it.

3. Engagement & SEO on Instagram

No marketing efforts will show good results unless and until there is proper engagement between the account holder and the audience. Engagement This is where SEO comes in.

SEO helps to establish a strong presence that attracts a significant number of followers to your profile. It involves activities to encourage audience interaction and responding to comments professionally. It also includes teaming up with influencers on Instagram for enhanced reach and engagement.

1. Encouraging User Interactions (likes, comments, shares)

Ranking your Instagram posts on search results depends on several factors such as clicks, views, shares and follows. More interaction with your audience brings you closer to higher ranks and more visibility.

To engage more with the target audience, you can start live broadcasts and question polls on your stories or posts. This will help you better understand what your viewers expect from you.

2. Responding to Comments and Messages Promptly

Responding to comments and direct messages is one of the best ways to keep the audience in close contact with you. It shows your professionalism and eagerness to attend to the queries of the interested audience. If you are prompt in responding to comments, it influences the conversion rates to increase.

3. Collaborating With Influencers for Increased Engagement

Collaborating with influencers is a trend-setting method to increase visibility and brand awareness. Endorsing products or services through famous faces on Instagram is one of the best approaches to increase customer engagement exponentially.

If you own a clothing brand, work with influencers with a huge follower base in this niche. Leveraging their fame can increase your search rankings and organic traffic.

When people see an influencer promoting your brand, your follower count and search ranking will definitely experience a spike.

4. Measuring Success with Instagram Analytics

Instagram Analytics allows creators to gain insights into their account’s performance. It also enables them to track down their growth through audience engagement rate and reach. Analytics gives them hints at what kind of content is receiving more likes and what the audience is looking for.

1. Understanding Key Metrics 

Blindly implementing SEO strategies to your Instagram without understanding its metrics won’t do any good. Insta metrics are crucial as they give you insights into the performance of the account.

They provide important details about your followers and account engagement rate. In addition, they track the activity of individual posts, such as likes, shares, and comments received. The other metrics include plays, clicks, profile visits, DMs etc.

Therefore, understanding key metrics lets you clearly see which strategies are working and which ones are not.

2. Using Analytics to Refine Your SEO Strategy

Instagram Analytics acts as a parameter to measure the success rate of the overall SEO performance. It can help you transform a basic strategy into a flawless one.

It is important to carefully observe the data it provides. By leveraging this data, you can fine-tune your future strategies accordingly. Insta Analytics offers a micro and macro-level view of your account performance. Therefore, it is one of the effective methods of building a solid Instagram SEO strategy.

Advanced Instagram SEO Strategies

There are scores of people trying to promote their businesses on Insta with basic SEO strategy. While the basics can set the ball in motion, resorting to some advanced instagram SEO strategies can help you gain top rankings. 

Let’s take a look at some of the advanced SEO strategies for Instagram promotion; 

1. Collaborate with Other Brands 

Cross-promotion is an SEO tactic where related businesses promote each other.  Work with other brands and use each other’s links on posts. This benefits both you and the other brand.  

Suppose you run an Instagram page where you sell garments. Approach pages that sell similar or related products. In this case, look for pages that sell products like chic jewelleries, accessories, etc. 

As garments and accessories are related, chances are, people who visit a page for accessories would be interested in garments as well. 

Cross-promotion takes a while. However, once you secure a few ties within the industry, you are good to go. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to bolster the ROI. 

2. Make the Best Out of User-Generated Content 

UGC is the most authentic and credible form of content. It contains posts created by real customers for other potential buyers.

Posting user-generated content is another way to attract fresh views besides those from regular followers. UGC has the potential to significantly bolster your SEO strategies.

The best way to create user-generated content is by approaching followers to share content on your products or services. Give them the freedom to create content in their own style. This kind of content builds trust and interest more than traditional and sponsored ones.

It enhances visibility and fosters user interaction on a large scale. It also helps to earn referral links, which boosts SEO efforts.

3. Use Geo-Tagging Strategically

Using location tags is an important Instagram SEO strategy. If you are looking for nearby restaurants or other famous eateries around the vicinity, you can use the searchable map feature for Instagram. It gives you details of posts, stories and reels related to your search query.

So, be more specific with your location and keep the NAP details accurate and consistent in case you have several accounts. Tag your location in stories, reels and posts to become discoverable to more of your targeted local audience.

4. Instagram SEO Tools and Resources  

Tools like Hootsuite help optimize the profile to let search engines crawl your profile properly. They assist in finding the right keywords and hashtags. Starting from analyzing your competitors to keeping a track of profile performance, these tools help to accelerate your Instagram seo efforts. 

Other SEO tools to optimize your Instagram profile and to stay updated with the trends are: 

• Awario for keyword and hashtag research 
• Canva for post-designing 
• Iconosquare for Instagram statistics 
• Unfollowgram for managing the following 
• Followgram to monitor the Instagram presence 
• Instafy to track popularity posts
• Copygram for feed designing
• INK361 for customer engagement 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Wrap up!

SEO is an important part of Instagram marketing. Irrespective of your experience in the field, this will help you gain higher recognition and followers.

That being said, SEO is definitely not a quick fix. So, you should first start the process by understanding the basics of the whole thing. Only then you will be able to get good results in the long run. 

You can hire an expert SEO agency In case you find it difficult to manage SEO and content creation simultaneously. Their professional Instagram marketing services maximize your exposure and brand awareness. 

Make each of your content reach the right audience and ensure improved audience engagement by fine-tuning your marketing tactics as per Instagram SEO.

Additional Resources:

• 5 Ways to Boost Success of Branding Campaigns on Social Media
• YouTube SEO in 2024: The Complete Guide to Ranking Videos on Top