Instagram with over 1.35 Billion monthly active users worldwide, is one of the best places a business can use to connect with its target audience.

As a digital marketing agency, we have worked with many businesses to get the maximum outcome from this amazing social media platform. One thing we suggest to our clients is to master Instagram SEO.

So, if you are thinking “Can I do SEO on Instagram?” Our answer is “YES”

Especially since all of the social media platforms now help users find their preferred content, this is the best time to Master Instagram SEO or you are at a great risk of losing customers!

So, in this blog article, let me show you how to do Instagram SEO properly and help your target audience to notice your brand and products.

What is Instagram SEO?

Instagram SEO is the process of increasing the visibility and discoverability of your Instagram profile and making it easier for your target audience to find your business. When someone searches for things related to your business, your business profile can rank higher in search results and appear in front of them if you have a good Instagram SEO strategy.

When more Instagram users discover your profile and content, there is a greater chance to increase your follower base and grow your business.

Instagram SEO ranking factors

Instagram search function is similar to Google and other search engines. Like Google and other search engines use ranking factors, there are three main ranking factors for SEO on Instagram.

Search Text/ Search Term: The major ranking factor is the term/ text that the users enter into the search bar to search for things on Instagram.

Instagram uses this text to find and deliver content that matches, such as usernames, bios, captions, hashtags, and locations that contain the search terms.

User Activity: Instagram considers user interactions when ranking the content.

For example, the hashtags they use, the accounts they follow, and the posts they’ve engaged with help Instagram decide which content might be relevant to them. If a user often interacts with certain accounts or hashtags, those are more likely to appear higher in their search results.

Popularity Signals: Content that is already popular is more likely to appear higher in search results. Instagram looks at how many people have clicked, liked, shared, and followed a post or account to measure its popularity.

These factors work together to determine what content appears in Instagram searches, helping users find the most relevant and engaging content based on their interests and interactions.

How to Do SEO on Instagram?

Here are some Instagram SEO tactics you can execute in 2024.

1. Optimise your Instagram Profile

The first one of our Instagram SEO tips list is “Optimising your Instagram Profile” because this is the foundation for a successful Instagram strategy. Why? Because it is the 1st thing that people notice about your presence.

Let me show you some steps you can take to optimise your IG profile.

Change your Instagram profile to a business profile:

There are two types of Instagram accounts: Personal Accounts and Business Accounts. A personal Instagram account is ideal if you want to just use Instagram to connect with your friends and family. With a personal account, you can share Instagram posts and view other users’ profiles. Plus you can set it as a private account.

But if you are a business, a celebrity, or any public figure, a Business account is the perfect option. It is a public account that anyone can see and unlike personal accounts, you get access to many features like audience insights, content performance, and lead generation tools if you have a business account.

Add your business name as the username:

This is really important. Because if you don’t use your business name on your IG profile, people might be confused and choose not to visit your profile. So, try to keep your name as much as related to your business.

Add your business logo as the profile picture:

When you use your logo as the profile picture, your target audience will be sure that the profile belongs to your business.

But, if you are running special campaigns it’s okay to add a profile image that reflects your campaign. But make sure it helps people to recognize your brand.

Add a Compelling Bio and Bio Link:

In your instagram bio, you have just 150 characters to grab attention. Use this space to share your identity and goal, making it clear why someone should follow you.

Additionally, the link in your bio is essential for leading followers to your website, converting them from casual visitors into valuable traffic or customers.

2. Add alt text to Instagram posts

When you add an image to your website, I am sure that you add an Alt text to that image, so that search engines and users can understand it well. It’s a basic search engine optimization tactic.

But did you know that Instagram also has a feature that allows you to write an alt text (alternative text) to describe your image?

The initial purpose of this feature was to help Instagram users with visual impairments to understand the content on Instagram.

Plus, it helps the Instagram Algorithm to understand what the image is about and show it to people who might be interested.

So, how to add alt text to your post on Instagram?

First, click the three dots on the top right-hand corner of a post.
Then click “Edit” from the menu

Click on “Edit Alt Text” in the bottom right corner.
Write Alt text that best describes the image.

Make sure to add relevant keywords into your alt text so that it will help Instagram algorithm to display your content to those who search those keywords.

3. Post content at the best times

Posting at the right time makes sure to boost the visibility and engagement for your content. When your content gets a higher engagement shortly after publishing, signal the Algorithm that your content is worth to the users.

That way it will display your content on followers’ Instagram feeds and the Explore page.

So, how can you decide which is the best time to post on Instagram? Luckily, Instagram analytics shows when your audience is most active.

To analyse when your followers are most active on Instagram, follow these steps:

Open your Instagram profile and click on the hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines) located at the top right of your screen.
Tap on “Insights.”
Select “Total followers.”
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find “Most active times.” Here, you can toggle between viewing active hours for every day of the week or focusing on specific days to get a detailed understanding of when your followers are most engaged.

4. Try to get the Meta Verified Badge

Meta Verified is a subscription bundle for creators on Instagram and Facebook which helps to increase the credibility and authenticity of their profiles. This bundle includes,

Account Verification (Verified accounts get the blue check mark badge after their username)

Account Impersonation Protection
Access to human support agents and more.

When your business has a Meta verified badge, it tells people that your account is trustworthy and it will eventually increase the follower base. Plus, the verified accounts are prioritised by Instagram Algorithm and will display more of their content on search results.

Plus, if people have made many fake profiles using your name/ business name, the best solution is to get meta-verified. That way you can show that your profile is the original one.

5. Maximising Instagram SEO with Hashtags

Using relevant hashtags in your Instagram captions is essential for effective SEO on the platform.

Why do Hashtags Matter?

Enhance Discoverability: Hashtags act as searchable keywords, making your content more discoverable to a broader and more targeted audience.

SEO Influence: Including hashtags directly in your captions influences search results, ensuring your posts reach the right audience.

Determining the Best Hashtags:

Tailor hashtags to fit your specific business and audience.
Analyse hashtag effectiveness through Instagram Insights, which shows impressions from hashtags. While it doesn’t specify which hashtags were most effective, using 3 to 5 hashtags per post can help identify trends over time.
Identify hashtags commonly used by your target audience.
Observe which hashtags your competitors and industry influencers use.
Use the Instagram search bar to type a keyword and select ‘Tags’ to explore the top associated hashtags.
Use Instagram’s search feature to find popular and relevant hashtags.
Continuously refine your hashtag strategy based on social listening and analytical insights.

6. Engage with Instagram Profiles that rank for the keywords relevant to your business.

Engaging with accounts that rank for your target keywords helps Instagram understand your niche through the user activity ranking signal. Additionally, this engagement can encourage reciprocation, boosting your engagement metrics—a crucial factor for popularity ranking.

Benefits of Engagement:

Instagram uses your engagement activity to understand what niche your account belongs to.
By interacting with other users, you increase the likelihood they will engage back with you.
Engagement is a key popularity ranking factor, so increasing it can improve your overall ranking.
Consistent engagement is a recognized best practice for Instagram growth and visibility.

Actionable Steps for Effective Engagement:

Find accounts that rank for your target keywords.
Regularly like, comment, and share content from these accounts.
Leave thoughtful and relevant comments to encourage genuine interactions.
Follow accounts within your niche to stay updated and engage with their latest content.
Use Instagram Insights to track which interactions lead to increased engagement on your account.

By strategically engaging with accounts that rank for your target keywords, you can enhance your niche identification and boost your overall engagement, leading to improved Instagram SEO.

7. Include Location Tags Whenever Possible

Instagram’s search feature includes a “Places” tab, helping users to find content tagged with a specific location. By adding location tags to your posts, your content becomes discoverable to people searching for that location.

Instagram considers geographical proximity when showing search results. For example, if someone searches for a “makeup artist,” Instagram will prioritise showing results that are closest to the user’s location.

Benefits for Businesses:

Using location tags helps attract local audiences who are more likely to engage with your content and visit your business. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses looking to drive foot traffic.

Location tags ensure that your posts reach people who are interested in and around that particular area, making your engagement more relevant and targeted.

How to Effectively Use Location Tags:

Tag Your Business Location: Always tag the location of your business in your posts. This helps Instagram understand where your business is located and ensures that your content appears in local searches.
Use Popular Locations Nearby: If your business is located near a popular landmark or well-known area, tagging that location can increase the visibility of your post to a broader audience who may be searching for that landmark.
Incorporate Location Tags in Stories: Instagram Stories also offer location tags. Using these can further enhance the discoverability of your content, as users often browse through location-based stories.
Consistency is Key: Regularly include location tags in your posts and stories to consistently appear in location-based searches and build a loyal audience over time.

By incorporating location tags into your Instagram strategy, you can enhance your content’s visibility, attract local customers, and drive more engagement to your posts.

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Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your social media marketing to the next level. Contact us today and start your journey to success with DigiFix!

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