5 Proven Instagram SEO Tactics to Reach More People

Search engines are not the only digital platforms on which to use SEO. You can now do SEO (search engine optimization) on Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms.

One of the most effective ways to expand your audience reach is to create a strong Instagram SEO strategy. When you enhance your Instagram SEO knowledge, your profile and content become more discoverable, increasing your followers.

We will show you how to use the SEO approach to explore Instagram features like hashtags, keywords, and alt text to connect with your target audience.

Let’s dive in!

What Does Instagram SEO Mean?

SEO on Instagram involves optimizing your content to show up in more places like the Explore Page and search results. With the struggle of many Instagram users and content creators to increase discoverability, it is important to explore these SEO tactics.

The more visible you are to users, the better the chances of growing your followers and building an active Instagram community.

SEO also influences the content that appears in users’ suggested posts in the Home feed. These Instagram suggestions are based on accounts similar to the ones you follow or the posts you engage with.

5 Instagram SEO Tactics to Reach More People

If you plan to boost your visibility on Instagram in 2024, take advantage of SEO. We have compiled 5 ways to increase your reach and discoverability below.

1. Use Relevant Keywords in Your Instagram Bio

If you plan to boost your following and leverage Instagram’s search features effectively, you must optimize your Instagram bio. Some ways you can rank or become visible for a particular keyword is to include it in your username or profile name. They are both easily searchable on Instagram.

Take, for instance, “Nigerian Food Bloggers.” They included the keyword ‘Nigerian food’ in both their name and username, and even description, enhancing their visibility in relevant searches.

If you can’t include a keyword in your username, adding it to your name field or bio (description) can also significantly boost your discoverability.

2. Write Captions Using Target Keywords

In the past, you would have to use usernames, hashtags, profile names, and location tags to search in Instagram Explore. But now, you can also search using keywords.

This means that writing descriptive captions with relevant keywords can greatly improve how easily people find your content. While some keywords may come from your account’s name or username, they mostly come from the captions and hashtags you use.

If you’re struggling to create engaging captions, there are many apps and tools available to assist you.

3. Add Relevant Hashtags

Adding relevant hashtags or tags to your Instagram posts is a smart move to reach your target audience. These are words or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol. When you add a tag to your post, it shows up on that tag’s results page, making your post visible to people interested in that topic.

Furthermore, tags or hashtags help categorize your content, making it easier for new people to find you. Choosing the right tags can get you in front of your target audience, even if they haven’t followed you yet.

4. Use Descriptive Alt Text to Your Posts

Alt text, also known as alternative text, is a feature on Instagram that’s here to stay. It’s similar to how you describe images on websites. You can write a personalized description for your images or videos. While its main purpose is to make Instagram more accessible, it can also boost your SEO efforts.

However, ensure to prioritize accessibility. Also note that you shouldn’t stuff keywords just for SEO’s sake.

Currently, Instagram generates alt text automatically for your photos, but you can also add them manually for better optimization.

How You Can Add Alt Text to an Instagram Post

To include alternative (alt) text to a post, tap “Advanced Settings” positioned at the bottom of the screen before you post.

Then tap “Write Alt Text.”

Finally, write your alt text in the box and tap “Done.”

5. Use Trends in Your Posts

One vital tactic to increase your visibility faster on Instagram is following trending topics. While trends sustain relevance for a short time, you can take advantage of them to rank on search engines, Instagram’s Explore page and Feed.

The good news with using trending topics is that you can create your content around them to suit your audience.

Stay Consistent in Your Niche

While exploring Instagram SEO to increase discoverability and reach, try sticking to your niche consistently. The Instagram algorithm learns about your account when you follow the best practices mentioned earlier. This consistency helps Instagram understand you and your offering.

Consequently, your profile and content will be shown to users interested in your niche as they browse Instagram.

For instance, see how posts from @_legendaryben showed up on Instagram’s Explore page when ‘kitchen drama’ is searched. Take note of how other posts using similar keywords also ranked on the Explore page.

You can tap into Instagram searches and suggested posts with these few simple SEO tactics. By using these Instagram SEO tips, you can attract followers who actively engage with your content by leaving comments, sharing with friends, or visiting your bio link.