Learn How to Boost Your Reach with these Tips for Instagram SEO
With over 1 billion people on Instagram, we can use all the tips to find ways to stand out. Working on implementing SEO tactics to your Instagram account is one of the most effective ways to make your account more search-friendly and help connect you with your target audience.
What is Instagram SEO?
Want to improve your discoverability? SEO is your answer. Instagram SEO is the process of optimizing your content in order to rank your profile higher in Instagram search results.
When done correctly, improving your Instagram’s SEO can not only help you stand out in the sea of Instagram users but more importantly help you reach out to the right users. We’re all here to build relationships for our brand, right? Try these Instagram SEO tips to do just that!
Try Our Top Instagram SEO Tips
Let’s dive in!
- Use targeted keywords when writing your captions (& be descriptive)
- Use targeted keywords in your Instagram bio (if you want a full rundown on how to level-up your Instagram bio, check out our blog post here)
- Use hashtags (yep, you still want to use hashtags, and you can use up to 30)
- Use alt text in your posts
- Lean on data & adjust accordingly (time to post, what is working, etc)
- Stay consistent with your niche
Tip 1: Use Targeted Keywords When Writing Your Captions
Hopefully, we are all already providing descriptive captions, but mixing in the right targeted keywords will boost your chances of being found on the explore page when people are searching for those keywords.
For example, if you are a charter fishing company here in Homer, and you share an epic photo of a client with a big lingcod, if you mention, ‘lingcod fishing charter’ or ‘Homer Alaska lingcod’ the folks planning their bucket list fishing trip to Homer for lingcod.
Tip 2: Use Targeted Keywords in Your Instagram Bio
If you read our 5 Ways to Level-Up Your Instagram Bio blog post, then you’ll know the importance of using targeted keywords in your Instagram bio. Your Instagram bio is the first people see when they pull up your page.
The more specific you can be in explaining who you are and what your niche is/what makes you stand out, the better. Think of using keywords that will help people find your brand in the sea of other accounts doing what you do.
Tip 3: Use Hashtags
Using hashtags is still one of the best ways to be found on Instagram. Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags in your posts, so be thoughtful when crafting your hashtags. Think of the best ways to describe your post, your photo, and how to reach your target audience.
Tip 4: Use Alt Text in Your Posts
Instagram recently implemented alt text in their settings when creating a post. You will see some accounts typing out the alt text for the image at the bottom of the caption, while others may be adding in the alt text description in Instagram’s new settings.
How to Add Alt Text to an Instagram Post
When creating a post on Instagram, select ‘Advanced settings’ at the bottom of the post.
Next, select ‘Write Alt Text’
If you’d like to add alt text to an image that has already been published, select the three dots in the upper right hand side of the image.
Next, select ‘Edit’.
Finally, select ‘Edit Alt Text’ in the lower right hand side of your image.
Tip 5: Lean on Data & Adjust Accordingly
We know we say this a lot, but Kachemak Communications proudly support client growth by leveraging data. Use your analytics to study what is working as well as what isn’t working. Adjust your strategy accordingly.
Tip 6: Stay Consistent with Your Niche
Lastly, stay consistent. SEO for both websites and Instagram is a long-term strategy. We get that it can be discouraging when you don’t see results right away, but there isn’t a quick fix to growing your organic reach and following. The more you use these tips and stay consistent with your social media strategy, the more sustainable success you’ll see, and the more long-term relationships you can build with your followers.
Let us know how you like these tips! We’d love to hear from you!