If Instagram is a platform you use to market your business, Instagram SEO needs to be part of your marketing strategy. A strong search optimization strategy on Instagram is one of the best ways to boost reach and engagement for your brand. In this article, we will take you through the 5 Instagram SEO tactics to boost your visibility and engagement.
What is Instagram SEO?
Instagram SEO is the process of optimizing your profile and its content in order to rank your page higher in the Instagram search results. By following best practice, Instagram SEO will improve your chances of being seen by users who are searching for keywords relating to your business. This means you will receive high-quality traffic to your page and its linked website from prospective customers who will be most likely to convert. According to Hootsuite, 1 in 2 people have used Instagram to discover new brands – a perfect reason for you to brush up on your Instagram SEO skills.
5 tips to help you succeed with Instagram SEO
Identify your keywords
Keywords are essential when marketing any business. These words will be the hooks that grab your prospective client’s attention. Finding which keywords to use on Instagram can be done in a few different ways.
You can use a keyword research tool like SEMRush to find which words or phrases you would like to rank for. Keep in mind however, what people search for on Instagram may not be the same on Google (which regular keyword research tools gather data from), so it may be more useful to use a hashtag research tool for your Instagram keywords.
Try to use ‘Long-Tail’ keywords to target a more valuable audience. For example, instead of using the word ‘Marketing’, try using more specific terminology such as ‘Social Media’ or ‘Digital Marketing’. This will help target high-quality traffic at a lower volume, increasing your chances of being discovered.
Optimise your Instagram profile
According to a recent study, over 1 billion users now use Instagram around the globe. All of these users have access to Instagram’s internal search bar – similar to the Google search engine. These users can search a phrase or word and find related content, users, and business accounts that Instagram thinks will be relevant to them based off their data. Therefore, having an optimised profile is essential if you want to rank for your keywords in this search panel and increase traffic to your page.
Here is how you can optimize your profile:
- Check your Username and Name
If you are looking to rank for a specific keyword or phrase, include it in your Username and Name. For example, if you are an architect, make sure to add ‘architect’ somewhere in your name and username handle on Instagram. This will improve your chances of appearing at the top of a search when a keyword you have optimised is typed in.
- Check your Instagram bio
Similar to your name and username, your bio should also feature keywords relating to your brand. As well as this, your bio should briefly describe your business, and what it offers. Not only will this help followers or people visiting your page understand what your brand is about, but it will also help you rank on a search term you are optimising for. For an even more successful bio, why not add a hashtag relating to your keywords.
See an example of an SEO optimised instagram username and bio below:
Write optimized captions
Although Instagram search won’t show content if its caption features the searched keyword, good captions can still get you visibility on the explore page. Instagram’s explore page shows you content based on things you have interacted with and engaged with in the past on the app. But what does this have to do with using keywords in captions?
If you write a clear and concise caption that drops in keywords relating to your brand, Instagram’s AI will pick up on it and group you in with accounts that use similar keywords. This will boost your visibility and generate new leads.
Add Alt text to your images
Alt text is a text description of a visual asset (such as an image or video), that makes your content accessible for those with visual impairments. It is also a great way to describe to Instagram’s AI what your content is about so it can push it to the right users.
Here is a step-by-step to show you how to do this (This can be done before content is posted and after). Make sure your Alt text is descriptive and accurate, to help not only the visually impaired but also to make your account more discoverable.
Optimize your hashtags
Using relevant and brand specific hashtags on your posts is one of the oldest yet best ways to get discovered by users on Instagram. However, for hashtags to really work for you, they have to be optimized. The more you post content that is accompanied with relevant hashtags, the better chance you will have at ranking for your keywords on the search page, in turn engaging with high-quality users who are likely to convert.
This is why having an efficient hashtag strategy is a really important part of Instagram SEO. Hashtags research tools are a good start if you are unsure what to use – If you’re really stuck, remember to use your keywords and phrases!
Take your business to the next level with Instagram SEO
Your Instagram could make all the difference between being a winning brand or ‘just another business’. So, use these tips and optimize your Instagram and watch your business attract visibility and brand awareness among a community of relevant users.
At Bigger Picture, we are dedicated to taking ambitious brands to the next level. Why not get in touch with us to see how we can help you with your social media marketing, and Instagram SEO today.
Contact one of our friendly experts for more information.