You might think SEO is just for websites. But it also comes into play on social media! Instagram SEO encompasses similar tactics and practices to get your profile and content in front of the right people who will benefit from seeing it. Ultimately, SEO (or “search engine optimization”) is about making sure users are able to find the most helpful, relevant content for the search terms they are using. For your business, it enhances your discoverability and helps out your content and services in front of the people who need them.
Why is Instagram SEO important?
Instagram has over 1.35 billion monthly users, and with so much content to sift through, SEO plays a huge role in what content gets served to which users.
And as user behavior shifts, people are spending less time scrolling through their feeds and interacting only with accounts they follow. They’re using Instagram’s search functions to find what they need, whether that’s a local coffee bar or new boutique. Ensuring your content is optimized for those search terms improves your chances of getting in front of those potential customers.
What are Keywords?
Keywords are “terms added to online content in order to improve search engine rankings for those terms.” In short, you consider what your potential clients would look for if they weren’t aware of your specific business yet, but needed what you offer, and include those keywords in your content.
Some potential keywords for designers include
- [your location] interior design
- [your location] bathroom/kitchen/home remodel
- interior design services
- interior designer for [insert dream client]
Can I do SEO on my own Instagram?
Absolutely – Instagram SEO is easier than website SEO, and can be done well with little extra work beyond a well-optimized profile and creating quality content around the topics your ideal client is looking for.
How do I find SEO Keywords for Instagram?
When looking for keywords, it’s best to go straight to the source: the instagram search bar! Start by typing in terms you think apply to your business and target market.
You can also talk to potential and current clients to get feedback from them on what words they would use to look up the solution to their problems. For example, if you’re an interior designer, what would a potential client type into google or Instagram when looking to hire someone to help with their home?
Where on Instagram can you utilize SEO?
There are a few places on Instagram where SEO comes into play.
Your Name Field
First and foremost, your name field is one of the most searchable areas of Instagram! By using terms that a potential client would look up in the search bar (without knowing your business first), you can get in front of people who didn’t know about you yet. And after all, that’s the whole point of marketing 😉 I know it’s tempting to use your “real” business name there, but that’s likely already your username. Make the most of this space with more general, searchable terms.
For example, if you’re a Texas-based interior designer, your name field could read Texas Interior Design Studio | Luxury Home Design
Or if you’re a social media manager looking to attract new clients in a specific niche, you might put [Your Name] | Social Media Manager for Beauty and Wellness Brands
The more likely a potential client would look up those terms to find a solution for the problem you solve, the better!
Your Content + Copy
Your content is another place to include those relevant search terms for Instagram SEO. Throughout your on-video text, carousel text, and captions, utilize the words your ideal client would use to describe what they’re looking for (naturally! You don’t want to sound like a robot).
Your Hashtags
Yes, you can still use hashtags to improve reach and discoverability on Instagram. They aren’t a magic pill, BUT they can increase your post’s reach by about 11%. Definitely not something you want to skip over!
You may have also seen some people forgoing hashtags in favor of “keyword” stuffing the end of their posts. While both serve the function of putting keywords in your content, I prefer (and recommend to clients) that we still use hashtags because your content can then show up under that hashtag as well as for the search term alone.
Alt Text
Add your chosen keywords to the alt text description of your posts on Instagram when publishing. This helps to improve your discoverability for those terms.
How do you improve Instagram SEO?
You can improve your discoverability through Instagram SEO by
- naturally weaving in search terms on your profile and in your content
- creating content around topics your potential clients are looking for
- talking to your ideal clients and finding out what words they use to describe their needs and desires
How do I get my Instagram indexed by Google?
You may be wondering, does Instagram SEO matter in the grand scheme of things – beyond Instagram? And it absolutely does. Your Instagram content is not only searchable on Insta itself, but Google as well. You can utilize your profile and the content and copy on your social media profile to rank for search terms the same way you would use your website copy.
Evidence of Instagram SEO Paying Off
And if you need proof that Instagram SEO also helps with google, here it is! When you look up “social media manager for interior designers”, my Instagram profile is on the first page of google – helping me get in front of potential clients who may never have come across me on Instagram.
How do I get started with Instagram SEO?
You can begin improving your discoverability as soon as you’ve finished reading this blog post! Here is an easy to follow checklist to optimize your profile:
- Ensure you’re using search terms in your name field that describe what your potential clients would look for
- Utilize those keywords consistently in your content, captions, hashtags and alt text
- Pay attention to how your potential clients are talking about their needs on social media. You can look to those words for content inspiration!
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