If you have a business, social media can be your best friend when it comes to promoting it. Especially if your brand knows how to make the most of these tools. SEO on Instagram, for example, is a super-effective strategy that can set you apart from your competitors.
Want to learn more about how SEO works on this social network and how to use it to your advantage? I’ll tell you all about it below! Don’t waste time and check it out.
SEO on Instagram: how does it work?
If you’ve never heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), I’ll explain the concept to you quickly. This acronym stands for a set of techniques and strategies that help improve the positioning of websites within search engines such as Google, generating brand recognition, increased traffic and conversion.
Although Instagram is a social network, the logic follows the same: when applied, SEO helps to optimize both the profile and the content so that both can be found more easily by users within the platform. This is because, like search engines, Instagram also has algorithms and search functionalities that can be influenced by SEO practices.
And how does SEO work on Instagram?
As I said earlier, SEO on Instagram is possible because, like Google and other search engines, the platform also has search algorithms and features. And for your company to be seen more easily, you have to help these algorithms find you among so many other profiles.
- Keywords: As with Google, the strategic use of keywords is fundamental. For SEO on Instagram, these terms can be inserted in various places, such as the username, bio, captions and hashtags.
- Recommendation algorithm: Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content with high engagement. Therefore, posts that receive more likes, comments, shares and saves are more likely to be recommended to other users due to their relevance.
- Search and explore: users can discover new content via the “Explore” tab or by making specific searches. Having an optimized profile and posts increases your chances of appearing in these searches.
From Google to social networks
You may not have noticed it yet, but there is a trend that has been growing in recent years and promises to take hold: users are preferring to search directly on social networks, rather than using traditional search engines such as Google.
This is because social networks offer more visual, immediate and contextual results. In addition, users trust the recommendations and evaluations of their friends, family and influencers.
To take advantage of this change in behaviour and get ahead, brands need to optimize their presence on Instagram, ensuring that they are easily found and followed by their target audiences. That’s why SEO on Instagram should be one of your digital marketing strategies.
Strategies to increase the visibility of your profile
Now that you’ve got the context, let’s get down to the practical side: I’m going to tell you some Instagram SEO strategies that will help improve your profile and make it much easier to find.
1. Optimize your profile
- Name and username: use relevant keywords in your name and username. Both should be easy to find and associate with your niche. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, include “wedding photographer” in your name or bio.
- Biography: write a clear and concise biography that describes what you do. Include keywords that your target audience would be likely to search for. Also use emojis and calls to action (CTAs) to make your bio more attractive.
- Link in bio: Take advantage of the link in your bio to drive traffic to your website, blog or other social networks. Use a tool such as Linkfree to include multiple links.
2. Use keywords in captions and hashtags
- Captions: write captions that are not only attractive, but also SEO-optimized. Incorporate the content’s keywords naturally into your descriptions, but avoid overuse so that it doesn’t seem artificial.
- Hashtags: use relevant and popular hashtags in your niche. Mix high, medium and low volume hashtags to reach different audience segments. Create a personalized hashtag for your brand to encourage engagement.
Geotags and location tags
Adding geotags to your posts can increase visibility, especially for local businesses. Location tagging helps you reach users who are looking for content specific to an area.
Community engagement
- Comments and Replies: Interact with your followers by replying to comments and direct messages. This not only improves the relationship with your audience, but also increases engagement, a crucial factor for Instagram’s algorithm.
- Collaborations: Collaborate with other influencers and brands in your niche. Partnerships can extend your reach and attract new followers.
Quality content
This is one of the pillars of SEO and Instagram is no different. Invest in high-quality photos and videos. Attractive visual content is more likely to be shared and commented on.
Use all the content formats available on Instagram. Stories and Reels have great potential for reach and engagement, especially when they incorporate viral elements.
Analysis and adjustments
Always monitor the performance of your posts. Evaluate which types of content generated the most engagement and adjust your strategy as necessary to include other similar formats.
Consistency!
As well as quality content, consistency is one of the pillars of SEO. Posting regularly helps to keep your audience engaged and increase your visibility.
Combine Instagram SEO with traditional SEO
Promote your Instagram profile on other digital platforms, such as your website, blog and other social networks. Quality external links can improve SEO on Instagram. Do the same on Instagram, promoting your blog posts and landing pages.
As you can see, applying SEO on Instagram involves a combination of profile optimization, strategic use of keywords, community engagement and quality content creation.
At Super Plural, we are experts in both SEO and social media. You can count on our help to create the best strategies to boost your business’s digital marketing! Talk to us and let’s grow your brand together.