HOW TO DO SEO FOR INSTAGRAM
Instagram is among the most popular social media platforms with 24 billion active users. Many South Africans use Instagram to promote their business, and many individuals use Instagram to make money by promoting affiliate marketing products. Instagram does not pay for viewers, but it offers the potential to drive tons of traffic to your posts.
Knowing how to optimize your Instagram account can drive targeted traffic from Instagram and other popular websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google. This article will discuss how to implement an effective SEO strategy that will drive organic traffic from Instagram and other Social Media Accounts.
KEYWORD RESEARCH
The first part of SEO of your Instagram Advertising Adventure. Uncover valuable keywords and optimize your account around important keywords for your industry. Your Instagram account should be built around one Primary Keyword and Multiple Secondary Keywords. The primary keyword is the keyword that your audience would most likely search on Instagram. Use the recommended tool below to find relevant and high-traffic keywords- https://keywordtool.io/instagram.
OPTIMIZING YOUR ACCOUNT
USERNAME
Include your Brand Name in this section. If your brand name includes your primary keyword, it will benefit your SEO. One of the most important parts of SEO is having your keyword appear in your URL. When you update your username, your URL will appear as: instagram.com/yourusername.
NAME FIELD
The name field is one of the first things your audience will see, as it appears directly below your Username. This field is searchable which means your profile can appear when individuals search for your services or products. You should include your primary keyword in this section. It is limited to 30 characters long.
BIO
Describe your business here and incorporate primary and secondary keywords naturally in your writing. Do not spam keywords here as this will negatively impact your SEO positions on Instagram. You can include a link in this section to a specific landing page or website page.
PROFILE PICTURE
Include your company logo in this section. The dimensions of your logo should be 320 X 320 pixels, and the image should not exceed 10 MB. High-contrast logos perform much better than low-contrast logos as Instagram’s background is white.
LINK
Place the link you wish to promote in this section. The link bio allows Instagram accounts to drive traffic to a specific website. The link is flexible and can be changed or updated regularly. Many Instagram accounts use Linktree to display multiple links if they offer services or products.
CONTENT STRATEGY
HIGH QUALITY CONTENT
This is the most important part of your marketing journey. Without creating high-quality content that is informative and entertaining, it will be hard to find organic success with Instagram. Popular content shared across Instagram can grab the attention of external sources such as Google. Google can drive even more traffic to your Instagram Profile by placing it on Page 1 for specific keywords. Create content that is funny, useful, or establishes an emotional connection with your audience. You should include your Keywords in the following parts of your posts:
CAPTIONS TIPS
Captions is a section that allows you to describe your posts. You should include your primary and secondary keywords in this section.
HASHTAG TIPS
Include a variety of Hashtags in this section. Hashtags should include niche and broad keywords people will most likely use.
ALT TAGS TIPS
Alt Tags are alternative text displayed in the place of an image. Include your primary and secondary keywords in your Alt Tags to make your post more optimized.
LOCATION TAGS TIPS
Location tags can drive local traffic to your Instagram Profile. Competing in the local market is easier to rank organically than competing in the global market.
CONSISTENT POSTING
There is no specific rule with Instagram posting but it is recommended that Instagram accounts post between 3-5 posts per week. If you have the time and resources, it is recommended that you post once per day, and make sure you offer value. It’s important to post your content when your audience will be the most active during the day. This will help you reach as many users as possible.
VARIATION POSTING
It is advisable to use all variations of Instagram’s posting options for effective SEO. There are 4 types of posts:
1. Carousel
2. Video
3. Reels
CAROUSEL POST
This is a carousel of rotating images and videos. You are allowed to add up to 10 photos per post. Carousel posts usually include storytelling, before-and-after results, or step-by-step guides.
VIDEO POST
This is a video post that can be displayed for 60 seconds. These types of videos can provide snippets of advice, such as mini-tutorials. Videos can also promote special offers and products.
REELS
Reels are like videos but can be displayed for 90 seconds. Reels can include music and sound effects which makes them more engaging. Reels should be your SEO focus as they are prioritized in the Explore Feed, they are more likely to go viral.
BONUS CONTENT IDEAS
POLLS AND QUESTIONS
Offer rewards to your audience for completing a series of questions in a form. Question forms help better understand your audience.
PRODUCT CREATION
Display the process behind the creation of your products to increase trust with your audience. Displaying quality control and professionalism here promotes sales.
HAPPY WORKERS
Displaying workers in a happy and friendly environment creates a sense of warmth and professionalism.
TIPS AND TRICKS
Share useful tips with your audience that will positively contribute to their daily lives. Adding value to your posts will have your audience coming back for more.
TESTIMONIALS
Real-life testimonials play a major influence in the decision-making process of purchasing a product.
CASE STUDIES
Case studies prove the quality of your services or products, and how they impacted the client’s life.
QUOTES
Mentioning popular quotes relative to your brand can establish an emotional connection with your audience, as people are inspired by Quotes.
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
INTERACT WITH FOLLOWERS
Interacting with your followers is a smart way to create loyalty. Followers appreciate it when creators like or respond to their comments. It appears admirable and down-to-earth for creators to communicate with their audience. Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful form of marketing today, and winning the hearts of your audience will naturally grow your SEO for Instagram.
PARTNER UP WITH OTHER FOLLOWERS
Another method of growing your audience is partnering up with another creator who compliments your field of industry. Partnerships can lead to a healthy exchange of followers between Instagram accounts and can maximize exposure for both parties.
ANALYTICS
INSTAGRAM INSIGHTS
As we mentioned, top-quality content is key. Understanding
how your audience engages with your content will allow you to tweak your
content for better results. Adding and editing content is like an art, with
lots of practice, you will find the perfect execution. Instagram insights give
information regarding engagement, demographics, and reach. This information
will allow you to tweak your content, hashtags, and posting times.