12 Things to Optimize On Instagram
Instagram is more than just a social media platform for many online business owners. It is also a great marketing tool, and learning how to make the most of it starts with optimizing your profile for the best results. The number of people using Instagram at this very moment is startling, so you want to make sure that among that crazy number, your profile is sticking out in a given search.
Here are 12 things to optimize on Instagram to make your profile searchable and accessible.
Instagram Name
When people search for you on Instagram, the first thing they’re going to see is your name! Something that many people and business owners have started doing is including their niche or what they do directly into their Instagram name. For example, on our Instagram the name is “Social Media Marketing | Garren.” By including what you do in your Instagram name, it is more likely you’ll come up in a search for something niche specific.
Instagram Bio
Think of your Instagram bio like your elevator pitch. It should be sweet, short, and to the point- but still racked with important keywords that will help you get found in a search of your niche. This is the place for you to let people know who you are, what you do, and how you can be the answer to their problem or struggle.
Instagram Bio Link
In your bio, you can (and should) link to your website or another link that encompasses various links of yours i.e. LinkTree. You can also include a personal Instagram handle if you want to point followers to another account they may be interested in.
Story Highlights
Having optimized story highlights on your page makes your content so accessible for people just stumbling onto your page. Think of these highlights like a “one-stop-shop” where people can quickly check out what you do and the content you’re sharing that could be relevant to them and their needs. Part of optimizing these highlights is their names and covers. Instagram only gives you so many characters to title a highlight with, so make sure it is clear what each highlight represents or showcases. You can also create cohesive highlight covers that align with your branding that include the name of the highlight.
Content Design
If your Instagram page looks cohesive, people will be drawn to it! If your content design is aligned with your branding, not only does it make you look super put together as a brand/business owner, but it will probably make your content creation THAT much easier. By following a branding guide for your content design, you’ll take the guesswork out of content creation, and you can focus more on providing valuable information for your followers to match that already well-crafted design.
Reel Cover Images
On Instagram Reels, you have the option to include a reel cover on the videos that you create. A lot of people don’t take advantage of this feature and will just make the cover of their reel a still from the video. While this is totally fine to do, creating a reel cover allows you to explain what the video is all about with a clear and direct title and image.
Tying it into the design, you can create reel covers that match your brand and the posts that you’ve already created on your page. Using an already prepped reel cover and inserting the title makes sharing your amazing content just a bit easier.
Photo/Video Bank
Taking stock of the photos and videos you have on hand, ready to post at any given time is an important piece of content creation. If you’ve recently just re-branded, but the only photos and videos you have in your bank are from old versions of your brand or they no longer match the recent edits made, it may be time to look into some new options! As your business evolves your brand will evolve, so it’s important to keep up with the direction you’re heading rather than sticking with what you’ve always known.
Caption Hook
A caption hook is something (typically) at the top of your caption that draws the reader in, and makes them want to keep reading your content. If your posts don’t have something to call to readers and make them stop and say “hold on, I need to know more about this,” add some! They don’t have to be complex or tricky either. Some ideas to lead with could be busting a myth in your niche, hot takes, or questions that prompt readers to think.
Calls to Action
Usually at the end of your captions, you’ll want to include a call to action. This is where you tell your follower or reader what you want them to do next. Everyone needs a little push sometimes, so telling them what you want them to do next is not a bad thing! If you want to check out your website, tell them that! If you want them to read more on a topic you feel passionate about, point them to your blog!
What is important here is that you’re super clear on where you’re pointing people to go and that your links are working properly. It would be such a bummer to point folks to the link in your bio only to find that that link doesn’t actually work!
Hashtag Bank
Some people will say you MUST include 30 hashtags on your posts, some people will say hashtags aren’t an important piece of the Instagram puzzle anymore. Regardless of where you stand on the debate, hashtags are useful in increasing your reach and searchability. Having pre-made hashtag banks to include in the captions or comments of your posts that are optimized for your niche will not only increase your searchability, but it’ll (again) make your life a little easier!
Finding hashtags that are highly searchable for your niche is simple. You can search by tags in the search section on Instagram to see which hashtags are performing well in your niche. Reminder: if a hashtag has too many posts that use that tag, it may be wise to scale back and use some tags with fewer posts associated with them. Having a healthy balance is key!
Dm Automations
Sending DM’s can be a daunting task if you’re not someone who loves to put themselves out there in that way. But hey, to some degree it comes with the territory of being a business owner! If this is you, automating your DM’s might be the way to go. By having a few blurbs with fill in the blanks already written out to send to new followers or existing leads, you’ll feel more confident in what you’re sending!
Who You’re Following
The people that you’re following are just as important as the followers you’re looking to gain! Following people who you may view as “competitors” may not be such a bad thing, as it may give you the opportunity to collaborate with them on certain projects, ultimately getting you in front of their audience and expanding your reach.
Being able to engage with the people you’re following is also important, not only for engagement rates, but for your growth! If you’re on someone else's page being an active participant in their business, other people will notice. A comment you leave on someone’s page could lead one of their followers to check out your page, and they may feel aligned with what you’re doing and want to follow along!
After looking at this list, where can you improve your account to feel better, look better, and perform better? Comment right on this post, or on my Instagram!
