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How to get featured on explore page instagram


How to Get on the Instagram Explore Page 2023

When it comes to Instagram, getting on the Explore page is a surefire way to gain more exposure. Through the Explore page, you can maximize your reach and get your content in front of relevant users and potential customers. That means more views and impressions and possibly more Instagram followers.

How can your brand make the most of this prime real estate and get on the Instagram Explore page? Let’s find out.

  • What is the Instagram Explore page?
  • Why does it matter to your brand?
  • How does the Instagram Explore page algorithm work?
  • 5 tips for getting on the Instagram Explore page

What is the Instagram Explore page?

The Explore page on Instagram is a collection of content based on a user’s individual interests. The Instagram algorithm curates content based on similar accounts or content interacted with. The Explore page includes photos, videos, Reels and even Stories. Instagram curates the content on this page to the taste of each user, so no two Explore pages are alike.

Instagram users access the Explore page by tapping on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the app screen.

Source: Instagram

From the top search bar, you can use keywords to find popular content, accounts and tags related to a specific topic.

You can further filter the results according to niche categories. For example, the Explore page for “DIY crafts” shows more filters to narrow down your search by material or medium. This helps Instagram users get specific with their searches. As a business owner, it can give you ideas on what type of content your customers are looking for based on the search results Instagram returns.

Why the Instagram Explore page matters to your brand

Your brand should care about getting on the Instagram Explore page because it means more people may see your content. With Instagram projected to have nearly 1.2 billion monthly active users by 2023, this increased visibility will have several related benefits:

  • Increased followers: More than 200 million accounts visit the Instagram Explore page daily. That’s 50% of the platform user base. And among these users, Instagram will display your content in front of those who are most likely to be interested in your account. This means you have a good chance of turning some of them into new followers.
  • Increased engagement: If users like the content they see, they’re likely to engage with it by liking, commenting or even sharing with friends. So when they discover your content through the Explore page, it could boost engagement for your brand.
  • Increased sales: When more people discover your content through the Explore page, it helps get your products in front of the right people. Moreover, your shoppable Instagram posts can also show up in the Explore page. More people discovering your products could translate to an increase in sales.

How the Instagram Explore page algorithm works

Instagram uses a Feed Ranking System to personalize each user’s feed and Explore page. The Explore page algorithm relies on machine learning to collect ranking signals and decide what to display. It uses an “unconnected recommendation system,” where the platform chooses posts based on each user’s activity on Instagram.

The Instagram algorithm then ranks these posts based on several factors. These factors include engagement, freshness, content quality and relevance.

To sum up, Instagram personalizes the Explore page based on:

  • Posts that are fresh and see a ton of engagement
  • The types of content you regularly engage with
  • Accounts that you’re already following
  • The types of posts that see engagement from people you follow

For example, let’s say you follow a lot of food accounts and engage with Reels related to cooking. In this case, Instagram will collect popular food-related content for your Explore page.

The ranking system is currently based on relevance and interaction. As long as they meet the necessary criteria, Instagram equally favors content from all types of accounts. This is great news if you’re running an Instagram business account. It means you stand as good a chance of getting on the Explore page as an influencer or a personal account.

5 tips on how to get on the Instagram Explore page

With millions of posts created every day, visibility on Instagram is very competitive. This also makes it challenging for posts to show up in the Explore page. Use the following best practices for Instagram to improve your chances:

1. Share engaging content

Engagement is one of the major ranking signals that the Instagram Explore page algorithm looks for. Creating engaging content is easier said than done. Take a look at your existing content and your target audience. What types of Instagram content do they engage with the most? A quick Instagram audit can help you with these discoveries.

Ideally, your content should have two main qualities – it should be useful and it should catch the eye. Does your content add value? Does it help your followers achieve anything or solve a problem? Or perhaps it informs and educates them. You could even create content just to entertain them if that aligns with your brand personality.

2. Get inspiration from other posts on the Explore page

If you’re not sure how to create engaging content, look at what types of content usually make it to the Explore page. This can inspire you to create the kinds of posts your target audience is engaging with. It can show you what approach is working for other accounts relevant to your industry so you can get inspired and craft your content strategy.

Perhaps people are enjoying bite-sized how-to videos. Or maybe infographic carousels seem to see high levels of engagement. Do you see more “before and after” transformations than regular customer stories?

Make a note of the winning “recipes” and find a way to use them for your own Instagram content strategy.

3. Perfect your timing for optimal engagement

Timing is an important factor when it comes to getting engagement on social media. With thousands of new content coming up every minute, your post could get lost in the feed if it doesn’t see immediate engagement. The key to tackling this problem is by posting when your followers are most likely to see it.

The best time to post can vary by location, industry and audience. So take a look at how your own followers are behaving to understand when to publish your content. A platform like Sprout Social makes it easy to find your best times to post. With the Optimal Send Times feature Sprout uses engagement data from your profiles to identify the best times to post for the most audience engagement.

 4. Keep things fresh with new formats

When Instagram introduces new content formats, it tends to display these formats prominently for users to engage with. Notice how Reels have a dedicated tab on the Instagram app. It’s because Instagram wants the feature to succeed.

Creating Reels improves your chances of driving engagement and organic reach. It can also help diversify your feed, allowing you to keep your audience interested and engaged. Beyond Reels, make sure you experiment with other content formats as well. This can include Stories, carousels and shoppable posts. Ideally, take a look at the trending content format right now and then leverage it for your own strategy.

For example, Sprout’s Instagram account regularly switches up formats to include videos, carousel infographics, employee spotlight photos and Reels keep the feed diversified.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sprout Social (@sproutsocial)

5. Consider investing in paid ads

Reaching audiences through organic posts can be hard, so it helps if you can amplify your efforts with some paid ads. Instagram allows you to run ads in Explore, which prominently displays your content to users browsing the Explore page.

Keep in mind that these ads won’t guarantee you a spot on the main Explore page. But they will appear when a user clicks on one of the posts from their Explore page and scrolls down. This still significantly improves your content visibility. And it allows you to reach relevant users even if you haven’t made it to their organic Explore page.

Earning your place on the Instagram Explore page

More than 157 million Instagram users are in the US and are the second largest audience group by country. So leveraging the Explore page gives you the potential to reach millions of new and relevant users.

The good news is that getting on the Instagram Explore page doesn’t have to be rocket science. Using the right blend of good content, timing and fresh content formats can get you ahead of the race. But to perfect your approach, you need to have a better understanding of what your audience wants to see from you.

Want to know what consumers expect from brands on social? Download the Sprout Social Index™: Social Media Trends in 2022 & Beyond to discover valuable insights about social consumers.

How to Get On The Instagram Explore Page in 2023

Instagram Tips & Resources

By Erica Salvalaggio

•

Updated on November 10, 2022

•

8 minute read

Discover 10 ways to land on the Explore Page 🚀

Published November 10, 2022

Getting featured on Instagram's Explore Page is one of the most underrated discovery tools on the app.

As a feed of content, curated by the algorithm, the Explore Page can help you reach the right audience, boost engagement, and grow on the platform.

So, how do you secure a spot on Instagram's Explore Page? We're sharing 10 tried-and-tested tips, below.

How Does the Instagram Explore Page Algorithm Work?

Instagram's Explore Page algorithm curates content on a user-by-user basis, making every Explore Page unique.

It does this by tracking the type of content users regularly interact with, and showing related posts on their Explore Page.

To access the Explore Page, users can simply click the magnifying glass symbol at the bottom left of their screen:

According to Instagram, content on the Explore Page exclusively comes from accounts you don’t already follow, since its purpose is “to help you discover new things.”

Keeping this in mind, landing a coveted spot on Instagram's Explore Page can give your content a serious boost in engagement — especially as you'll be reaching people who already engage with similar posts or videos.

To learn more about the Explore Page algorithm, read: This Is How the Instagram Algorithm Works

How to Get on the Instagram Explore Page

Instagram's Explore Page is curated by the app’s algorithm, which decides what content to serve users based on two main factors: 

  1. What type of posts a user has previously engaged with

  2. How much engagement (including likes, comments, and shares) a relevant post has

In other words: The number one way to get your posts on the Instagram Explore Page is to make them as engaging as possible.

But there are other things you can do to improve your chances too. Discover these 10 tactics below:

  1. Take a Look at Your Own Explore Page

  2. Start Making Reels 

  3. Post When Your Audience Is Online 

  4. Experiment With Carousel Posts

  5. Use Strategic Hashtags

  6. Partner With Other Brands and Creators 

  7. Run Contests and Giveaways  

  8. Add Keywords to Your Post Caption

  9. Use Instagram Analytics to See What’s Working 

  10. Try Instagram Explore Ads

Tip #1: Take a Look at Your Own Explore Page

Before you start creating new content, take a step back and do some research.

Spend time on your own Explore Page and ask yourself: 

  • What types of posts are featured?

  • What hashtags and keywords are used in the captions?

  • What makes these posts so engaging?

Once you have a better sense of what works, you can use this as inspiration for your own content strategy.

FYI: Later is a social media management tool trusted by over 4M brands, creators, and social media managers. Create an account today — for free:

Tip #2: Start Making Reels 

It's no secret, Instagram is prioritizing Reels.

The popular video feature is showing no signs of slowing down, so it’s important to make Reels a big part of your strategy in 2023 — especially if you want to get on the Explore Page. 

With Later, you can level-up your Instagram Reels strategy by planning and scheduling your content in advance. Learn everything you need to know in the video, below:

Tip #3: Post When Your Audience Is Online 

Your content has a much better chance at increased reach and engagement if you post when your audience is online.

But how do you know when that is? 

After analyzing over 35M feed posts, we discovered that the average best times to post on Instagram throughout the week are: 

  • Monday: 5 AM

  • Tuesday: 6 AM

  • Wednesday: 6 AM

  • Thursday: 5 AM

  • Friday: 6 AM

  • Saturday: 6 AM

  • Sunday: 6 AM

PS: When you create a Later account, you can take advantage of the Best Time to Post feature so you can reach your unique audience when they’re most active.

That way you can boost engagement and increase your chances of landing a spot on the Explore Page — talk about a major win!

Tip #4: Experiment With Carousel Posts

Another way to boost engagement on Instagram is by experimenting with different post formats.

Think: Single static images, carousels, and video content.

Here at Later, we discovered that carousel posts have the highest average engagement rate of all feed post types (excluding Reels):

The takeaway? While it's great to mix up the formats you're using, getting creative with carousel posts can help you get more engagement.

Looking for a little inspiration? Check out these eight creative ways to use carousel posts on Instagram.

Tip #5: Use Strategic Hashtags

Hashtags may not be as popular as they were in 2012 but they’re still a valuable tool for discoverability and increasing your odds of appearing on the Explore Page. 

Think of them as a way to label your content.  

Instagram will try its best to label your posts accurately, even if you don’t have hashtags, but including them makes categorization simpler for the algorithm.

It also makes it easier for Instagram to serve your posts to the most relevant users.

Follow in the footsteps of British baker Lily Vanilli, and use a combination of broad (#cakes) and specific (#edibleflowers) hashtags to describe your post, your industry, and target audience:

Want to level-up your hashtag strategy? With Later’s Instagram Hashtag tools, you can find the most relevant hashtags for your content — in just a few clicks. 

Tip #6: Partner With Other Brands and Creators  

Partnering with brands and creators on Instagram means you can easily tap into each other’s audiences — a handy tactic to increase your engagement and secure more Explore Page features. 

And in any good partnership, the collaborators should share something in common.

That way, content that comes out of your collaboration resonates with both audiences equally — leading to higher engagement.

Take for example this partnership between cosmetics brand Kosas and beauty influencer Steph Hui:

Since both camps share similar ethos and work in the same industry, the collab (and content produced!) feels like a natural fit.

It’s the perfect recipe for landing on tons of Instagram Explore Pages!

Tip #7: Run Contests and Giveaways  

On Instagram, contests and giveaways are an effective way to encourage engagement from your community, reach new audiences, and get on the Explore Page. 

It’s even better if, like Toronto-based vegan restaurant chain Fresh, you combine this tip with the previous one (collaborate with another business or creator) to run a joint giveaway.

Double the visibility and engagement? Check!

Launch your first Instagram giveaway without a hitch by following our step-by-step guide: How to Host an Instagram Giveaway

Tip #8: Add Keywords to Your Captions

Adding keywords to your captions can help the Explore Page's algorithm understand what your content is all about.

The best Instagram captions have:

  1. A killer first line that introduces the topic and convinces you to keep reading

  2. A specific call-to-action (if you want viewers to leave a comment or go to your website, tell them!)

  3. Clear, descriptive language that’s easy for the average user to understand

  4. A consistent tone of voice so your audience can differentiate you from other brands

While all of the above elements are important, the third point is the most essential to get on Instagram's Explore Page.

By using relevant, descriptive keywords in your Instagram captions, you can help the algorithm label your content correctly.

TIP: When writing your captions, brainstorm possible keywords that you can weave throughout your copy.

Tip #9: Use Instagram Analytics to See What’s Working 

Sometimes your best-performing Instagram posts will surprise you.

A photo, video, or Reel that you didn’t think would resonate does, and vice-versa. That’s why it’s crucial to track your social media performance. 

You can access your Instagram analytics directly through the app, but it’s often easier to use a third-party tool, like Later's Instagram Analytics, to measure how your posts are performing.

Later's Instagram Analytics lets you track up to 12 months worth of Instagram feed posts, Reels, and Stories, and filter by key metrics like engagement, reach, likes, comments, and more.

It’s the easiest way to get a visual overview of what posts are performing best, so you can tailor your strategy and get on as many Instagram Explore Pages as possible.

Start tracking your Instagram Analytics with Later's in-depth tools, today:

Tip #10: Try Instagram Explore Ads   

If you’re looking for a guaranteed way to reach users via the Instagram Explore page, Explore Page Ad placements are a solid option.  

Image via Instagram

While your ads won’t appear directly on the Explore Page, once a user clicks on a post from their Explore Page, they will appear between non-paid photos and videos in-feed.

It's a sure-fire way to extent your reach and improve your visibility on the app.

So there you have it — 10 different ways to increase your chances of landing a coveted spot on the Instagram Explore Page (and getting more engagement too).

Test out Reels and carousels, run a contest or two, experiment, track your performance, and most importantly, have fun!

ICYMI: With Later you can manage your Instagram posts, prep in advance, and more — for free:

About the Author

Erica Salvalaggio

Erica is a Toronto-based content writer with a love of alliteration and a background in public relations. Her dream is to climb Mount Everest. Say hi to her on Instagram — @ericasalvalaggio.

Plan, schedule, and automatically publish your social media posts with Later.

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© 2023 Later. All Rights Reserved.

How to get on the Instagram Search & Explore tab in 2021

Getting on the Instagram Search & Explore tab on social media is like finding a goldmine: when it happens, life becomes easier.

Your social media visibility is mostly driven by paid advertising, but Instagram's Search & Explore page remains one of the last frontiers for organic reach.

Instagram's fine-tuned algorithm has gotten really good at suggesting content that people might be interested in using the recommendation feed. And even too good when it comes to spreading disinformation. nine0003

Responding to both honest users and scammers, the algorithm is constantly evolving and learning to identify problematic content, eliminate misinformation, promote new formats, and connect people with trusted communities on the platform.

For businesses, the benefits of being featured on the Search & Explore tab include a potential boost in reach, impressions, and sales. This is how your audience can grow and become a community. Learn about the latest algorithm updates and how to get to the Search & Explore tab for sure. nine0003

Table of Contents

What is the Instagram Search & Explore tab?

How does the Search & Explore tab algorithm work?

Benefits of getting into the Search & Explore tab

How to get into the Search & Explore tab: 9 tips

How to reset your preferences on the Instagram Search & Explore tab if you don't like what you see

What is the Instagram Search & Explore tab?

Instagram's Search & Explore tab is a customized collection of public photos, videos, Reels, and Stories to help each individual Instagram user see posts, accounts, hashtags, or products they might like. nine0003

The algorithm behind the recommendation selection uses machine learning to tune and improve content recommendations.

"We're working on updating the types of photos and videos you see in the recommendations tab to better match your interests,"ー explains in the Instagram help center. According to the company, the posts displayed are selected "based on factors like the people you follow or the posts you like." nine0003

The Search & Explore page can be found by tapping the magnifying glass icon in the bottom menu before the Reels and Shop reels tabs. At the top of the feed, people can search for accounts, hashtags, and places. In November, Instagram added the ability to search by keywords, expanding search beyond usernames and hashtags.

Source: @VishalShahIs Twitter

Below are the various categories, from a dedicated IGTV feed to topics like music, sports, travel, beauty, and food. Expect new categories like "audio" to be added here soon. When you search for something, the category options change accordingly. nine0003

When you click on a photo in a recommendation, a continuous feed opens scrolling through the content associated with that photo. So in a sense, the Search & Recommendations page is a huge flood of portals for more feeds of content, each more detailed and focused than the last.

According to Instagram, 200 million accounts visit the Search & Recommendations tab every day.

How does the Search & Explore tab algorithm work? nine0015

Instagram doesn't have two Search and Explore tabs that are the same. This is because the content a person sees when they open the Search & Explore tab is personalized by Instagram's interesting source ranking system.

Known as the Instagram Algorithm , the system uses machine learning to customize the displayed content using various data sources and ranking signals.

“Unlike the homepage feed, where people see the posts of the accounts they follow, the Instagram developers classify the Search & Explore tab as a “decoupled system. ” In this system, posts are selected "based on the user's activity on Instagram, and then ranked based on similar factors" , ー explains Amog Mahapatra, one of the company's machine learning researchers, in a recent article on the Instagram blog.

Unrelated recommendations

Generation => publications -
candidates

Candidate's choice =>

Display

Based on Instagram activity

Rank posts based on engagement and content

Show top posts

Source: Instagram

In other words, each Instagram user's choice of content on the Search & Explore tab depends on:

  • Accounts they follow.
  • What people who follow this account like. nine0129
  • Types of posts that the account frequently interacts with.
  • Posts with high engagement.

Some steps have also been taken to remove algorithmic bias, such as the introduction of machine learning model cards.

Does an Instagram business account affect rankings in the Search & Explore news feed?

Currently, Instagram's ranking system prioritizes the accounts people interact with the most, whether they're business accounts, creator accounts, or personal accounts. nine0003

"Our goal is to enable businesses to connect more closely with their audiences and be found by people who want to follow their interest deeper than the accounts they already follow," says Instagram's business help section. .

Benefits of being featured on the Search & Explore tab

Getting featured on the Recommendations tab on Instagram will make your content more visible. Accordingly, the benefits can be as follows:

  • Increased engagement with featured content (post, IGTV video, or Reel video) as your content becomes available to a wider audience than just subscribers.
  • The influx of new followers (people who liked the post so much that they went to your account and were impressed by the profile description, the covers of eternal stories, etc.).
  • Residual increase in future engagement (from these new subscribers).
  • More conversions (if you have a good call to action that suits a new audience). nine0129
  • Sales growth due to product tags and trading tools on Instagram.

Impressive? Let's see how to achieve this.

How to get to the Search & Explore tab:


9 tips

Follow these tips to get on the Search & Explore tab in no time!

1. Get to know your target market better

Your audience is already following you. So, to get to the Search & Explore page, take it one step further ー get to know your audience better. Get to know the audience demographics on Instagram, identify the target audience segments you'd like to reach with the recommendations tab, and learn what content those users interact with the most. nine0003

Start with your business account's Search & Explore feed. Study posts, categories, and niche channels and pay attention to tactics you could use. Here are some questions you might want to ask during this session:

  • What tone of communication resonates most with the audience?
  • What is the best visual style?
  • What type of publication caption gets the most responses?

2. Share interesting content

By better understanding what content appeals to your target audience, you can boost engagement on Instagram yourself. Apply audience research to your brand's social media content strategy.

When it comes to engagement, videos take precedence over static images because they automatically play in the Search & Explore tab and are often given more space in the feed. But still images with product tags, carousel format or amazing images can be interesting too. Also, don't lose sight of compelling copy for your post. nine0003

EMBEDDED VIDEO

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNlIlhRh3Pq/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=60949cd8-c4eb-44ab-a351-ef3f9f21eede

Follow best practices for each content format. Share high-quality images, engage viewers early, and offer something of value, from great stories to loyalty rewards.

Remember that engagement goes beyond likes and comments. So strive to create content that people will want to share and/or keep. nine0003

3. Try popular formats like Reels

It's no secret that Instagram wants the Reels format to succeed. There's a reason these videos appear in both the Search & Explore tab and the tab dedicated to them. The Search & Explore tab is so important to the Instagram user experience that the entire homepage has been completely redesigned to include the Reels format.

If your video is found on the Reels tab, chances are you will be found on the Search & Explore tab as well. However, take your time to repost a video from TikTok. Apparently, the Instagram algorithm downgrades videos that have a TikTok watermark. nine0003

Test different formats like Reels or IGTV to see which vertical videos provide the most reach. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates on which formats the company should prioritize at the moment.

4. Develop an active community

One of the main goals of Instagram's Search & Explore page is to show people interesting communities on the platform. Building a community is key to Instagram's success, which means it should also be key to your marketing plan. nine0003

The more active your brand's community on Instagram, the more likely it is that Instagram will recommend it to "Lookalike Audiences" on the "Search & Explore" page.

Give your audience ample opportunity to interact with your profile. Start discussions and participate in discussions related to your company in the comments section, in private messages, and on other active company channels. Encourage the community to turn on notifications for your posts so they can view them as quickly as possible. nine0003

5. Post when your followers are online

The Instagram algorithm prioritizes post relevance (also known as newness). This means that if your post is new, it will be shown to more of your followers. The high engagement of your followers is the first step to getting a spot on the Search & Explore tab.

Check out an analysis of the best time to post on Instagram for your industry, take a look at the stats, or use the Hootsuite post builder to figure out when your audience is online. Or take a look at Hootsuite Labs on YouTube to learn all of the above in a nutshell:

Pro Tip: If your audience is online when you're not online, Instagram's post scheduler is your best bet.

6. Use the right tags

Geotags, account tags, and hashtags are additional ways to expand your content's reach in the Search & Explore ecosystem.

Remember that people use this tab to search by hashtag and location. If a particular hashtag generates interest, you can now follow it. Choose strategic Instagram hashtags and geotags to ensure your content appears where people are looking for it. nine0003

Account tags provide another way to draw the attention of a new audience to your posts. Be sure to tag relevant accounts in your posts, whether it be the CEO of the company, partners of the company (including influencers), a photographer, or an illustrator.

Share posts with your audience to build a community and increase reach and engagement at the same time.

Rouge
Good morning everyone!

If you can get your audience to consistently like posts and leave comments, the engagement of these people will help you get on the Search & Explore tab.

Look at the stats to see if your most notable posts made it to the Search & Explore tab. Click the blue "View Stats" button below your precious post and swipe up to see where the impressions came from.

Pro tip: Use Hootsuite's Post Performance Tool to identify the top performing posts and adjust your strategy accordingly.

8. Consider ads in the Search & Explore tab

If you're ready to bolster your organic traffic efforts and invest in ads, consider ads in the Search & Explore feed.

Posts like this don't go straight into the recommendations feed grid. They put you in a better position: a scrolling stream of photos and videos that appear when someone clicks on a post in the grid. nine0003

Instagram Search & Explore Tab: Photo & Video Grid

Promotional Post in Search & Explore Feed: Scrollable Newsfeed of Photos & Videos

Promotional Video Post in Search & Explore Feed: scrollable video feed
Source: Instagram

Just don't think it's easy. To recoup your investment in ads on the Search & Explore tab, a post needs to be as compelling as the posts around it. Difficult task, right? nine0003

9. Don't try to bypass the algorithm

Creating groups of accomplices who like each other's Instagram posts or buying followers can bring short-term benefits, but usually doesn't pay off in the long run.

“Instagram feed ranking is based on machine learning and the algorithm constantly adapts to new data patterns. This way it can recognize inaccurate activity and make adjustments,” explains the Instagram account @creators. nine0003

Focus on creating compelling content and building a genuine company community.

How do you reset preferences on the Instagram Search & Explore tab if you don't like what you see

Don't like what you see on the Instagram Search & Explore page? Here's a quick fix: swipe down and refresh the feed. Just gently touch the screen with your thumb and slide it down until you see a spinning circle under the categories.

For a longer term solution, here's how to show the algorithm what you don't want to see:

  1. Click on the post you don't like.
  2. Click on the three dots above it.
  3. Select Not interested .

Authors: Cathy Sel, Paige Cooper, original publication. Translated by Tatyana Pushkina, especially for ConvetMonster.

How to get featured on Instagram

Instagram recommendations are a great and free way to promote your account. Likes, comments, new subscribers and growth in statistics - all this can be obtained thanks to the response of users from the interesting section. How to get recommended on Instagram? We will tell you some simple tips that will help you promote your profile and achieve popularity on the social network. nine0003

How Instagram recommendations work

Instagram recommendations is a special section that helps you find interesting new profiles, beautiful photos and useful posts. It is personalized for each user: here are collected photos that they might like, similar accounts, or just potentially important publications.

The section is useful not only for ordinary users who are looking for something interesting. It also enables companies to find a new target audience, talk about their product and increase sales. nine0003

Types of recommendations

There are two types of recommendations available to users on the social network:

Figure 1. Types of recommendations on Instagram

Recommended publications on Instagram are posts, videos, videos from IGTV and a new format that is rapidly gaining popularity - Reels. To go to the section with all the materials, just click on the magnifying glass in the mobile application or on the compass icon in the desktop format.

The account promotion system works a little differently: Instagram offers to subscribe to friends, popular blogs or new users. For example, you found an interesting profile you don't know and want to look at similar accounts, so you can simply click on the arrow next to the subscribe button and a window with a list of profiles will open. nine0003

What is shown in the Interesting section

The Interesting section is generated automatically. Everything that the user might like gets here:

Figure 2. An example of generating recommendations

Now the social network is actively promoting videos, Reels and materials from IGTV, so there will be many more such posts in the feed. Posts with shopping tags spread well: posts with a shopping cart icon for easy transition to the store.

Recommended profiles are highlighted automatically: after you subscribe to private profiles. In the desktop version, this section can be found on the main page. nine0003

Recommendation categories

The social network offers several popular categories:

Categories are available only in the mobile application: they alternate, creating an interesting feed. For example, the “Shop” category allows you to make online purchases and find products directly on Instagram: just click on the item you like, and a link to the online store, price or carousel with the seller’s goods will appear on the photo.

Figure 2. Product recommendations

Initially, the feed of this category is formed according to the general principle: a variety of products are included here, but after the first click it changes based on the user's preferences.

Products from the category may also fall into other sections. For example, if earlier you were offered products from the Beauty group, now under this tag you can find cosmetics and other similar products.

What kind of posts get into "Interesting" on Instagram

Before a post gets into the "Recommended" section, a lot of complex processes take place on the network:

Analytics

The social network studies profiles and publications, how similar they are to each other, determines their topics, highlights tags, identifies similar words and elements. Particular attention is paid to texts: it is thanks to words and combinations of words, hashtags that posts are combined into groups and checked for violations.

Content search

Social network algorithms analyze your activity: likes, subscriptions, comments, saves and sharing - the history of actions helps to generate suitable recommendations. The same scheme in the selection of thematic profiles: the application will suggest similar accounts based on what you like. nine0003

Formation of the feed

When the system has analyzed preferences and selected similar content, the application starts to form a preliminary pool of 500 publications. Then 25 pieces are selected from them - these are the posts that are most likely to be liked by you. That is, the system "billions of posts - 500 pieces - 25 pieces" and helps to achieve a high response from the user.

But in order for a post to be recommended, several additional factors are taken into account:

Figure 3. An example of a positive response to post

One of the advantages of the section is that it is constantly updated. It is enough to close the application once or just swipe the page, as all the content will immediately appear.

Formation algorithms

The application developers shared: various factors influence the distribution of content in the section:

The more often you enter the application and publish posts, the higher you will appear in the feed of other users. This principle is familiar to many: more likes - more impressions. This is what allows your active subscribers to see you first among the endless traffic. nine0003

How to understand why I was offered a particular post

Under each post that came across in the “Interesting” section, the social network adds a small gray inscription:

Figure 5. An example of creating an interesting section

One of the convenient features of the "Interesting" section is the ability to scroll through an entire feed of recommended publications. Automatic selection of content helps to find even more new and users.

How to get featured on Instagram

Getting featured on a social network is pretty easy, but you need to know a few simple secrets. The key to organic growth and promotion is high-quality content, thoughtful profile PR, and the required degree of involvement in communication with subscribers and guests.

How to get recommended to a person on Instagram? This can be done in several ways.

Targeted advertising

Official methods of promotion in social networks effectively increase coverage, and therefore increase the chances of getting into the section. nine0003

Interesting content

Clear and relevant topics, originality, profile attractiveness and memorability.

Account activity

Communication with subscribers, commentators and any activity on the page is a sign for the system that you are not a bot or fake, but a live account, so Instagram tries to encourage such profiles.

Figure 6. High-quality content in the profile

Likes, subscriber activity and your reaction to the actions of other users will help you get your place in the "Recommended". In addition, Instagram pays attention to the freshness of the publication, the regularity of posting, and other parameters. nine0003

Figure 7. Subscribers reaction to content

Quality and regular content

Instagram users love colorful and high-quality photos: diverse shots, color combinations, uniform style and nice processing. Useful texts, interactive and communication in the comments will help to supplement such posts.

Why is it important to upload photos regularly? Algorithms work in such a way that the feed is formed according to the preferences of a person, and the less often subscribers see you, the less the site offers your publications. nine0003

This principle also works in the opposite direction: spamming posts will not help in promotion, but, on the contrary, will worsen the statistics. The social network will not show all three posts published during the day, most likely it will choose one, leaving the rest without a response.

Analytics

If you think Instagram doesn't want to recommend your posts, take a look at your account statistics. It is enough to look at the reach, visits to the profile after the publication of a photo or video, and during a period of great and long lull. Obviously, those who post fresh posts are much more likely to get into someone's feed than those who have not posted anything for a long time. nine0003

Figure 8. Publication statistics

Profile analytics helps generate recommendations: the system studies your likes, marks, clicks, and implements targeted advertising. In a word, he does everything to make the tape meet your preferences.

If you feel like there are completely random posts in the Interesting section that you don't like, reconsider your activity. Think about what you like, what posts you send to your friends. nine0003

Different ways of promotion

Getting into recommendations is an organic and affordable way of promotion. But in some cases, other methods are also effective:

Figure 9. Ways of promotion on Instagram

You can launch ads in the feed or stories in the promotions settings. It is recommended to use already published materials or come up with a special ad for promotion. By clicking on them, you can go to your profile, website or any other resource. PR with bloggers or friends also works well. Marks on photos and mentions, reposts - all this has a good effect on statistics and brings the account to the top. nine0003

Interaction with the audience

Promotion on Instagram is always new followers, likes, comments and messages. In order to maintain activity and not spoil the statistics, it is important to respond correctly:

Seeing the response activity, users will visit the profile more often, like posts and thereby promote the account.

Geotags and hashtags

Geolocation marks and thematic hashtags are a kind of target, but without effort and spending. How to identify working hashtags? To do this, just go to the page of your favorite thematic blogger and see what combinations he uses. It is important to choose thematic or similar accounts so that the tags match the content:

You can place tags at the beginning of the post, after the text or in the first comment: this way it will not distract subscribers, but it will continue to work. When choosing marks, also do not forget that the rule “more is better” does not work here. Long canvases of bars and similar words only repel users and make navigation inconvenient.

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