So, you’ve been creating Instagram content, and yet somehow, you never really landed on someone’s Instagram Explore page.
Relax, here is the cheat code. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of Instagram Explore page, and uncover its secrets.
We’ll talk about the importance of optimizing your profile, creating engaging content, mastering the art of hashtags, and so much more.
Whether you’re an Instagram newbie or a seasoned pro, this guide is packed with tips and tricks that will help you increase your visibility, grow your follower base, and maybe, just maybe, land a spot on the Instagram Explore page.
So, are you ready to embark on this Instagram adventure? Let’s get started!
What is an Instagram Explore page?
Instagram’s Explore page is the holy grail of content discovery. This magical place is a mosaic of photos, videos, and stories tailored to your interests. It’s like a personalized buffet of visual delights, served up by Instagram’s algorithm.
The Explore page is a feature-packed hub, showcasing trending posts, IGTV previews, shopping posts, and even Stories. It’s a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, reflecting the diverse interests of Instagram’s billion-plus users.
Why do you need to be on Instagram Explore?
You might be wondering, “Why should I care about the Explore page?”
Normally, when you post, only your followers can see you. If you have few followers, the chances of increasing your engagement are very low.
But landing on the Explore page is like hitting the Instagram jackpot. It’s a golden ticket to increased visibility, more followers, and potentially, a boost in sales or brand recognition.
Being featured on the Explore page means your content is being recognized as valuable and engaging, which can significantly increase your reach beyond your existing followers.
It’s like getting a shoutout from Instagram itself!
Start with optimizing your profile
Improve your bio
First impressions matter, and your bio is your digital handshake. It should be as compelling as a movie trailer, giving a sneak peek into your brand’s story.
Quick tips for a compelling bio like Neil Patel’s:
- Use relevant keywords that resonate with your brand and audience.
- Include a clear description of what you or your brand does.
- Add a call to action such as a website link or a prompt to follow your profile.
Keep a consistent and high-quality profile picture
Your profile picture is your brand’s face. Keep it consistent, recognizable, and professional. It’s like your logo on the Instagram billboard. This consistency helps in building brand recognition. If you’re looking to create a unique and professional logo for your brand, consider using a logo maker.
When users see your profile picture, they should instantly associate it with your brand.
Here are some more best practices for Instagram profile pictures:
- Ensure your profile picture is clear and visible even in thumbnail size. Instagram profile pictures display 110 x 110 pixels, so make sure your image looks good in this dimension.
- Regularly update your profile picture to keep it fresh, but maintain a consistent theme or element that represents your brand.
- Avoid using complex images or text that may not be easily discernible.
- Consider the aesthetics of your profile picture in relation to your overall Instagram theme or color scheme.
Tip: You can use Keyhole’s profile optimization feature to improve your overall brand visibility and reach. Know what and when you should be posting. Plus, you can analzye your competitors as well and steal their best time to post on Instagram.
Create content that resonates with your audience
What are the types of content on IG?
Content is the lifeblood of Instagram. It’s the vibrant array of photos, videos, and stories that make the platform a visual feast for its users. It’s the language that brands and creators use to communicate with their audience, express their creativity, and build their online presence.
High-performing content on Instagram is more than just aesthetically pleasing. These are the types of content that resonate with your audience, spark engagement, and drive action. The kind that tells a story, evokes emotion, and aligns with your brand’s identity and values.
But what does high-performing content look like on Instagram? Here are some types of content that tend to perform well:
- Photos: High-quality, visually appealing photos that align with your brand’s aesthetic.
- Videos: Short, engaging videos that tell a story or showcase your products or services.
- Carousels: Multi-photo or video posts that allow you to share more content in a single post.
- Stories: Temporary 24-hour content that allows for real-time engagement with your audience.
- IGTV: Longer-form video content that provides deeper insights or storytelling.
- Reels: Short, 15-30 second videos that are fun, engaging, and often trend-driven.
- Guides: Curated posts or products around a specific theme or topic.
- Shopping Posts: Posts that feature your products and allow users to shop directly from Instagram.
Just a reminder: the key to high-performing content is understanding what resonates with your audience. Use Instagram Insights and tools like Keyhole to track your performance and identify your most engaging content types.
Tip: Use Keyhole to find the most engaging content type under Profile Analytics. Experiment and analyze with keyhole your winning post type.
Keep the best practices in mind
Of course, just creating content for the sake of creating won’t get you anywhere.
Sure, it’s enjoyable. But for your business to grow, you’ve got to get past that enjoyment and start looking at it from an analytical perspective.
Remember, creating content for Instagram is an art and a science, in a sense that it’s creative but also systematic.
Here are some best practices to guide you in your content creation journey:
Of course, just creating content for the sake of creating won’t get you anywhere.
Sure, it’s enjoyable. But for your business to grow, you’ve got to get past that enjoyment and start looking at it from an analytical perspective.
Remember, creating content for Instagram is an art and a science, in a sense that it’s creative but also systematic.
Here are some best practices to guide you in your content creation journey:
- Understand your audience: Know who your audience is and what they want to see. Use Instagram Insights to learn about your followers’ demographics, behaviors, and preferences.
- Maintain consistency: Keep your content consistent in terms of style, tone, and posting frequency. This helps to build your brand identity and makes your content instantly recognizable to your followers.
- Quality over quantity: Focus on creating high-quality content rather than posting frequently. A well-crafted post can generate more engagement than several mediocre ones.
- Use a variety of content types: Don’t limit yourself to just photos or videos. Experiment with different content types like Stories, Reels, IGTV, and Guides to keep your content fresh and engaging.
- Tell a story: Use your content to tell a story. Whether it’s the story of your brand, your products, or your customers, storytelling can create a deeper connection with your audience.
- Include a call to action: Encourage your audience to engage with your content by including a call to action. This could be asking a question, encouraging them to tag a friend, or directing them to your website or latest blog post.
- Optimize for engagement: Use Instagram features like hashtags, location tags, and user tags to increase the visibility of your posts. Also, consider the best times to post to reach your audience when they’re most active.
Don’t be afraid of experimenting and making mistakes. Content creation is a process of trial and error. As long as you analyze your results and adjust your strategy, you’ll improve over time.
Master the art of finding relevant hashtags
Research relevant hashtags
Hashtags are like the GPS of Instagram. They guide users to your content. So, do your homework and find the hashtags that resonate with your brand and audience. And remember, Keyhole has hashtag tracking features!
Using the right hashtags can expose your content to a larger audience. It’s important to use hashtags that are not only relevant but also popular enough to increase your chances of being discovered.
Here are some of the top-performing hashtags on the gram.
- #love (1.835B)
- #instagood (1.150B)
- #fashion (812.7M)
- #photooftheday (797.3M)
- #beautiful (661.0M)
- #art (649.9M)
- #photography (583.1M)
- #happy (578.8M)
- #picoftheday (570.8M)
- #cute (569.1M)
While these hashtags are popular, it’s important to use hashtags that are relevant to your content. Using irrelevant hashtags can lead to decreased engagement and may even result in your content being marked as spam. So, choose wisely!
Have the perfect mix
It’s all about balance, like a good diet.
Mix general hashtags with niche-specific ones to reach a wider audience while staying relevant to your brand. General hashtags can increase your reach, while niche-specific hashtags can help you connect with a more targeted audience.
Prioritising engagement with audience
Respond to comments and messages
Engagement is a two-way street. If you don’t respond frequently, how do you expect your audience to build a connection with you in the first place?
Responding to your viewers’ comments and messages can demonstrate how you love your followers.
Engaging with your audience not only builds relationships but also signals to Instagram that your content is engaging, which can boost your chances of appearing on the Explore page.
Collaborating with influencers
Collaborating with influencers is a powerful way to expand your reach and credibility on Instagram.
Influencers have a significant following and can expose your brand to a new audience, increasing your chances of getting on the Explore page.
According to a report by BigCommerce, influencer marketing is gaining more traction and investment than ever before. Here are some key statistics that highlight the power of influencer collaborations:
- 65% of influencer marketing budgets will increase in 2020: This suggests that brands are recognizing the value of influencer marketing and are willing to invest more in it.
- 89% say ROI from influencer marketing is comparable to or better than other marketing channels: This shows that influencer marketing is not just a trendy strategy, but a profitable one.
- Instagram ranks #1 for the most important and impactful channel: With over 1 billion users and a fast-growing network of influencers, Instagram has become the most important influencer marketing channel.
- 17% of companies spend over half their marketing budget on influencers: This highlights how pivotal influencer marketing has become for some companies, particularly in industries like ecommerce, fashion and beauty, gaming, travel, and lifestyle.
- The most common influencer budget is $1,000 – $10,000/year, followed by $100,000 – $500,000/year: This suggests that influencer marketing is leveraged by a range of companies, from smaller organizations to much larger brands.
These statistics underline the potential of influencer collaborations in boosting your brand’s visibility and engagement on Instagram.
However, it’s crucial to partner with influencers who align with your brand values and resonate with your target audience. This will ensure that their followers are more likely to be interested in your brand, leading to more effective collaborations.
If you’re looking for a tool to get this job done, Keyhole’s influencer management platform is the real deal. It allows you to add influencers as per campaigns so you can track their ROI. Plus, you can also track who mentions you with sentiment analysis using its listening feature.
Analyze your performance in depth
What’s working? What’s not? Instagram Insights is your personal detective, helping you track your performance.
Instagram Insights provides valuable data about your followers and how they interact with your content. Use this data to understand what types of content perform best and adjust your Instagram marketing strategy accordingly.
Here’s a more detailed guide on how to analyze your Instagram performance using Instagram Insights and Keyhole:
Using Instagram Insights
Instagram Insights is a native analytics tool that provides data on follower demographics and actions, as well as your content. This tool is available for free to anyone with a business profile on Instagram.
- Step 1: Switch to a Business Profile if you haven’t already. You can do this by going to your profile settings and clicking on “Switch to Business Profile”.
- Step 2: Once you’ve switched to a Business Profile, you’ll see an Insights option in your menu. Click on it to access your Instagram, analytics.
- Step 3: Explore the different sections in Instagram Insights:
- Activity: This shows the actions that people take when they engage with your account. It includes interactions such as profile visits and website clicks.
- Content: This shows how your posts, stories, and promotions are performing over time. It also shows the reach and impressions of your content.
- Audience: This shows information about your followers like their gender, age, and location. It also shows when your followers are most active on Instagram.
Using Keyhole
Keyhole is a real-time hashtag tracker for top social media platforms. It’s a great tool for marketers who want to understand their audience and improve their content strategy.
- Step 1: Go to the Keyhole website and sign up for a free trial or purchase a plan that suits your needs.
- Step 2: Once you’ve signed up, add your Instagram profile to the Keyhole dashboard under Profile Analytics.
- Step 3: Keyhole will then provide you with detailed analytics about the term you’re tracking. This includes top posts, recent posts, user demographics, sentiment analysis, and more.
Bonus: Identify top-performing content
Identify your star performers and give them a standing ovation. Keyhole helps in tracking advanced analytics like engagement rate and story completion rate. Plus, you can schedule unlimited posts and generate custom reports on your campaign performance.
Understanding what content performs best can help you create more of what your audience loves, increasing your chances of getting on the Explore page.
Experiment with Instagram ads
Types of Instagram ads
Ads are like your brand’s commercials on Instagram. They allow you to reach a broader audience, beyond your followers. Instagram offers a variety of ad formats to suit your brand’s needs and objectives. Here are some of the most popular types of Instagram ads:
- Image Ads: These types of ads allow businesses to showcase their products, services, or brand through a single image. They’re best suited for campaigns with compelling visual content that can be conveyed in a single image.
- Video Ads: These ads allow businesses to showcase their products or services in a more dynamic, engaging way. They can be up to 60 minutes long, but shorter videos are usually more effective.
- Carousel Ads: These ads feature a series of images or videos that users can swipe through. They’re great for showcasing a collection of related products or telling a multi-part story.
- Collection Ads: These are a combination of carousel ads and shopping ads. They showcase products directly from your product catalog, allowing users to purchase products directly from the ad.
- Explore Ads: These ads appear within the Explore tab, an area of the platform where users discover new content and accounts that are tailored based on their Instagram usage habits.
- Shopping Ads: With Instagram’s Shopping features, users can view and purchase products without leaving the app. Shopping ads take users directly to a product description page/sell sheet within the Instagram app.
- Reels Ads: With the successful launch of Reels, Instagram recently announced the ability to advertise within Reels. Ads are shown in between Reels, with similar specs to Stories ads (full-screen vertical videos), and can be up to 60 seconds.
- Story Ads: Can be videos or images that are shown on the Story feature of IG. They’re a well-used part of the app, with over 500 million Instagram users viewing Stories every day. Engagement is often higher with Stories ads, as the format covers the mobile screen and feels much more immersive than in-feed ads.
Instagram ads can be a powerful tool to increase your reach and visibility. They can be targeted based on demographics, interests, behavior, and more, ensuring they reach the right audience.
When creating your ads, consider the visual elements carefully. A well-thought-out logo design, color palette, typeface hierarchy, and image placement can make your ad stand out and be more memorable.
Additionally, using a color palette generator can help you choose the perfect colors to convey your message effectively.
Create targeted ad campaigns
Don’t just create ads. Create targeted ad campaigns that speak directly to your audience’s interests and needs. It’s like crafting a personalized message for each of your followers.
A well-targeted ad campaign can increase your visibility, drive more engagement, and ultimately, increase your chances of appearing on the Explore page.
How can Keyhole help you?
So, there you have it! Your quick guide to getting on the Instagram Explore page. From optimizing your profile and scheduling unlimited posts, these strategies are your stepping stones to Instagram success.
Remember, consistency is key, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Keep trying new things, analyzing your results, and adjusting your strategy. And don’t forget to take advantage of Keyhole to make your journey easier and more effective.
Related Articles
Ultimate Guide On How To Use Instagram Reels For Business Growth
14 Instagram Analytics Tools [Free Included] To Track IG Metrics
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Instagram Explore page?
The Instagram Explore page is a personalized page of content that Instagram believes you will enjoy, based on your past interactions. Instagram uses an algorithm that considers a variety of factors, including the types of content you interact with most and the popularity of the posts you like and share.
2. How can I increase my chances of appearing on the Instagram Explore page?
Optimize your profile, create engaging content, use relevant hashtags, engage with your audience, analyze your insights, and leverage Instagram ads. Instagram also encourages the use of its features and often rewards users who utilize them by increasing their visibility.
3. Can I pay to appear on the Instagram Explore page?
No, you cannot pay to appear on the Explore page. However, you can use Instagram ads to increase your visibility.
