Hashtags or keywords? Both! Good keywords help your audience find your posts. Relevant hashtags boost your organic reach. They both make your content more searchable. On Instagram, optimizing your hashtags and keywords helps the algorithm understand your content and your profile better, and how Instagram understands your content plays a role in how your content is ranked. You need to give your content the best chance to be seen. If you’re doing your keyword and hashtag research right, you’re setting yourself up for success on the platform and for your posts to be found.

Let’s talk all things hashtags and keywords on Instagram!

Should You Use Hashtags or Keywords on Instagram?

You don’t have to choose. Both keywords and hashtags should be important parts of your overall Instagram strategy. Next to the quality of your posts and Reels, they are absolutely essential for attracting your target audience. Your goal is to appear in the Instagram search results, appear on people’s Explore Pages, and rank high on their feeds. Strategic keywords and hashtags will help you achieve that!

When used, strategic, relevant hashtags and keywords will help you:

• Help Instagram algorithms understand who you are and what you post so that they can show your content to your target audience
• Help your content show up in relevant Instagram search results (yes, it also applies to Reels).

Why Should You Use Keywords Alongside Hashtags?

Not all Instagram users use hashtags to look for new content. Now Instagram enables users to use the platform’s search bar exactly like they use Google or TikTok: they can type in the word or phrases they’re interested in, and they’ll get the search results.

While Instagram is considered a social media platform, it’s also slowly becoming a search engine, and as with all search engines, using relevant keywords is extremely crucial to get your posts seen by more people. 

When you use three or four relevant keywords in every caption you share, you will see better results in the long term because Instagram will know exactly what your content is about and who should see it in the first place. Your posts will appear in people’s search results, and your content will become searchable. You’ll soon find out that Instagram has much in common with search engines like Yahoo or Google.

Look, if you have a great recipe for gluten-free pancakes, and you want to share it in a form of a carousel, but you don’t describe your post and its content in the caption, Instagram is less likely to display your post to people who look for “gluten-free recipes”  in the Instagram search bar.

The smartest solution? Focus on using the most relevant keywords to communicate to Instagram algorithms WHO you are and WHAT you post about. Also, Instagram impacts Google results! If you rank well on Instagram, chances are you will rank well with Google, too. So use keywords, and use them wisely!

What’s the Difference Between Hashtags and Keywords?

Thanks to hashtags, your content’s visibility isn’t limited to just your followers. By adding 20-30 relevant hashtags to your posts, they’re accessible to all users who search for these hashtags. All the people who browse and scroll through these hashtags.

I bet you know a lot about hashtags. But keywords are something relatively new. 

What exactly are Instagram keywords? Keywords are specific words and phrases you include in your content to let Instagram know what your content is about and help your posts appear in people’s search results.

On a related note: How to Get More Views and Boost your Content’s Visibility Using Instagram Keywords

Keywords are extremely important. With their help, you can reach people actively searching for the topic, are interested in your niche, and provide them with exactly what they are looking for. This means that your posts your content will show up if the person has searched for the topic! Nowadays, we need to think of Instagram search like Google – to attract new people new potential followers, you need to appear in people’s specific searches for that specific topic.

Keywords let you reach people as they search for a specific idea. For example, if you’re sharing a post about bedroom furniture, it’s a smart idea to attract people searching for “bedroom decor” or “home decor ideas”.

Do Instagram Hashtags and Keywords Really Boost SEO? 

They do. Let the numbers speak for themselves:

Instagram uses keywords to pull up relevant posts as search results. That’s why you need to include keywords in your captions.

Knowing how to find the best hashtags and the most relevant keywords for your post makes all the difference. Instagram is amazing at sending the right people to your content but you have to include the right keywords and hashtags in your captions first.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend hours on research or guess what Instagram keywords to use. Our “Search keywords” feature will become your visibility partner and give you the best keywords for your post in a second! It really will simplify your already busy life.

Side note: The act of researching your hashtags and keywords and using them in your posts to rank higher in the algorithm is called Instagram Search Engine Optimization. Instagram SEO. That’s why keywords and hashtags are the key elements of your Instagram SEO – no wonder they boost it so much!  

The DON’TS of Instagram Keywords and Hashtags 

Of course, there are some things you shouldn’t do!

• Don’t try to be too specific. Always use hashtags and keywords that have real value, are relevant, and are recognized in your niche.
• Don’t make up new keywords on your own. It is important to know your audience and use keywords that THEY are actually using and looking for. 

Now that you know why using both hashtags and keywords is so important to grow on Instagram, do your keyword and hashtag research with IQ Hashtags right here!

Want more tips and tricks on creating and executing a killer Instagram strategy? Read our other Instagram SEO-related posts here. 

The post Hashtags and Keywords: Why Should You Use Them BOTH? appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

So how exactly do the Instagram algorithms learn what users may like? There are a few key factors we need to discuss!

How Instagram Algorithms Work? Interest – That’s a Key Factor When it Comes to The Way Instagram Algorithms  Analyze Your Content

Instagram algorithms analyze all your past behavior and engagement on the platform to determine your interests. They analyze the posts you have liked, commented on, shared or saved in the past, as well as all profiles you frequently interact with. That way, posts that align with your interests and your passions are more likely to appear higher in your personalized feed.
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How Instagram Algorithms Analyze Instagram Engagement?

We need to keep in mind that Instagram heavily relies on interactions, on user interactions. The algorithms keep track of how popular a post is by considering the number of likes, comments, shares, and saves it gets. As you can easily guess, highly engaging posts are much more likely to appear higher in users’ feeds. That’s why it’s so crucial to create posts that our audience likes to engage with – and to remind them know as often as we can that their opinions and their comments matter, because the more comments a post gets, the higher it appears in other users’ feeds as the algorithm knows it’s engaging and it sparks people’s emotions.
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Instagram Algorithms Analyze Usage of the App

 Instagram also tracks how you use the app. If you spend more time consuming certain types of content, algorithms will try to show you similar content in your feed to make you spend more and more time inside the app.
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Relevance – How Instagram Algorithms Track That Factor

Yes, this is also important. The algorithms consider the relevance of the post to you. It analyzes the captions, keywords, and image or video content to determine if it matches your interests and your preferences.

Watch time: Why watch time matters to Instagram algorithms?

Instagram wants people to stay on Instagram the same way Youtube wants people to stay on Youtube, which is why Instagram values things like session duration and Reels retention so much. Instagram has unofficially stated that the metrics they value most are watch time, average Reel view duration, audience retention, and seconds watched. Those metrics measure different ways the audience views your content and your Reels, yet they all ultimately fall under watch time. 

From my perspective, watch time is just as important as your reach and your Reel view count. Higher watch time boosts your content’s place in Instagram’s ranking algorithm.

How Instagram Algorithms Affect Your Account and Your Content

Now you know how Instagram algorithms work and which factors are the key one. You know what they track. In this chapter we’ll focus on discussing how these factors affect your content and your account. How these factors like your watch time, your engagement rate affect the way your content ranks. It will be a quick summary, as it’s a topic I will discuss more in-depth in the upcoming series dedicated only to Instagram algorithms, because the topic is so broad that if I wanted to include everything in one post, I’d need to write without any breaks for 10 hours. So I thought it will also be easier for you to consume this knowledge if I create two separate series!

Of course, let me know in the comment section if that’s something you’d love to learn more about, and if that’s a topic you’d love to dive much deeper in. It’s extremely helpful feedback for me, so please, give me your feedback, so I know more about your needs and how to help you even more.

Okay, back to the business!

How Instagram algorithms affect your account and your content?

Your Content Visibility on Your Followers’ Feeds

The algorithms decide which posts are displayed on your followers’ feeds and in what order. Content that is recognized by algorithms as more relevant and more engaging to a particular user will be ranked higher and shown more often.

Reach and engagement: The algorithm determines how many people can see your content and how many people have a chance to engage with it. So if the algorithm analyzes gathered data and sees that your content is relevant and engaging, it will be shown to more people, and it will impact and increase your reach and engagement.

Explore page: Explore page is still a very important part of Instagram platform, as it’s where users discover new content and totally new creators. And that’s pretty obvious – our goal is appearing there, so they can discover YOU. It’s important to remember that each user has a different Explore Page, as this section is extremely personalized. 

As you already know, Instagram’s algorithms curate content for the Explore page based on users’ interests and past behavior. So, if your content aligns with a user’s preferences and performs well in terms of engagement, it may appear on their Explore page. 

Hashtags’ sections: The way algorithms see your content and consider it to be engaging and relevant or not, impacts the way your posts appear in the hashtags’ section. For example if I click on the hashtag #beigeinteriors Instagram will show me the posts that its algorithms find most relevant and most engaging. Yes, Instagram’s algorithms are getting better and better at this – in the past, when browsing the top posts for the hashtag #beigeinteriors I saw many random, irrelevant posts. Now relevancy is extremely important for the platform and Instagram’s algorithms focus on that factor so much.

Stories and Reels: Instagram’s algorithms also affect how your Stories and Reels are shown to users – both your current followers and your potential new followers. Stories and Reels with higher engagement and higher relevance are much more likely to be recommended to other users and have a visibility boost.

Ad targeting: That may surprise you but Instagram also uses its algorithms to serve targeted ads to people based on their interests and all their online preferences, tendencies and their online behavior. When people run ads on Instagram, the algorithms will help ensure they are shown to the most relevant audience and it works both ways – you also see ads that are personalized for you, so you see the ads which the algorithms consider to be the most relevant to you. Dds are personalized so it will recommend what you enjoy and search, and if you search for for example women sweaters, logically ads will show you stores with sweaters. That’s just a quick and a bit cliche example, but that’s the way it works. Ads are personalized so they deliver the most relevant ad content to the right people.

The post How Instagram Algorithms Work – 5 Key Instagram Ranking Factors appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

Instagram remains a dominant force in the world of content marketing. So, how does your posts and Reels end up on someone’s feeds and Explore Pages? Yes, it’s all thanks to the Instagram algorithms! The Instagram’s algorithms match users and viewers to posts, ensuring content is served to the right audience. But what is the Instagram algorithm, have there been any updates in 2023, how can you beat it, and… Are there multiple Instagram algorithms? 

What Are Instagram Algorithms?

To put it simply, Instagram algorithms are a set of rules and calculations that Instagram uses to determine how content is displayed to users. All Instagram algorithms create a recommendation system that determines which posts and which Reels will appear on your (unique and highly personalized) feed and your Explore Page. No two users will see the same posts on their Explore Page, and the posts you see change over time based on your viewing preferences and even your current state of mind and all your preferences that Instagram algorithms track.

Algorithms are actually used by all social media platform out there (yes, TikTok and Youtube as well!) to serve us relevant content. The algorithms’ goal is to keep users glued to their screens for as long as possible. Now a technical perspective: Instagram algorithms are a series of mathematical formulas and calculations that take inputs and create a series of outputs in the form of Explore Page, Feed, Reels and Stories recommendations and all the served content.

How Many Instagram Algorithms Are There?

Many parts of the way Instagram algorithms work are still a mystery and Instagram team has never revealed any details about them, but we know for sure that there are at least 4 different algorithms, and these are:

1) Feed Algorithm – This algorithm shows posts and Reels based on the user’s interests and activity. The rank of your post can be also impacted by:

• Image and video quality
• Originality
• Reported Content (reported content rank much lower)

2) Stories Algorithm – This algorithm prioritizes Instagram stories from the accounts that you interact with the most.

Instagram stories are ranked based on your:

• Viewing history
• Engagement history
• “Closeness” with the account

3) Explore Page Algorithm – This algorithm delivers content based on all your latest interactions and interests. The content you see in your explore section is displayed based on the history of your likes, shares, and saves.

4) Reels Algorithm – This algorithm is in charge of sorting and prioritizing Reels. Some key points that are really important for this particular algorithm:

• The quality of Reels
• Relevant keywords included in the content (or in captions)
• On-screen captions added

As you can see, the Feed, Stories, Explore and Reels sections are all controlled by a different algorithm. Our behavior tends to differ so much in different areas of Instagram.

Adam Mosseri explains it that way:  “People tend to look for their closest friends in Stories, use Explore to discover new content and new creators, and be entertained in Reels”.

Instagram is a business. And as it’s easy to guess, the platform wants you to spend more time inside the app, so to achieve this goal it’s learning to serve the content you’ll like, appreciate, and enjoy the most. Yes. Instagram wants you to spend maximum time on its platform. It aims to keep you hooked.

Instagram Algorithms Q&A 

As always, we’ve prepared a handy and practical Q&A with the questions we get asked more often – the questions about Instagram algorithms! 

Does Instagram have multiple algorithms?

Yes, it’s true. Much like TikTok or Youtube, different parts of Instagram have different algorithms, the two main ones being your Feed and your Explore Page (Suggested Content). 

Did the Instagram algorithm change in 2023?

There have been some major updates, and these things really make a difference:

• Instagram has strengthen the role of Instagram keywords
• Now users can discover new content with keywords (typing in the keywords and phrases they’re interested in into the Instagram search bar), not only using hashtags as it was in the past

Can you beat Instagram algorithm?

That’s exactly what we’re discussing in all our guides and this is what we’re passionate about! With the right tools, relevant keywords, and strategic keywords, it’s still possible. Plus, you can start your 7-day free trial of the smartest Instagram analytics tool out there – IQ Hashtags – to quicken your organic growth and attract new followers the strategic way!

The post How Many Instagram Algorithms Are There? appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

What’s really interesting: research shows that people on Instagram also use keywords similar to those on Google when looking for new content with the search bar. It’s a huge opportunity for you to boost your organic reach, and attract new like-minded people who can become your loyal followers.  Let’s dive deeper.

Hashtags Have New Powerful Friends: Instagram Keywords

There’s this heated debate whether keywords are replacing hashtags on Instagram.  Sight of relief: Absolutely no! Hashtags can still work wonders, but only if chosen the strategic way. For now, the smartest choice is to use both: hashtags and keywords. Instagram is changing all the time, so we can’t predict its next move so easily, but one thing is more than sure – keywords are getting stronger on Instagram and their importance is also increasing.

I’m sure you’ve seen different creators ending their captions with text that look like this:

And if you’ve been wondering what they’re doing and what these words are for – these words are their keywords. They’re adding more keywords to their caption, so the Instagram algorithms can read it, and match their content with the users interested in these topics.

Why Instagram Keywords Are so Important

Let’s discuss what keywords actually are in detail, and how to use them to reach more people with your Instagram posts. To understand them fully, we’ll need to go back to traditional SEO for a bit. Because let’s face the truth – to understand Instagram SEO, you need to understand the traditional SEO as well, as social media are implementing many new features, many changes to their algorithms so their search engines are more and more advanced and yes, they’re similar to Google search engine in many ways.

Okay, so the backbone of traditional SEO is keywords.

The first question: What are keywords?

Keywords are ideas and topics that define what your content is about. They are also phrases or terms users can enter into search engine boxes to find your content. It works like this: Through exact or similar match keywords, the search engine’s algorithms match users’ queries with your content, with your posts.

As a content creator or a business owner, you want the keywords you use to be relevant to what people are searching for so they have a better chance of finding your content, your posts among the search engine results.

Keywords work both ways. They are as important for you, as they are for your target audience. Yes, they’re as much about your audience, your target audience, as they are about your posts. Why is it so important? Look, you may describe what you offer in your content, what you create, in a slightly different way than how your audience actually searches for it. And it creates the risk they won’t find your content, even though they’re looking for what you create.

To create content that ranks well organically and drives new potential followers to your content, you need to understand the needs of your audience — and the language, the words they use to find new content and the type of content they’re looking for. The smartest idea is to speak the same language as your potential followers so you rank higher in their organic search results based on relevance.

To sum it up! A keyword is a word or phrase that matches the words and phrases people are entering into search engines. By learning what keywords or phrases your target audience and potential followers use when they search for content, inspiration and advice, you can create and optimize your posts so new people can find you more easily.

Is it True That on Instagram Keywords Matter the Same Way They Do for Traditional SEO?

As I’ve already told you, Instagram has changed recently and keywords play such a big part now. Some users even add a bunch of keywords at the end of the caption, just like this: 

This method is beneficial for many of our clients, so it’s worth it to test it out and track if it’s working for your niche as well. Why does it depend and it’s not working wonders for all niches, you may want to ask? Different people, different groups of people have totally different Instagram behaviors and only some of them actively look for new content and use the Instagram search bar.

So it’s not a rule set in stone for all the niches – but most of the niches will really benefit from using this method. 

Protip? Optimize your posts and your captions by making sure each of your posts include at least 3 strong keywords your potential followers might be using to find content like yours. For example, for our Instagram where our goal is to attract like-minded, ambitious content creators, entrepreneurs and business owners, we’d use these keywords:

So that’s your new goal: maximize your chances of appearing on the Explore page by writing keyword-optimized Instagram captions. It’s really worth it, because as you already know Instagram’s algorithms suggest personalized content based on user interests and interactions.  The platform also uses keywords you put in your captions to identify accounts that are topically similar to each other.  So to boost your visibility, write captions with relevant keywords inside that align with your account’s topics and your niche!

How to Do Instagram Keyword Research

How to find good keywords to add to your captions? That’s a good question. Let’s discuss it!

Now we have to take the next step of creating your keyword strategy: keyword research. You need to decide which keywords are worth it to include in your captions. Determining which keywords to use in content requires keyword research. It’s an extremely essential step in Instagram SEO optimization! But it’s definitely not as scary as it may sound at first.

Good news: we’ve developed a new IQ Hashtags’ feature to make it as easy as possible!

The process is really simple, as all you have to do is briefly describe the post you want to share, and the tool will give you suggestions and ready-to-use keywords which you can include in your caption right away to increase your content’s visibility.

Include Instagram Keywords in Your Captions

Now keywords in the caption play a huge role in how Instagram ranks content in relevant search results.  In the past Instagram users could only search in Instagram Explorer using hashtags, usernames, location tags and profiles. And now users can search using keywords, and that’s why including them in your captions is such a smart move! Using keywords in your caption allows the Instagram algorithm to determine what your content is about and that you’re posting what your audience is looking for. 

To give your posts a better chance of showing up high in search, include relevant keywords in your captions, keywords that you think your target audience may actively search for.

There are actually two approaches to including keywords in your captions:

The 1st method: Keep your captions natural, place the keyword in a sentence rather than keyword stuffing.

The 2nd method: Place your keywords in sentences but also add 2-10 stand-alone keywords at the end of the captions like that:

Which method is better? The results vary for different niches, so we’ll wait with the verdict, and for now it’s smart to experiment with both methods.

The post SEO for Instagram: How to Get More Views and Boost your Content’s Visibility Using Instagram Keywords appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

In a perfect world, we learn the basics of Instagram growth, we uncover the possibilities of a few handy tools, we become masters at creating interesting posts, and then we grow, grow, GROW our on-line presence. There’s nothing else to worry about. The social media algorithms don’t ever change, our reach is getting higher with each post, and our target audience discovers us every day. That sounds like an ultimate dream, huh? 

Well, unfortunately it’s much nearer the world of dreams than reality, because that’s just not how the social media landscape works: Instagram’s algorithms change ALL THE TIME, and the platform won’t stop for anyone. We must adapt. That’s the ugly truth I have to tell you right here, at the very beginning of today’s guide. But I’m not here to be brutally honest and scare you: quite the opposite, I’m coming with huge news. Good news. I will explain and show you everything that has changed when it comes to the Instagram landscape lately and I will teach you how to adapt so you can benefit from these changes. Trust me – we live in a world of constant change, but the possibilities are quite exciting. Let’s go, let’s uncover them together!

Instagram SEO Has Changed – Now Instagram Keywords Matter More than Ever

Luckily you have us – IQ Hashtags Social Media Experts who will guide you through the Instagram keyword research. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to:

• Optimize your content for better Instagram search rankings and increased traffic
• Add relevant keywords for improved search engine visibility
• Develop a successful Instagram SEO strategy

Are you ready? To begin, begin!  

Why Does Instagram SEO Matter So Much and What Exactly is it?

Let me start by explaining what Instagram SEO actually is and whether it’s much different from traditional SEO. Creating original content that’s useful, inspiring, readable and sufficiently entertaining is only half the battle now. To get new followers and traffic to your profile, you need new people discovering your existence and new people willing to visit your Instagram profile. To get them to visit your profile, you need to know what they are looking for, what exactly are they interested in, which words they use and what type of content would fit their intent best.

You need to become more DISCOVERABLE. 

This year I’ve been testing out different Instagram approaches as in my day job we work with content creators, influencers and entrepreneurs and all the signs are very clear: Instagram SEO is now a fundamental need for ranking your content in Instagram searches.  If you are trying to grow your Instagram account for a long time now and still haven’t seen a rise in your organic reach and your follower count then you definitely need to give Instagram SEO a chance to make your profile more searchable.

SEO stands for Search engine optimization and Instagram SEO is the process of improving and optimizing your account, caption and content  to increase visibility on Instagram search. Instagram SEO is the practice of adding text-based features like captions with targeted keywords, alt-text, and searchable keywords in your display name to help people browsing Instagram find your content more easily. To understand Instagram SEO, you need to understand the basics of traditional SEO, and that’s what we’re going to discuss today as well.

We’ll discuss where to put keywords to make the most out of your Instagram presence, how to use hashtags to make them work for you even if you’ve already given up on them, how to optimize your content to make it more Instagram-algorithms friendly, and how to maximize your chances of appearing high in the search results and on the Explore Pages.

You need to know that Instagram SEO has changed massively over the last year: now hashtags aren’t the only way to get discovered.  Some people even claim that hashtags don’t work anymore, which fortunately isn’t true,  because they do work, but you definitely need more ways to boost your Instagram visibility and you can’t rely only on hashtags anymore.

Mastering the More Technical Side of Instagram SEO is Absolutely Crucial

Well, at least f you want to get to the top of the search results and stay there. If your content is not well optimized and accessible to Instagram search engine, it won’t rank high —no matter how valuable your posts are. So we’ll walk you through all the juicy details about Instagram SEO, specifically how you can optimize your content to get the most out of it and how to make every element of your Instagram presence work in your favor.

People often ask me about “shortcuts” or “tips and tricks” around Instagram SEO. There are a few. Spoiler alert: I will share some of my favorite ones in this guide, so stay with us!

Use Instagram Keywords to Boost your Visibility on the Platform

Just like giants like Google, Instagram keywords match users with the most relevant content – the posts they’re most likely to enjoy. Thanks to Instagram keywords, your target audience can find your content more easily. The keywords you use in your posts explain to the Instagram algorithm who you are and what you do. These keywords help you reach your new followers.

Instagram landscape is constantly changing. The Instagram’s algorithms constantly evolves, and the platform add new functionalities all the time. Instagram SEO will help you stay ahead of the curve and keep your content and all your posts relevant and engaging – and more discoverable!

Instagram SEO explained – is Instagram SEO a thing now?

Instagram Keyword Research Made Easy

A major part of a smart SEO strategy is strategic keyword research. Finding and including strong keywords into your content helps it rank better in search results on search engines like Bing or Google. Good news: the same is also true for Instagram search results!

For traditional keyword research, we use tools like Ahrefs or Ubersuggest to find relevant words and phrases to target in our writing. But what about Instagram keyword research? The tools like Ahrefs or Neil Patel’s tool were only developed and designed with Google in mind. While they are great for blogs and websites, they’re using data from Google, not Instagram, to inform your research – so they won’t be so helpful when it comes to growing your INSTAGRAM profile. 

Luckily you have us – IQ Hashtags! And we’re coming with HUGE news!

With that in mind, we have launched a new feature in our IQ Hashtags tool –  Instagram Keyword Research. Use it to discover relevant and effective keywords for your Instagram content and uncover the keywords that will boost your posts’ visibility and make them more searchable.

Look how easy the research process can get with our carefully developed Instagram keyword tool that’s a total market pioneer.

Want to learn more about our Instagram Keyword Feature? Read how to find the instagram keywords that will bring the highest visibility to your posts right here – and don’t hesitate to start your 7-day free trial to test out the most advanced Instagram keyword research tool on the market. We’re more than excited!

The post Instagram SEO Explained: Instagram Has Changed Because of Instagram Keywords appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

What Are Instagram Metrics?

Instagram metrics are the detailed insights you get about your profile, post, Reel and hashtag performance via the native (in-depth) Instagram analytics tool or a third-party analytics tool like IQ Hashtags. This series of metrics offers practical, actionable insights on how to adjust your Instagram strategy in such a way that you accomplish your performance and visibility goals.

Which Instagram Metrics Matter and Which Are Most Important?

Many people claim that the perfect Instagram strategy doesn’t exist. Well, this topic is quite complicated and have more than two sides, but one thing is more than sure: if you periodically look at the metrics and the most important data, you keep up with all the Instagram updates, check Instagram analytics via the smart tool like the one we mentioned above, and track the most important Instagram metrics, you won’t fail.

We know that all the analytics and metrics can look like black magic at first, but don’t worry: of course we are here to clear it all for you. Let’s look together at the Instagram metrics that will make your Instagram presence keep on spinning.

These are the Instagram metrics every content creator should track:

Engagement (and the engagement rate). Engagement is like the fundamental Instagram metric to constantly track and look at when interested in your account’s growth. Engagement (and the engagement rate) shows the number of likes, shares, saves and comments. You can track this important metric to learn more about what your target audience likes the most.

Organic reach. Organic reach measures the number of Instagram users who saw your content (traditional posts, carousels, Reels) of their own accord. It includes views on users’ feeds, as well as ones from Explore Page. This metric also takes into account the number of ‘Gram users who see your content thanks to a like, comment or share by someone else, which can give you real insight into the power of Instagram tribe.

Demographics. Your audience is your master when you want to grow on the platform. On Instagram, you particularly need to make sure you track what new users like and dislike, what exactly do they prefer, and what are the trends they are enjoying and following. First, you need to uncover which is the average age you’re addressing your posts to. When you learn more about your audience’s age groups and genders, you will know how to accustom your Instagram content to suit their needs.

Why it’s Important to Track Instagram Metrics?

If you’re hesitating and wondering why it’s such a big deal and why it’s so important to track Instagram  metrics, you need to think about your Instagram goals. With the in-depth knowledge about your Instagram analytics and your posts’ metrics you can much better understand what type of content works for you and your target audience.  Looking at numbers favours your upcoming posts since you get to find out more about your account performance.

Why Merely Posting Isn’t Enough Anymore?

If you can’t measure something, you CAN’T improve it – it was said by W. Edwards Deming some time ago, but NOW it’s more accurate than ever. To improve something, you need to measure it first, compare it, and do your best to get better results. Yup, it applies to our Instagram strategies as well. It may sound cliche, but trust me – we’re observing so many content creators (our clients), and the process of measuring and analyzing Instagram results is still taboo for so many of them! They imagine analyzing the metrics as a very frustrating process, and that’s a massive myth: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. At all! Actually, that’s why we’ve developed our tool – IQ Hashtags – to make it as seamless and intuitive as possible.

Yes, of course, it takes some work and experimentation. But… the result will be worth it. You need to know if you’re making progress; if you’re not, you need to know which key areas to address so you can make that progress and make it FASTER. That’s our new favorite motto: “You can’t improve what you can’t measure”, and that’s why, with the IQ Hashtags tool, you can measure the impact of your Instagram efforts and track the performance of your posts and Reels with all the in-depth data you need to make informed decisions about your next posts.

Which of your posts and Reels are receiving the most engagement? Do you know that?

After reviewing the results of your posts and hashtags, you can iterate appropriately going forward. This will lead to much higher organic reach, engagement, connections, and prospective followers. As a content creator, you undoubtedly are short on time and have SO much to do all the time. But give this strategy a go. Dig deeper and read through all the metrics you can track – use our IQ Hashtags tool to make the process much easier. Measure and analyze your hashtag performance.

Do it the smart way.

How to Track Instagram Metrics with IQ Hashtags

IQ Hashtags is an Instagram analytics tool packed with data, the most complex and comprehensive one when it comes to actionable insights for your account’s growth. Besides providing in-depth Instagram analytics, IQ Hashtags also offers solutions for AI-generated content, AI assistant, Caption generation, hashtag and keyword analysis,  and many more.

Let’s take a look at IQ Hashtags’ Instagram metrics and how to use these insights to craft a better video content strategy. These insights will help you figure out what changes you need to make, according to your most engaging posts and hashtags.

Which Instagram Metrics Matter

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In the not-so-distant past, securing an Instagram verification was an elusive feat. Praying that your account would be chosen was the only recourse. Those distinctive blue check marks were a luxury mainly reserved for big influencers, top celebrities and renowned brands, like hm, Kim Kardashian or Mercedes.

Would you like to be verified on Instagram as well?

Get Verified on Instagram: Yes, You Can Pay for that Blue Checkmark and Instagram Verification, but You Can Also Get it for Free

As you most probably know, lately the scenario has transformed. You can pay for verification now, but we’ll focus on getting it without paying.

You still possess the ability to request verification, yet of course – that’s the worst – not every submission will be accepted. Let’s break down the step-by-step strategy on how to get verified on Instagram, coupled with the precise eligibility benchmarks that maximize your odds of approval. We won’t focus on the fact that you can buy this blue mark – because that’s the easiest way to do it, and achieve the mark almost instantly. Of course, that’s also an option. But that’s not our today’s topic!

The Path to Instagram Verification: 

1. Begin the journey by accessing your account settings. This involves tapping the three-line icon situated at the upper right corner of your profile and selecting ‘settings’ at the base.
2. Scroll downwards to locate and activate the ‘request verification‘ option.
3. Following this, you’ll be prompted to furnish the subsequent information: 

• Your Instagram Username (the account you’re presently logged into and wish to verify)
• Your Legal Full Name (input the name precisely as it appears on official identification; for businesses, provide the primary shareholder’s name)
• Alias (for instance, Tombakescheesecakes, if that’s your company’s name)
• Account Category (pick the option that closely aligns with your account)
• A Valid Photo ID (acceptable options include passport, driver’s license, national ID card, or official business documents like tax papers or recent utility bills)

Upon input, submit your application and await the verdict. Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t specify the waiting duration, so we can exercise our patience.

Factors Affecting Instagram Verification:

• Authenticity: Your account should represent an actual individual, business, or entity. Accounts labeled as “fan” pages, such as those devoted to our favorite celebrities, don’t fall under this category.
• Uniqueness: Instagram doesn’t typically verify accounts associated with general interests or those reposting content. The posts and content being shared must be uniquely your own.
• Public & Comprehensive: Verified accounts must be public and feature a fully completed bio. This entails having a profile picture and a substantial archive of posts. Crafting a comprehensive, optimized bio is fundamental on Instagram, and this principle holds even truer here.
• No Cross-Promotion: Eliminate any “add me” links encouraging users to follow you on other platforms. The provided link should exclusively redirect users to your website, store, or your main landing page. 

• Notability: In the past, verification was largely exclusive to celebrities, but Instagram now assesses accounts showcased across reputable news outlets. This is where many applications get thwarted! Having a well-received brand isn’t sufficient if your reach is confined to your own website. Instagram seeks global recognition and prominence. Keep in mind that paid or promotional content is not considered valid.

The post How To Get Verified on Instagram in 2023: Top Tips for a Successful Application appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

When it comes to me, I have so many different email accounts for social media profiles, blogging, travel reviewing, and book reviewing that it’s hard to remember all these passwords.

So some time ago, I did the worst thing I could do – I started using exactly the same password or a combination of it for all the accounts. My bad! That’s why today I’m coming here with the most important pro tip ever: You should have a separate password for every platform, and every account you use, and ensure that each password is difficult enough (yup, no names, birthdays, or locations).

Today we’ll focus on changing or resetting your Instagram password. Good practice? You should update your passwords regularly. If your Instagram account got hacked, change your password and security questions immediately. Let’s dive deeper into the topic!

How to Change The Instagram Password – Step-by-Step Guide

Luckily, if you remember your current password and just want to change it as a form of an update to keep up with your profile security, changing your password is an easy process. Nothing to worry about!

1. Log into your Instagram app.

2. Click the three lines at the top of the dashboard of your profile view on the right.

3. Now select “Settings and Privacy.”

4. Click “Account Center” and select “Password and Security.”

5. Click “Change password.”

6. Now enter your new passwords twice and click “Save” to confirm the change

When creating a new password, you should be aware of the Instagram password requirements, designed to help you create the complex and unique password. The Instagram password requirements ask for a password to be at least ten characters long with a mix of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

How to Reset Tour Instagram Password

Resetting your Instagram password is also a simple process, whether you’re using the desktop version or the Instagram mobile app on your iOS or Android devices.

But you should be aware that the following instructions can only work if you’ve supplied an extra level of authentication when setting up the Instagram account. Here are a few, simple different ways that you can reset your Instagram password:

The easiest way is this one: Reset your Instagram password from a link under the password field on the login screen.

1. On your device, open the Instagram app so you see the login screen.
2. Below the username and password fields, click Forgot password?
3. Choose which tab you want to use: Username or your Phone, and enter the appropriate credentials associated with your profile, then click Next.
4. Follow the instructions and the tutorial in the message you receive to reset your Instagram password. Voila!

How to Make Your Instagram Account More Secure? 

Update your Instagram password regularly.

What else can you do? Make sure that you have all the latest updates on your computer and your phone, for your antivirus program, anti-spyware tools, and a safe web browser. If you don’t have anti-virus software, you can buy or download a good one (there are also many free ones available) and use it to increase your safety.

Turn on Instagram Two-Factor Authentication 

Two-factor authentication is a smart idea. Turning it on means even if someone does have your password, they can’t access your Instagram profile without a second piece of information –  a code sent to your phone. Instagram calls this setting “two-factor authentication,” like most social media platforms.

How to Turn on Your Two-Factor Authentication on Instagram?

1. Log into your Instagram app.

2. Click the three lines at the top of the dashboard of your profile view on the right.

3. Now select “Settings and Privacy.”

4. Click “Account Center” and select “Password and Security.”

5. Click “Two-factor authentication”

6. Change the settings and confirm the change.

The post How to Change or Reset Your Instagram Password – The Best And Safest Way appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

In today’s guide, we’ll discuss and explore the ways you can easily boost your engagement by adding music to YOUR Instagram story and your regular Instagram posts. We’ll also talk about how music affects how we use social media and how to use it to our advantage. To begin, begin!

How to Add Music to Instagram Post: How Do I Add Audio to a Photo?

If you want to create a unique Instagram post with your favorite music, this tutorial will help you complete it in a few simple steps.

1. Upload a photo or graphic like you normally do.
2. Proceed to the Caption section.
3. Tap the ‘add music’ button above the ‘add geotag’ option.

4. Choose the audio you want to use.

How Do I Put Background Music on a Picture?

Follow the process described above, and you’ll be good to go – good news: these are exactly the same processes. 

How Do I Add Music to My Instagram Story?

The simplest way is to use the ‘Add music’ sticker directly from the in-app Story Creator: 

Adding Music to Your Instagram Posts and Instagram Story – Q&A

Find useful questions and even more useful answers, as always! Find the answers you need. We have listed your main questions about adding music to your Instagram story and your posts. Let’s find out!

Why Can’t Business Accounts Have Music on Instagram?

That’s because of the copyright issues. Instagram adding popular music to its existing royalty-free catalog brings the platform closer in line with other short-form video offerings like Tiktok or Youtube, but the broad music library is available only for creators and personal accounts.

Why Is Only Some Music Available on Instagram?

If you’re running a business profile on Instagram, you won’t have access to the full music library = music from recording artists (audios with the official artist’s name and song in the title) due to copyright issues and laws.

How Do I Get All My Music on Instagram for Business?

Recently, Instagram has entered into various big agreements with the music production industry, allowing them to post copyrighted music without infringing the owner’s rights. While, of course, the details of these agreements are confidential and not available anywhere on the web, there’s one thing we know for sure: business accounts have the most limited music library right now. 

What Music on Instagram Is not Copyrighted?

It is. Your content can only include licensed tracks that the platform has the rights to – the platform or you (if you have bought any licenses additionally, for example).

The post How to Add Music to Instagram Story and Instagram Posts in 2023: 3 Best Ways appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

Surprisingly, 85% of users follow at least one brand on the platform, and a whopping 77% of users take action when they come across products or services that pique their interest. So, if you’re not already leveraging Instagram’s power, let me tell you: now’s the time to start. Read on for some actionable tips on optimizing your content marketing strategy.

Content Marketing #Rule: It’s not smart to mimic your social media strategies from other platforms when devising your Instagram strategy

When it comes to social media, each platform is a totally different beast. Engagement styles, content formats, and creative features all vary from platform to platform. So don’t even think about copying your Twitter content strategy and pasting it onto Instagram – that’s a recipe for disappointment!

To make the most of your Instagram presence, start by getting to know your target audience. Take the time to analyze your ideal client/follower and get to know their demographics, interests, and lifestyle inside out. Armed with this intel, you can then explore all of Instagram’s cool features to create the content your audience craves. If you’re hoping to drive leads (and who isn’t?), keep in mind that clickable links in your post captions aren’t possible. Instead, make use of that one link in your bio (and stay tuned for a hot tip on link trees in our next lesson).

Use the right hashtags to get discovered by your target audience

If you’re not using them, you’re missing out on a whole lot of potential visibility – no excuses! Hashtags are like the salt and pepper of your content strategy, and you can’t go without them. They’re still REALLY important.

Actionable tips to spice up your hashtag game?

Don’t limit yourself and your hashtags to just one language. If your brand speaks Danish, Polish, or German, don’t be afraid to mix in some English hashtags. It can help you reach a broader audience and give your profile a little extra oomph. Save yourself some time and use a tool like IQ Hashtags to do the hashtag research for you. It’s like having a personal sous-chef to help you find the best hashtags for your niche. 

Avoid the mistake of producing generic, unoriginal content – the outcome won’t be worth the effort

Why settle for dull, generic posts when you can show off the human side of your business on Instagram? Engage your audience with a mix of spontaneous, entertaining content that tells a story – YOUR story. Don’t be afraid to showcase behind-the-scenes footage or use Instagram’s live stream feature to conduct customer interviews, share event highlights, or give followers a glimpse into your daily routine. And don’t forget to show your audience some love by using the poll feature to gather feedback and address their needs. Bring on the personality!

Focus on your current audience

Don’t be caught napping and neglecting your existing followers – they’re the real VIPs! It’s easy to get swept up in the chase for new followers, but don’t forget to pamper those who have already given you their virtual seal of approval. Remember, their loyalty isn’t guaranteed, and they could leave at any moment. To keep them hooked, you need to cater to their needs and wants – stoke their imagination and creativity. You can do this by running contests and giveaways, showcasing how your products can make their lives easier, and creating content that’s uniquely you (not just a shabby imitation of your competitors). The key is to remind them why they chose to follow you in the first place, and why you’re the best choice out of all the profiles out there.

Establish relationships with smaller-scale influencers within your industry

If you want to stay ahead of the game, you need to jump on the micro-influencer bandwagon. These aspiring creators with fewer but more engaged followers can be a goldmine for your brand, especially if you’re in the e-commerce biz. Micro-influencers have between 5,000 to 30,000 followers, which means they won’t break the bank. Just make sure you pick one who’s authentic, has a loyal following, and caters to a similar audience as yours. And don’t worry about finding them – there are online tools like InfluTool to help you out.

If your content is falling flat and you’re not gaining new followers, it’s time to shake things up. Follow the tips I’ve given you today, and first of all: don’t be afraid to try new things. After all, the only way to succeed on Instagram is to keep learning and experimenting with what works.

Post Scriptum!

Get ready for the upcoming Instagram Lesson, where we’ll teach you the skill of boosting sales and enhancing your brand’s exposure on the platform. No need to wait until you hit 10,000 followers to see noticeable progress and receive positive feedback! A well-crafted business profile is a vital aspect of your digital marketing strategy that you should never underestimate. We TOTALY understand that Instagram might appear challenging or daunting at first, but trust us – with the right instruction, you’ll grasp everything sooner than you think. 

The post Content Marketing Guide: 5 Ways to Boost Your Content Marketing on Instagram appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.