How to Do Instagram Keyword Research for Your Business

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Instagram keyword research is a crucial step in creating a successful business on the platform. You can find relevant keywords by using tools like Google Keyword Planner and Instagram's built-in search bar.

To get started, use the Instagram search bar to find keywords related to your business. For example, if you're a fashion brand, searching for keywords like #fashion, #clothing, and #style can give you an idea of what people are looking for.

Instagram's search bar can also help you identify popular keywords and hashtags. For instance, if you search for #fashion and look at the related hashtags, you'll see a list of other popular keywords like #beauty, #designer, and #outfit.

By using these tools and techniques, you can find the right keywords to help your business stand out on Instagram.

What Is SEO?

SEO is the process of optimizing your account and content to rank higher in Instagram's search results.

You can't convert people into customers if they can't find you. Instagram SEO can give your brand more visibility.

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Instagram SEO is platform-specific and very different from Google.

To rank higher in search results, your posts need to appear in the top results, which Instagram considers the most relevant to the search term.

You need to optimize all parts of your profile and anything you post, from your Instagram bio to minor details in your content.

Benefits of SEO

Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users you can tap into, making it a huge opportunity for businesses to connect with potential customers.

Using specific keywords in your Instagram SEO strategy can help drive high-quality traffic to your profile every time a user searches for a keyword related to your business.

According to Instagram, there are over 200 million business accounts that users visit every day, and about 50% of Instagram users say they discover new brands, products, and services on the platform.

Your Instagram SEO strategy needs to use keywords just like any other effective content marketing strategy, and including keywords in your handle, profile name, bio, and captions can make a big difference.

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The caption vs. comments argument for hashtags has been going on for as long as Instagram has existed, but using hashtags can provide many benefits, including increasing discoverability on the platform.

Here are some benefits of using hashtags on Instagram:

  • Hashtags can increase discoverability on the platform
  • Hashtags can help you reach a wider audience
  • Hashtags can drive traffic to your profile
  • Hashtags can help you connect with potential customers
  • Hashtags can increase engagement and sales

About 44% of users also buy products on the platform weekly using tags and the Shop feature, making it a great opportunity for businesses to drive sales.

SEO Strategy

Instagram's search results are influenced by four key factors: your handle, profile name, bio, and captions. Using specific keywords in these areas can help drive high-quality traffic to your profile.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri notes that the platform indexes content based on these four factors. You can include keywords relevant to your audience in your handle, profile name, bio, and captions.

Your handle will likely be your brand name, but you can use your profile name and bio to include keywords that apply to you. For example, if you're an interior decorating business, your top competitors will have keywords like "interior decorating" in their handles, profile names, and bios.

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You can use Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool to figure out what your audience is searching for from a database of 24 billion keywords. This tool can help you find relevant keywords, such as "dog accessories", and provide insights into how many people are searching for these terms on Google.

Search text is Instagram's most important ranking factor, so make the most of it by using keywords throughout your account and content. The caption vs. comments argument for hashtags has been going on for as long as Instagram has existed.

Here's a quick rundown of the key places to include keywords on your Instagram profile:

  • Handle: Typically your brand name
  • Profile name: Include keywords that apply to your business
  • Bio: Use location tags alongside keywords, especially if you're a location-specific small business
  • Captions: Use descriptive and engaging content to entice new followers while providing value for your current audience

Keyword Research

Keyword research is a crucial step in optimizing your Instagram account for search. According to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, the algorithm looks at four things to make sense of a profile: your handle, profile name, bio, and captions. You should use specific keywords in these areas to help your Instagram SEO ranking.

Credit: youtube.com, How To Do Keyword Research for Instagram (Find BEST Hashtags Fast)

To find the right keywords, you can use a tool like Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool, which can help you figure out what your audience is searching for from a database of 24 billion keywords. For example, if you sell dog accessories, you can type "dog accessories" into the tool to get a list of relevant keywords.

The "Volume" column shows you how many people are searching for these terms on Google, and the "Trend" column shows how the level of interest changes over time. This information can help you identify popular and trending keywords to include in your Instagram content.

Here are some tips for using keywords effectively:

  • Use a mix of broad and specific keywords to attract a wider audience.
  • Include location tags in your bio to help local customers find you.
  • Use keywords throughout your account and content, including in your captions and hashtags.
  • Research and identify relevant and popular hashtags for your brand using tools like Instagram's search function and Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool.

By following these tips and using the right tools, you can optimize your Instagram account for search and attract more followers and customers.

Tools and Generators

If you're looking to expand your list of hashtags with more ideas that align with your business, you can use an hashtag generator tool to help. Sistrix Instagram Hashtag Generator is a straightforward tool that offers suggestions with a single keyword input.

On a similar theme: Google Keyword Analysis Tools

Credit: youtube.com, 7 Best Free Keyword Research Tools (With No Limits)

The tool is user-friendly, so it's easy for even the most novice social marketer to generate Instagram hashtags for increased visibility. However, only 25 free queries a day are allowed with a free account before you'll need to pay for a premium account.

To generate hashtags for Instagram, you can also try Keyword Tool, which offers a list of hashtags without details on their usage for free. But if you want more information, you can upgrade to a paid account, which starts at $69/month.

Here are some popular hashtag generator tools you might want to consider:

Ranking Factors

Instagram's ranking factors are a combination of search text, user activity, and popularity signals. This means that the content you see on your feed is influenced by what you've searched for, how you interact with the app, and what's popular among your followers.

The platform doesn't have a single algorithm, but rather a personalized set of classifiers and processes for each user. This allows for a unique experience tailored to your interests and behavior.

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Instagram's content is organized into different sections, each with its own purpose. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect to see in each:

  • Feed and Stories: Recent posts from friends and family you follow.
  • Explore: Content discovery and recommendations from accounts you donโ€™t follow.
  • Reels: Entertaining content, mostly from accounts you donโ€™t follow.
  • Search: Relevant content found by typing in specific search terms.

These sections are designed to show you the most relevant content based on your interactions and search history.

Competitor Analysis

Competitor analysis is a crucial step in understanding the digital space your competitors are taking up in your market. You can analyze the share of voice, sentiment, and engagement of your competitors' posts to identify trends and successful content.

By observing the hashtags used by your competitors, you can see what they post, how often they post, and the engagements of their posts. This insight helps you identify successful content that appeals to your target audience.

Analyzing your competitors' content strategies can also help you find ways to improve your own content strategy to better meet your audience's needs.

Keyword Tool

Keyword Tool is a useful tool that can help brands find keywords across several sites, including Instagram. It even allows you to use a geolocation to ensure you're finding top hashtags in a certain area.

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This is a plus for local brick-and-mortar businesses who service customers in a specified location. You can also select which language you want hashtags to appear in.

The results you'll receive are limited for the free account, just a list of hashtags without details on their usage. But if you want more information, you can upgrade to a paid account, which starts at $69/month.

To get the most out of Keyword Tool, you can type in keywords like "dog accessories" to get a list of relevant keywords. The "Volume" column shows you how many people are searching for these terms on Google, and the "Trend" column shows how the level of interest changes over time.

Here's a list of the features of Keyword Tool:

  • Geolocation support
  • Language selection
  • Results limited for free account
  • Paid account starts at $69/month

By using Keyword Tool, you can find the right keywords to use in your Instagram captions and increase your visibility.

Industry-Specific

Using industry-specific hashtags can help you reach a highly engaged audience, as niche hashtags like #VeganRecipes target people interested in specific topics.

For instance, if you're in the food industry, using hashtags like #food (530M) or #foodie (258M) can get your content seen by millions of potential customers.

To get started, you can use the following popular industry-specific hashtags:

Fashion and Beauty

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The fashion and beauty industry is a massive market with a huge online presence. The top 10 Instagram hashtags for fashion and beauty are a great indicator of this, with #fashion boasting an impressive 1.1 billion uses.

One of the most popular fashion hashtags, #fashion, has over 1.1 billion uses on Instagram. This is a testament to the industry's massive reach and influence.

If you're looking to break into the fashion and beauty industry, understanding the most popular hashtags is crucial. #style, with 674 million uses, is another top contender, closely followed by #beauty with 556 million uses.

The hashtag #ootd, short for "outfit of the day", has 445 million uses, making it a great choice for fashion bloggers and influencers. #makeup and #hair are also popular options, with 414 million and 253 million uses, respectively.

Fashion bloggers and influencers can also tap into the #fashionblogger hashtag, which has 171 million uses. For those looking to drive sales, #shopping is another option, with 162 million uses, while #outfit has 159 million uses.

If you're looking to establish yourself as a fashion authority, #fashionista is a great choice, with 140 million uses.

Expand your knowledge: Top Paying Adsense Keywords

Food and Beverage

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The food and beverage industry is a crowded space, but with the right strategy, you can stand out from the competition. The most popular Instagram hashtags for food, beverage, and restaurants are a great place to start.

According to the top 10 Instagram hashtags for food, beverage, and restaurants, #food is the clear winner with a massive 530 million uses. This is likely due to its broad appeal and versatility.

Using hashtags like #foodie and #instafood can help you tap into the interests of food enthusiasts. These hashtags have 258 million and 244 million uses respectively, making them a great starting point for your marketing efforts.

If you're looking to showcase your culinary creations, #foodstagram is a great choice. This hashtag has 126 million uses and is perfect for sharing high-quality food photos.

Here are the top 10 Instagram hashtags for food, beverage, and restaurants:

  1. #food (530M)
  2. #foodporn (310M)
  3. #foodie (258M)
  4. #instafood (244M)
  5. #yummy (205M)
  6. #delicious (154M)
  7. #foodstagram (126M)
  8. #foodphotography (117M)
  9. #foodblogger (90.1M)
  10. #foodlover (83.2M)

Holiday or Daily

If you're looking to engage your audience on social media, participating in relevant holidays can be a great way to do so. Participating in holidays like #InternationalSushiDay can be especially effective for sushi restaurants.

Credit: youtube.com, Placemaking for Christmas!! #fun #shop #business #local #identity #district #holiday

You can find daily hashtags that include the day of the week and a specified topic. There are generalized ones like #MondayMotivation and #ThrowbackThursday that nearly any brand can use.

Using daily hashtags can be easy and fun, and there are plenty of niche topics covered. You can also use hashtags like #instatravel (131M) for travel-related businesses on Instagram.

Here are some examples of daily hashtags:

  • #MondayMotivation
  • #ThrowbackThursday
  • #instatravel (131M)

Branded

Branded hashtags are a great way to build community around your brand and encourage user-generated content. You can create unique hashtags that include your brand name, product names, or specific taglines.

Grove Collaborative is a great example of a company that uses branded hashtags effectively. They created the hashtag #GroveHome, which they placed prominently in their Instagram bio.

To encourage the use of branded hashtags, make sure to start using them in every relevant post. The most general branded hashtags are often placed in the Instagram bio along with a call-to-action for using them.

By using branded hashtags consistently, you can build a community around your brand and encourage your followers to share their experiences with your products.

Product or Service

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Product or Service hashtags are a great way to describe what you offer. They're practical and descriptive, making your posts searchable for users specifically interested in those products or services.

Using hashtags like #EnterpriseSoftware or #MarketingSolutions can help you reach the right audience. These hashtags are straightforward and to the point, just like the products or services they describe.

Product or service hashtags can be especially helpful in industries where customers are looking for specific solutions. By using these hashtags, you can make it easy for them to find you.

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Community

Community is at the heart of any industry, and building one around your brand is crucial for success. Branded hashtags are a great way to start, as they're unique to your company and encourage user-generated content.

You can create a branded hashtag by using your brand name, product names, or specific taglines, like Grove Collaborative's #GroveHome. This hashtag should be prominently displayed in your Instagram bio to encourage followers to participate and share their experiences with your products.

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Community hashtags are broader and connect like-minded users around a specific subject. For example, #CraftBeerLover, #CraftBeerLife, and #CraftBeerNotCrapBeer are popular community hashtags for craft beer enthusiasts. These hashtags are simple and natural to create and include in posts for relevant brands.

Event hashtags are used for specific events like conferences, festivals, or workshops. They're a great way to connect with attendees and increase visibility for event-related posts, like #SDCC for the San Diego Comic Con.

Location

Location is a crucial aspect of your online presence, and it's essential to understand how it can help you reach a local audience. You can add a location to your hashtags to help you establish a presence in a particular area.

Smart algorithms can analyze relevant hashtags on various topics in any language, making it easy to find the best hashtags for your location. This feature ensures a multi-global reach, so you can extend your online presence.

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Location hashtags are pretty self-explanatory, and most brands are based somewhere. Adding a location to your hashtags can help you reach a local audience.

One example is the hashtag #ChiEats, which is a location + topic hashtag. The posts tagged with these are relevant for anyone searching for food recommendations or users in the Chicago area.

Niche

Niche is all about targeting a specific audience. By using niche hashtags like #VeganRecipes, you can attract a highly engaged audience interested in vegan cooking.

Using niche hashtags helps you reach people who are passionate about a particular topic. This can lead to more meaningful interactions and a stronger connection with your audience.

Niche hashtags are a key part of building a community around your brand. By focusing on a specific area of interest, you can create content that resonates with people who care deeply about that topic.

Targeting a niche audience can also help you stand out from the crowd. With so many businesses competing for attention, it's easier to get noticed when you're speaking directly to a specific group of people.

Intriguing read: Niche Keyword Research

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Trending hashtags can be a great way to increase visibility, but they're highly competitive and require keeping up with the latest trends.

You need to catch on early to participate and reap the benefits, as memes and trends are short-lived.

Using trending hashtags can increase the visibility of your posts to a massive audience, but you need to jump on them in a timely and brand-relevant way that resonates.

For example, a popular meme last year was a superimposed video of Jennifer Lawrence from the Hot Ones wing-eating challenge crying and asking, โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€ on a loop.

You can see many brands and creators using this meme for their content by searching for the hashtag #WhatDoYouMean.

Trendspotting skills are essential to get the most out of jumping on memes and trends, and you may need to up your game to stay relevant.

Types of Keywords

There are several types of keywords to consider when doing Instagram keyword research.

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Your handle will likely be your brand name, but you can use your profile name and bio to include keywords that apply to you.

For example, if you type in "interior decorating", you'll see the top accounts have those keywords (or related versions) in their handles, profile names, and bios.

You can also use location tags alongside keywords in your bio, especially if you're a location-specific small business.

This can make it easier for people in your area to find you, and it's especially important for business accounts that can add tags.

There are different types of keywords, including general keywords and location-specific keywords.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of keywords:

Your captions also need to be descriptive and use target keywords, so it's a good idea to include a mix of general and location-specific keywords in your content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do keywords work on Instagram?

Yes, keywords can significantly enhance your discoverability on Instagram by strategically placing them in your profile and content. Proper keyword utilization is a key strategy for improving your Instagram SEO.

Jennie Bechtelar

Senior Writer

Jennie Bechtelar is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for distilling complex concepts into accessible language, Jennie has established herself as a go-to expert in the fields of important and industry-specific topics. Her writing portfolio showcases a depth of knowledge and expertise in standards and best practices, with a focus on helping readers navigate the intricacies of their chosen fields.

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