How to use Instagram Search to discover accounts and tags

Want to successfully showcase your brand on Instagram? Then Instagram Stories should be a part of your daily work. In our 'Storrito FAQ series,' we'll explain everything you need to know about Instagram, Instagram Stories and Instagram marketing.

Today: How do you use Instagram Search?

Key facts at a glance

• Instagram Search is accessible by tapping the magnifying glass icon and includes four categories: Top, Accounts, Tags, and Places
• Instagram ranks search results by popularity, factoring in clicks, likes, shares, comments, and follower counts
• Keywords used in captions are searchable across supported languages
• Including relevant keywords, hashtags, and a physical address in a profile bio improves visibility in search results

Being discovered is one of the most important factors to increase your reach on Instagram. You can achieve this goal in several ways.

To reach new potential followers, you can either use hashtags, collaborate with other accounts, or be found in the Instagram search.

Tap the Magnifying Glass to Access Top, Accounts, Tags, and Places Search

Since Instagram stopped using the chronological feed, almost everything on the platform is ranked. These rankings are influenced by the photos and videos you like on the platform, the accounts you are connected to, and the profiles you follow.

When you open Instagram, you can navigate to your Search by tapping on the magnifying glass icon in your menu bar at the bottom of your screen.

There you will find the search bar above the explore tab. The explore tab shows a hodgepodge of things the Instagram algorithm thinks you would like.

Instagram Ranks Search Results by Popularity, Clicks, and Follower Count

When you tap on the search bar at the top of your screen, you will first see your search history. There are four different search categories:

• Top
• Accounts
• Tags
• Places

So, you can search for other profiles, hashtags, and places on Instagram.

When there are a lot of potential search results, Instagram considers the popularity of the different results and shows you the ones that have a lot of clicks, likes, shares, comments, or followers.

Include Business Keywords in Your Profile, Captions, and Address for Local Discovery

There are a few simple steps you can follow to get more visibility in Instagram Search.

First, make sure your Instagram handle and profile name reflect your business and your content. This also applies to your captions, since Instagram Search indexes keywords used in captions across supported languages.

So, make sure to include all the possible keywords and hashtags your potential customers or followers might search for.

To get not only your postings seen but also your profile, you can also include these keywords and hashtags in your profile bio.

If you have a local business with a physical shop, also make sure to include the address. In the location search, people can search for things near their current location. By including the address, you can allow nearby users to discover your shop when they search.

Making Instagram Search Work for Your Content Strategy

Instagram stories are becoming an increasingly important part of a good marketing strategy. To make it easier to work on Instagram stories in a team, Storrito can help. You can design, edit and schedule your stories from the comfort of your computer. This way, everyone has access to and an overview of your Instagram stories.