When it comes to Instagram, appearing on the Explore page can greatly increase your visibility. It’s a great opportunity to reach more people who are interested in your content and could become your followers or customers. So, how can you make the most of this chance and get on the Instagram Explore page? Let’s explore the steps together.

What is the Instagram Explore Page?

The Explore page on Instagram is a special section where you can find content that matches your interests. It’s like a personalized collection of photos, videos, Reels, and Stories. The Instagram algorithm selects content for your Explore page based on accounts or content you’ve shown interest in before. That means each person’s Explore page is unique and tailored to their preferences.

To access the Explore page, simply tap on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the Instagram app screen.

You can also use the search bar at the top to find popular content, accounts, and tags related to a specific topic. If you’re looking for something specific, you can even use filters to narrow down your search. For example, if you search for “DIY crafts,” the Explore page will show additional filters to help you find content related to specific materials or mediums. This feature can give you insights as a business owner into the type of content your customers are looking for, based on the search results Instagram provides. 

How Does the Instagram Explore Page Algorithm Work?

Each person’s Instagram Explore page is different because of how the Explore Feed Ranking System works.

The system, known as the Instagram algorithm, uses machine learning to decide what content to show based on different sources of data and ranking signals.

Unlike the home feed, which shows posts from accounts you follow, the Explore page is considered a separate system.

To select content for the Explore page, the algorithm looks at your activity on Instagram and uses similar factors to rank posts.

In simpler terms, the content on your Explore page is chosen based on:

• The accounts you follow
• The posts that people you follow like
• The types of posts you interact with frequently
• Posts that have a lot of likes and comments

You may also be interested in our recently published article on “How to Reset Instagram Explore Page.” This informative piece provides valuable insights on resetting your Explore page to improve your user experience. Check it out now and stay informed on how to optimize your Instagram presence!

Why the Instagram Explore Page Matters to Your Brand

Your brand should pay attention to getting on the Instagram Explore page because it means more people will have the chance to see your content. With Instagram expected to have around 1.2 billion active users per month by 2023, this increased visibility will bring several advantages:

• More followers: Over 200 million accounts visit the Instagram Explore page every day. That’s half of all the users on the platform. And among these users, Instagram will show your content to those who are most likely to be interested in your account. This gives you a good opportunity to gain new followers.

• More engagement: If users like what they see on the Explore page, they are likely to engage with it by liking, commenting, or sharing it with their friends. So when people discover your content through the Explore page, it can boost engagement for your brand.

• More sales: When more people come across your content on the Explore page, it helps expose your products to the right audience. Additionally, your shoppable Instagram posts can also appear on the Explore page. When more people discover your products, it can potentially lead to an increase in sales.

How To Get On The Instagram “Explore Page”?

Getting on the Explore page of Instagram can help more people see your posts and discover your account. And the best part is, it doesn’t cost anything! Here are 15 easy ways to show up on the Explore page.

1. Know Your Followers

Before you land more followers and generate conversions, make sure to study your current audience. Analyze their demographics and interests. This will allow you to find more users interested in your content and see what kind of posts they like to interact with. Go to Instagram Insights and try to find out who these people are.

Then, try to dig into their behavior online and see:

• What type of posts does the audience like the most?
• Do these posts have captions? If they do, what kind of captions are there?
• What tone resonates most with users?

2. Share Your Posts at the Right Time

To make sure your posts reach more people, it’s important to consider the timing. Recent posts have a better chance of appearing on the Explore page, so getting interactions on your post soon after it’s published is the first step.

First, check your Instagram Insights to see when your followers are active online. Adjust your posting schedule to match their most active times. When you have high engagement, especially right after you publish a post, the algorithm will recognize that your content is valuable and share it with more people.

Second, take advantage of industry research and use that information to schedule your posts. This will increase the chances of your post being seen by more people and improve engagement.

Moreover, if you can figure out when your followers are online, there’s a good chance that other users with similar interests will also be online. So, your posts will have a higher chance of getting interactions if they end up on the Explore page.

3. Share Interesting Content

Use your research to plan your content strategy and create more posts that your audience will enjoy. Videos are a type of content that can get a lot of engagement, and they often get more visibility in the Explore feed. However, static images can also be engaging, especially if they’re high-quality, relevant, and authentic. Captions that are interesting and compelling can keep your audience engaged for longer, whether they tell a story or share a discount.

How can you tell if your content is getting enough engagement? Usually, you can see it through the number of likes and comments, but don’t forget that shares and saves are just as important to consider.

4. Stick to One Topic

To get more engagement and encourage users to keep coming back, it’s important to consistently focus on one topic in your posts. This consistency signals to the algorithm that you’re relevant to your target audience. On the contrary, if you post about travel today, fitness tomorrow, and politics the day after, there’s no chance you’ll show up on the Explore page.

So, put yourself in the user’s shoes and see if it’s clear what your topic is when they look at your account. Analyze your bio, visuals, captions, hashtags, and other details to ensure they all align with your chosen topic.

5. Use Different Types of Content

Different types of content are perceived differently by users, so it’s important to mix up your posts and see what your audience likes the most. What’s even more important is that Instagram gives priority to certain content formats, like Reels, which can increase your chances of appearing on the Explore page.

For example, Reels is a big feature in the Instagram mobile app, showing how important it is to the platform. If you get featured in the Reels section, you’re likely to also show up on the Explore page.

6. Interact with Your Followers

Instagram is always working on improving ways for people to connect, and it’s important to include this in your marketing strategy. The more active your followers are, the more likely Instagram will recommend your page to more people, because likes and comments show that your posts are important.

So, encourage your followers to engage with your content more: share relevant posts, reply to comments and direct messages, include exciting calls-to-action, host giveaways and contests, and more. Also, ask your followers to turn on notifications so they can be notified about your new posts early.

Another great way to increase engagement is by sharing content that your followers create, which encourages more people to be active on your account. This will make Instagram show your content to audiences who are similar to your engaged followers.

7. Write Good Captions

While it might seem like Instagram success is all about sharing great pictures, captions are what can keep your audience interested and convey your message. Captions have another big advantage—they provide context and, when combined with the right call to action, they encourage users to like, comment, or share your post. Ultimately, the more engagement your post receives, the better chance it has of being seen as valuable and appearing on the Explore page.

8. Add Hashtags and Location Tags

Tags like hashtags, geotags, and account tags on Instagram give you another chance to get more exposure. On the Explore page, people can search by hashtag, location, or topic. So, by adding relevant tags, you can reach a wider audience. In fact, posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than posts without hashtags. On Instagram, you can use up to 30 hashtags, which many influencers do. For example, home decor influencer GRACE ABREGO RE @LOVEFORDESIGNS uses a lot of hashtags in her posts.

But how do you choose relevant hashtags? To stand out and get more people to see your content, check what hashtags your current followers use and search for. Another way is to look at your competitors and leaders in your niche. See what tags they use and how many. You can also use free Hashtag generators to find the best Hashtags.

If your post involves other brands, influencers, or experts, be sure to tag their accounts. This will increase your exposure and help you connect with others.

Location tags are powerful because they help more users discover your content, especially if you want to reach a local audience.

It may be tempting to use as many popular tags as possible. However, it’s better to be selective with your hashtags. Using too many can make your post look like spam, while using too general tags won’t attract your target audience. Also, remember that you can add tags to your Stories to increase their visibility too!

9. Tag Brands and Products

When you tag a brand, it tells Instagram that there’s a connection between your account and that brand. So, when you collaborate with a brand, be sure to tag them in your post! The algorithm might then show your post to the brand’s followers and other people who might be interested. The same goes for products – if you use shoppable tags, you can show up on the Explore page, and users can check out and even buy the products directly on the app.

10. Host Contests and Giveaways

Contests and giveaways are a fun way to increase engagement. People love getting free stuff, so by offering your product, a discount, or a free trial, you can create excitement on your Instagram page quickly. For instance, you can ask users to like or comment on your post, tag a friend, or follow your account.

11. Learn from Your Best Posts

There are many ways to improve your Instagram performance, but you can only figure out what works best for you by trying different things. If you’ve had your account for a while, take a look at your analytics and see what your followers like the most. For instance, they might really enjoy carousel posts or find long captions interesting and comment on them. You can find out if your posts have been featured on the Explore page by tapping the View Insights button below the post. Then, swipe up to see where the impressions for the post came from. It’s possible that your content has already been featured on the Explore page.

12. Check Explore Page Posts

Looking at the posts on your Explore page can be just as helpful as analyzing your analytics. You can explore the content on the page and take note of techniques you can try, like which hashtags are used and how many, if there are any captions, and so on. You can also dig deeper and check out the profiles of people who were featured on the page.

13. Try Instagram Ads

If you’re willing to spend some money to get more visibility, think about running ads on the Explore page. These ads help marketers reach bigger audiences and be a part of what’s popular in the community. Although these ads won’t put you directly on the Explore page, your post will appear between photos and videos when a user clicks on a post in their feed.

14. Use Calls to Action

To get more engagement, you can use prompts that encourage people to take action. Here are some examples:

• Ask questions in your captions and invite users to answer in the comments. This is an easy way to start a conversation with your audience. For instance, if you share a photo of a beautiful place, ask if anyone has been there before. If you post a video of an activity you tried, ask your followers if they’ve had a similar experience.
• Ask users to vote in the comments. For example, share multiple photos in a carousel post and ask people to vote for their favorite. This not only gets you comments but also keeps followers on your page longer and improves your performance.
• Encourage users to check your bio link. Even though you can’t include links in captions, you can direct people to your bio where you can have a link. It could be a link to your website or a page you’re promoting.
• Invite people to watch your Stories. Similarly, you can direct your Story viewers to your posts. Some people who see your posts might not be watching your Stories, so let them know you have valuable content there.

How do you create effective prompts? Use action words and clearly tell your followers what you want them to do. For example, say “click the link,” “book now,” or “leave a comment below.” Give them a reason why they should take action, like explaining what they’ll get by clicking a link or why they should book now. Lastly, try out different prompts and see which ones give you the best results.

15. Connect with Influencers

Connecting with influencers is a great way to promote each other and reach more people. When you collaborate with influencers, both of you can expand your audience and increase engagement, which can improve your chances of appearing on the Explore page.

How can you find networking opportunities? Look for bloggers or social media accounts that have similar content to yours. By partnering with influencers in related niches, you can still have a positive impact. Start by exploring other blogs and social media pages in your niche and leave comments on their posts. You might be interested in the articles below:

Top Canadian Instagram Influencers To Grow Your Brand In 2023

Top 20 Instagram Female Fitness Influencers You Need to Follow in 2023

Top 12 Instagram Male Influencers You Should Follow

Conclusion

To sum up, appearing on the Instagram Explore page offers numerous benefits, including increased visibility, more followers, engagement, and potential sales. To improve your chances of appearing on the Explore page, create high-quality content, use relevant hashtags, engage with your audience, collaborate with others, and stay up to date with Instagram updates. To receive the latest news and updates about social media, including Instagram, subscribe to our website newsletter.