Instagram and TikTok SEO and how they work
Instagram and TikTok are two of the biggest social platforms today. Many businesses are curious about how to make their brand more visible on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to be more successful. The answer is more straightforward than they might think: SEO is the key. But what exactly is SEO? It is the practice of optimizing social media profiles to improve search rankings. Sounds great, right? Even though it might sound easy, the process is a bit more complicated.
Instagram SEO
Instagram is now one of the most popular social media platforms, with almost a billion active users. Even though it might look like a platform mainly used for sharing photos and videos, it can also be a powerful marketing tool for brands. And that is where Instagram SEO comes in. Like any other type of SEO, Instagram SEO is about optimizing accounts and content to make it more visible to people searching for relevant topics.
Elements of Instagram SEO
A few different elements go into making content more visible and engaging on Instagram. Some of the most important ones are a username, display name, biography, hashtags, and descriptions.
1. Username
Having a username in line with the brand name and content that the brand publishes makes it more likely that users will come across a brand profile that interests them. For example, many influencers and beauty salons offering makeup use the keyword “makeup” in their username. This makes it easier for users interested in beauty and cosmetics to find their profiles.
2. Display name
Like the username, the display name also plays a vital role in Instagram SEO. The name appears on the profile, under the username and is visible to all users. Using keywords in the display name can make the profile more searchable and increase the chances of being found by users searching for related keywords. Username and display name should be different but also related. This offers a double opportunity for users to see what they are interested in. The Instagram algorithm first looks at the username and display name to determine if the account is relevant to the search query.
3. Biography
The biography is a concise description (up to 150 words) of the profile that helps the algorithm understand the profile’s purpose, target audience and what kind of content is offered. It also can highlight what the brand is about and what they are selling. In other words, the biography shows the personality of the brand.
4. Hashtags
Hashtags are one of the essential elements of Instagram SEO. Hashtags help discover the content by users searching for specific topics or keywords. Hashtags that are relevant to the brand will increase the likelihood that people will take notice of the brand profile. In addition to using relevant hashtags, mixing in popular and niche hashtags is essential. Popular hashtags will make your post more visible, while niche hashtags will help to reach a more targeted audience.
5. Descriptions
Although most ways to make content visible on the “Explore page” are listed, one more method can help. That’s writing good descriptions. The “Explore page” posts are there because Instagram’s algorithm found content that interests the user. For example, if users are interested in healthy recipes and exercises, they will be shown results related to a healthy lifestyle. But how does image description help with optimization? The Instagram algorithm uses keywords to suggest profiles that link to each other. Some keywords come from the username, some from the bio, and some from image descriptions.
It’s essential to keep in mind that Instagram updates its platform and algorithm yearly. There will be more opportunities for business growth, so staying current is necessary.
TikTok SEO
TikTok is a popular social media platform that millions of users use daily. With so many videos, it might be challenging for users to find the videos they want. That’s where SEO comes in again. The TikTok algorithm gives users the content they know they’ll be interested in — based on multiple factors as the posts they interact with, video information, devices and account settings.
Elements of TikTok SEO
1. User interactions
User interactions involve videos they’ve liked, hidden, added to favourites and videos they’ve watched. TikTok uses this information to determine which videos to show them.
2. Video information
All the information can impact the ranking of a video on TikTok that it contains — such as captions, hashtags, sound effects and music. TikTok searches for videos with titles and descriptions containing relevant keywords, as well as videos that are about popular trends.
3. Devices and account settings
One more critical element of TikTok SEO are devices and account settings. The TikTok algorithm looks at, for example, what language the user has selected when creating the account and from which country the user is. Additionally, it considers the type of mobile device and the interest categories each user has chosen based on their preferences after installing the TikTok application.
Difference between Instagram and TikTok SEO
So the main difference between these two platforms is that TikTok’s content is primarily discovered through the app’s built-in algorithm, while Instagram’s content is found through hashtags and keywords. This means that to optimize content for TikTok, creators should focus on making their videos interesting and shareable. In contrast, for Instagram, creators should focus on using relevant hashtags and keywords in their captions and bios.
Social media SEO should be an integral part of any brand marketing strategy. It is crucial to understand what it is and how it works to make the most of its efforts. With the correct approach and tools, anybody can optimize their posts for maximum visibility and engagement on the platform. When creating content, use these tips to gain more followers, increase website traffic, boost sales, and maximize reach on these platforms. SEO takes time — but at the end it’s worth.
