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Marketing & Sales · Tip

Instagram Algorithm & SEO Settings Optimization

Instagram profile and post tweaks to improve content categorization and reach

From the Xiry library · Updated 3 October 2026

A set of simple configuration tweaks within Instagram to improve profile recommendations and search indexing. It covers enabling account suggestions via the web interface and embedding targeted niche keywords into post alt text. These actions help Instagram's recommendation engine properly index your profile and serve Reels to relevant audiences.

How it works

  1. Enable Account Suggestions (Desktop only):
  2. Open instagram.com on a computer browser and go to your profile.
  3. Click Settings (Edit profile).
  4. Scroll to the bottom and check the box 'Show account suggestions on profiles' (Choose whether people can see similar account suggestions on your profile and whether your account can be suggested on other profiles).
  5. Click Submit.
  6. Add SEO Keywords to Alt Text (Mobile app):
  7. When creating a new post/Reel, scroll down to 'Advanced settings' (Расширенные настройки).
  8. Under 'Accessibility' (Специальные возможности), select 'Write alt text' (Добавить альтернативный текст).
  9. Type in high-relevance search keywords related to your niche and video topic so Instagram's algorithm understands who to recommend the video to.

What it's for

  • Make your Instagram profile discoverable through similar account suggestions
  • Improve Reel distribution by adding relevant search keywords to accessibility alt text
  • Help the algorithm categorize niche content for targeted explore recommendations

Key points

  • Open instagram.com on a desktop browser and navigate to Edit Profile
  • Enable the 'Show account suggestions on profiles' checkbox to appear in related account feeds
  • Open Advanced Settings when publishing a new post or Reel in the mobile app
  • Locate the Accessibility section and tap 'Write alt text'
  • Add descriptive, high-intent niche keywords related to the video topic before publishing

Pricing

Free built-in Instagram settings

Details

Type
Tip
Category
Marketing & Sales
Topic
Social Media Optimization
Open source
No
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
For
Content creators, social media managers, and businesses growing their Instagram reach
Tags
instagram, seo, reels, social media, growth

Why it was saved

  • @orloff.andrey, 9 May 2024: Helps Instagram categorize your account and content properly so it can be recommended to relevant target viewers.

Related

Updated