Tips for Getting on the Instagram Explore Page in 2022

Ahhh, the Instagram Explore Page… what a fine way to spend a day of glorious, uninterrupted doomscrolling curated to your every whim and desire. But did you know that this boredom buster page is also good for more than dismantling a 3 am case of existential dread?

What is the Explore Page?

Click on that little magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your Instagram app, and you’re there—the Explore Page. Based on your personal connections and recent behaviors on the app, the Instagram Explore Page is the perfect concoction of engaging content put together just for you by the infamous algorithm. There you’ll discover a nicely curated array of photos, Reels, and targeted ads.

It’s basically a digital networking event that invites all the cool people at the lunch table across from you to your feed, filling it with the same content they enjoy in the hopes that you will, too!

Why Should I Want to Get on the Instagram Explore Page?

I mean, why does anyone want to be famous, really? Is it the money? The fame? The burning desire to compensate for the love you were never given as a child with the love from your fans? But we digress…

This one is really quite simple to explain—getting on the Instagram Explore Page equals more views, engagement, and, ultimately, sales. The more brand awareness you cultivate by reaching new audiences via the Explore Page, the more profitable your brand will become.

It’s not just about blasting your visuals mindlessly to just anyone; it’s about targeting a group of users that will likely be drawn to your company’s product or mission.

Best Ways to Appear on the Instagram Explore Page

So how do you get an invitation to the A-list party that is the Instagram Explore Page? It’s not exclusive as you might think, so put down your first-born son and tell the gods to hold on a sec.

Let’s go over a few of our favorite tips and tricks for landing on the Explore Page:

1. Diversify Your Feed

That’s right—Instagram is evolving, and so should you! One sure way to be favored by the algorithm is by posting a variety of content, be it Reels, carousel photos, Stories, or lives. Not only will this content help with your discoverability, but it will also help to create more engaging content with your audience. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and viral videos is a surefire way to gain more likes and shares, so invest time in creating high-quality, engaging content on Instagram through a variety of Instagram’s available mediums.

2. Invest in Paid Ads

Let’s face it—sometimes it’s okay to hit the cheat button, especially when it comes to paid ads.

While it may feel a little naughty, trust us when we tell you that it’s the easiest path to amplifying your audience. Instagram’s paid advertising displays your content to users browsing the Explore feed, and while it won’t display your ad directly on the home Explore Page, it will show up whenever a user clicks on an Explore frame and scrolls down. Visibility is everything, and Instagram ads guarantee visibility to the audience that matters most for your company.

3. Partner with Influencers and Brands

Why are popular people popular? Aside from being genetically blessed in the looks department, popular people know a lot of influential people. Instagram is a lot like high school (sans the hormonal acne), so apply those #adulting skills and network like your momma’s business Meetup group taught you!

Organically growing your audience through cross-promotion with other influencers and brands is one of the best ways to reach new users.

Don’t be afraid to slide into another content creator’s DMs (unless you’re a #wifeguy, in which case, now’s really not a good time to take that risk).

4. Sponsor Contests or Giveaways

At the end of the day, any call for engagement from your audience is a win, so consider promoting your brand through contests or giveaways. Free giveaways that encourage sharing, commenting, and tagging friends are a great way to expand the reach of your posts. Additionally, by encouraging users who win your contest to share photos of their loot, you’re also expanding growth even further. The prize doesn’t have to be crazy high value, but it should be compelling enough for people to enter, so be sure to choose wisely.

5. Utilize Instagram Analytics

It’s important to know what works and what doesn’t. We like to believe what we’re most proud of will resonate with our audiences, but the sad truth is that it’s usually a post that we can’t predict. Want to know how your posts really perform? Instagram has built-in analytics that are quite useful. Additionally, 3rd party tools such as Later allow you to track your marketing strategy by analyzing links, clicks, page views, and click-through rates to see how much money a certain post or ad generated. If you’re seriously invested in growing your business, you need to get even more serious about tracking your social media numbers.

6. Post at Strategic Times

If a post goes live, but no one’s around to see it, did it ever really happen at all? Let’s say your target audience is a bunch of 20-year-olds. If you post something to your Instagram at 7am, do you actually think they’ve nursed that hangover long enough to stare at the bright lights of their phone screen through a massive headache?

To be honest, they likely won’t resemble anything other than a zombie until at least 1 pm, so it’s important to understand your audience’s very specific browsing times before posting that gorgeous pic to your feed. The more people who see your post, the higher your engagement. So take advantage of those Instagram Analytics tools and figure out when your users are the most active.

7. #Strategic #Hashtags

Strategery. It’s not just a word invented by George W. Bush… It’s a word that would have been trending and hashtagged into oblivion had Instagram existed back in 2001. While not as important as they would lead you to believe, hashtags are still an excellent tool for categorizing your content. While it’s tough to get discovered in the feed for your hashtags, it’s still possible, so consider using hashtags with a lower post amount to gain a better chance of actually being seen. Pro tip: make sure they’re relevant, specific, and driving engagement.

Final Thoughts

The Instagram Explore page is an indispensable tool for marketers, so it’s essential to understand how to use it to your advantage. If you use our tips, your organic posts can wind up on the Explore Page in front of entirely new audiences. And even though your ads may not appear directly on the Explore Page, they’ll pop up as users scroll down on posts they click onto from the Explore Page, making a great way to bring attention to your brand from new audiences.

If you need help with Instagram strategy, look no further. We’ve got you. Let’s chat!