Why the Explore Page Matters

The Explore page is one of the most viewed areas of Instagram, with over 200 million Instagrammers visiting it daily. It’s essentially free advertising for whichever accounts and posts get featured there. According to Instagram, 59% of users visit the Explore page daily.

Getting on the Explore page opens the door for your content to reach a vastly wider audience beyond just your current followers. It exposes your brand to users who may have never heard of you. This increased visibility and new eyes on your account leads to more followers, engagement, website traffic, and sales.

In one case study, travel blogger @Wanderlustcrew received over 30,000 new followers within 24 hours after having a photo featured on the Explore page. Beauty brand ColourPop reported gaining over 11,500 followers from being on the Explore page. Getting featured has the potential for massive reach and growth.

#1 Use Relevant & Trending Hashtags

Hashtags are one of the primary ways Instagram’s algorithm detects content that could be a hit and surfaces it on the Explore page. Use a mix of popular, trending hashtags and more niche ones relevant to your brand. Identify trending hashtags in your industry and hop on them. But don’t go overboard – stick to around 5-10 per post.

#2 Post Share-Worthy, Engaging Content

It should go without saying, but the Explore page favors visually striking photos and videos that are likely to interest and engage many users. Use high-quality, eye-catching imagery, and incorporate elements like thoughtful captions, humor, and Stories to drive engagement through likes, comments, shares, and saves.

#3 Stay Active & Consistent

The algorithm gives preference to accounts that post consistently over those with occasional, sporadic posts. Stick to a regular cadence, whether that’s daily, multiple times per week, or weekly. Additionally, engage back with your audience through likes, comments, and responding to comments and DMs to prove you’re an active account.

How to Sustain Continued Explore Page Exposure

Getting on the Explore page once is exciting, but the real challenge is sustaining that visibility over time and avoiding being just a one-hit-wonder. Here are some tips:

Analyze your top posts – Look at the types of content, hashtags, captions, etc. that got you on the Explore page in the first place and try to replicate what worked.

Watch the trends – Hop on hashtags and content trends early and repeatedly. Pay close attention to what’s resonating and performing well.

Curate a cohesive aesthetic – A distinct, consistent style, color palette, editing, etc. makes your posts more recognizable and memorable.

Engage your new audience – When people discover you on Explore, give them a reason to stick around through amazing content and engagement.

Getting featured on Instagram’s Explore page is incredibly valuable for organizations looking to get discovered and expand their reach and audience. By leveraging the right hashtags, creating ultra-engaging content, posting consistently, and continuously adjusting to what works best, you’ll increase your chances of getting seen by those coveted Explore page users. If you’re looking for ways to get seen on the Explore page, reach out to Onya today to learn more!

The image and videos above are from this page: https://about.instagram.com/features/search-and-explore