Ever stopped to think about “Alt Text” on Instagram?
It's not just a techy add-on—it's a game-changer for reach!
Alt text on Instagram posts helps the algorithm!
Alt Text on our Instagram posts helps the Instagram algorithm understand what your post is all about. The more context you provide, the better it can show your content to people who are likely to engage. It’s like giving the algorithm a roadmap to your amazing content and profile!
If we use relevant keywords in the alt text, the algorithm can understand what the post is all about. For example, in the image below, we can see a post about a “DIY Quilling Box.” So, we can use keywords like “Quilling Kit,” “DIY Art and Craft,” etc. to indicate to the algorithm what the post is about.
By consistently adding alt text with relevant keywords to all posts, the algorithm builds a clearer understanding of your profile (Instagram handle). This can lead to a better understanding of your target audience, who are more likely to engage with your content.
Keyword Magic on Search
Using relevant keywords in alt text can help you rank on Google too. Yes, you heard that right! Add relevant keywords in the alt text and watch your posts appear in search results. It’s like SEO for social media!
If we consider the above example, when someone searches for “Quilling Kit” on Google we would definitely want our website to be listed on the top, but there is nothing wrong if our Instagram handle or posts also get listed.
When we link Instagram to the website and embed Instagram content on the website, the alt text also helps improve the website's SEO.
Improving the Accessibility of Our Content
Alt text provides descriptions of images for those using screen readers, ensuring everyone can enjoy the content. Alt text can be converted to audio for people who are visually challenged ensuring accessibility.
Role of Captions
Even captions contribute to this effort. Most people think captions are not important because no one reads them, which is a misconception as many people do read captions.
Captions and alt text, help the algorithm understand more about the post.
And using relevant keywords even in the caption also helps with SEO.
So, next time you're about to post an engaging piece of content, take a few extra seconds to add some descriptive caption and alt text. It will help increase reach ensuring the content is delivered to the relevant audience.