Reaching the Instagram Explore Page - our recipe

More reach and more followers are every Instagrammer's wish. To get as much attention as possible, the Instagram Explore Page is the goal of every user, because it is the most important tool when it comes to new organic reach on the social network. Why it is so important and what it is, we have summarised in this article.

What is the Instagram Explore Page?

Posts suggested individually for each user The Instagram Explore Page is the overview of the most important new posts on your favourite topic. You reach it by tapping the magnifying glass at the bottom left, next to the Home button, in your Instagram profile. These are contents that Instagram selects for you because you have interacted with the corresponding profiles or topics in the past. These are exclusively contents from accounts you do not yet follow, but which could interest you. They are selected organically. More precisely, the Instagram algorithm decides which post is shown to whom.

Why is the Instagram Explore Page so important?

The chance to be suggested to users who do not follow you According to Instagram's blog, more than 200 million users visit Instagram's Explore Page every day. The reach it offers is entirely organic and niche-related (especially for companies and brands). As soon as your post appears in the Explore area of the platform, a sea of possibilities opens up to build a solid relationship with users who are not even connected to your brand. Inclusion in the Instagram Explore Page could become a significant factor for immediately enlarging the market reachable for your brand. Since Instagram has a user base of billions, it is crucial to learn how to multiply your reach by securing a place on the Explore Page.

The Instagram algorithm for the Explore Page

How Instagram decides which topic interests the user: interactions (likes, comments, saves) and time spent with other content How Instagram selects relevant content: account niche, through hashtags and users who interact with the account's content The Explore Page allows small accounts to grow organically and quickly. To do so, however, you have to get your posts onto this page. Among Instagram users, the Explore Page has so far been regarded as a mystery, although Instagram has already commented on it. According to Instagram, there are five criteria that are decisive for the Explore Page algorithm. These include the likes and comments you have written under other content. Instagram remembers this and shows similar posts on the Explore Page.

Interactions count

What is also decisive, however, is how quickly other users save, share or like a new post or video. The sooner your own post is liked or commented on, the higher the probability that it will reach the Explore Page. Content can also end up on other users' Explore Pages if they have liked a post in the past but do not follow your account. Basically, your content appears to be interesting to these people.

Which content is shown

In general, the social network only shows posts, Reels and videos that reflect the Instagram account's favourite topic. If your own content serves a niche, the chance of landing on the Explore page is much higher than if it is a general topic. Instagram evaluates information about the content creator, i.e. the creator of the posts. The higher their interaction in the past, the higher Instagram's trust that the content creator will also deliver good content in the future that reaches many people. That means that whoever actively uses Instagram and, for example, likes and replies to comments under their own posts increases the probability of landing on the Explore Page.

How do you get onto the Instagram Explore Page?

1. Post at the right time

For success on Instagram it is essential to post at the times when your followers are generally active on the platform. This is a very important tip, since the Instagram algorithm focuses on timeliness as one of the factors for the visibility of posts. That means that if your post is brand new, it will appear more prominently in your followers' feeds. If you publish your posts at a time when your followers are usually active on the platform, you will probably receive higher engagement, which is a decisive element for getting your posts onto the Instagram Explore Page. How often you should post on Instagram.

2. Share engaging content and find out which type of posts your audience likes most

To create an effective post, it is not enough to only post something when your audience is online. You also have to make sure you publish content that is fascinating and helpful. This is the point where you have the opportunity to receive the most engagement, so that your post will undoubtedly be highlighted on your followers' Instagram Explore Page.

3. Create calls to action in your posts

You will often observe that posts with high engagement more frequently land on the Instagram Explore Page. It is therefore important that you address your audience directly with your posts. One of the best methods to ensure this is to directly prompt your followers, with calls to action, to engage with your posts. For example, ask questions in the captions so that your followers can answer them in the comments section. This way they can also start a discussion with you. You can ask your followers to like, share or tag their friends on your posts. This is an excellent method for challenges or giveaways you may run. Simply asking your audience to take part in the posts can strongly influence engagement and increase your chances of being included on the Explore Page. How you can write good captions.

4. Use prominent formats such as IGTV videos and Reels

IGTVs have their own section on the Instagram Explore Page. So it is nothing unexpected that Instagram is increasingly pushing its IGTV design on the platform. Using the IGTV format can work excellently, because IGTV has its own area on the Instagram home page and additionally sits at the very top. And it is no secret that Instagram needs Reels to succeed. This format is such an essential part of the Instagram user experience that the entire landing page was completely changed to support it. If you use these means, you will most likely land on the Explore Page more often. You can find out more about Reels in our guide to Instagram Reels.

5. Use suitable tags, hashtags and captions

Geotags, account tagging, hashtags and captions are different approaches to increase the reach of your content on the Instagram Explore Page. Always remember that users use the Explore Page to search by location and hashtag. If a particular hashtag is beneficial to someone, they can now also follow it. Selected and fitting captions also help your content appear on the Instagram Explore Page.

6. Work together with other users

Collaborating with influencers is an incredible way to increase your engagement and reach by harnessing the power of a fully developed audience. Influencers' followers regularly connect with their posts and trust their brand recommendations. By cross-promoting posts that feature you both in your own feed and in an influencer's feed, you gain additional visibility and engagement with a different target group. If you enter into such a collaboration, you should be able to achieve sufficient engagement for your Instagram posts to ultimately appear on the Instagram Explore Page.

7. Tag products in your feed

This applies above all to brands that sell products. However, if done correctly, it can also be a decisive factor for new brands. Label your product in each of your posts. This helps viewers go straight to your shop and buy it. It also increases the likelihood that your product will appear in other users' Instagram Explore shopping area. If you create fantastic images with captivating captions, there is a good chance your post will appear even faster in the Instagram Explore shopping area. Here are further tips on how you can win customers on Instagram.

8. Use Stories to promote your post

You may have already seen that many accounts on Instagram post a story about their latest post. But do you know why they do it? To increase their reach and engagement! After the last algorithm update, the organic reach of posts on Instagram dropped sharply. Therefore, some accounts have to find their own ways to increase the reach of their posts to all their followers. Getting your followers to switch on their post notifications is one of the options, while sharing your posts in Stories is another. However, make sure you do not show the entire post in the Story itself. Place it in the Story so that viewers tap the Story and then visit the post. How you can create brilliant Instagram Stories.

9. Use Instagram Insights

Every Instagram user has their own statistics that Instagram provides, showing how your posts and your account are developing. In the "Insights" section you can easily see which posting time works best for you and also track other aspects. You can also see how many hashtags lead to more engagement. You can determine which type of content attracts more visitors. In addition, you can even analyse here which content has led to more conversions. Tracking and analysing your performance on the platform will help you get the maximum out of your posts.

10. Stay in your niche

Some pages and brands on Instagram simply post arbitrary content to keep up posting frequency. While it is important to maintain how often you post, posting content that does not belong to your niche could rather work against you. If your audience is interested in content on a particular topic and sees a post in their feed that represents a different topic from your side, users engage exponentially less than usual. This applies especially when your Instagram page relates to a specific niche. In such cases your followers always keep an eye out for content related to the niche. If you post content related to the niche, Instagram gives your page a plus point. It increases the chances that you appear in the Explore area of users who follow the niche. How to choose your niche and get started best on Instagram.

Why is the Explore Page so important for companies?

The Explore Page is important not only for content creators but also for companies. Because when they are represented there via influencers, brand and product receive significantly more attention than in the Reels, Stories and posts of users who are not represented on this page. The target audience on the Explore Page is much larger and above all, the effort and costs for companies are low. In addition, it is an organic audience. On influencers' profile pages it is more likely that the company is already known. On the Explore page, many new customers may be waiting.

How do you positively influence the Instagram algorithm?

For content creators it is especially important to define their own target audience and to act within it. That means all content should be intended exclusively for your own followers and arouse their interest. This also includes the right hashtags (#), a good image and a good caption. You yourself must also follow relevant accounts that address the same target audience. Your own content should always be unique. Copying does not go down well and does not create more reach. On the contrary, violating the general guidelines can also cause trouble with followers. You can also see how well your posts are received in the Insights on Instagram under Content and Posts, where the metrics can be found. If the post lands on the Explore Page, it is also listed separately there, showing how many people have seen the post on the page.

Which posts are particularly positive?

On the Explore Page, moving images are particularly well received, i.e. videos. They start automatically and therefore automatically catch the eye. Because they are so popular, videos (Reels) have their own tab on the Explore Page. Here are some ideas for Reels. Videos are now more popular than postings, which is why you should rather film short videos for your own target audience.