Here's How To Use Instagram's Search Feature To Be More Effective

Instagram provides the most relevant search features for users. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Search feature on Instagram is an important tool that helps users find accounts that are centered on their interests. Another useful feature is the Sensitive Content Control, which lets users choose how much sensitive content they see on their Instagram feed.

Earlier last month, Instagram users received the Security Check feature, a step-by-step process that can help people protect their accounts after they have been hacked.

Instagram offers a variety of features to help users stay safe, improve the user experience, or help others in need. For those who want to protect their DMs, the Limits feature offers the option to restrict direct messages from people they don't know or who have recently followed them.

It's also quick and easy to unlink Instagram accounts from Facebook accounts for users who want to separate their social media accounts. Back in June, Instagram introduced a Group Fundraising feature, which allows people to work together to raise funds for a variety of causes.

After starting a fundraiser, simply tap on the three dots in the top right corner and hit the "Invite to Group Fundraiser" button to include other people in the fundraiser.

As Instagram explains, the Search feature relies on signals to rank results, ensuring that users see the most relevant results. Signals include the text a user enters in the search bar with a focus on the username and place, along with relevant bios, captions, and hashtags.

The relevant text is the most important signal, followed by user activity. The latter means that Instagram will rank accounts or hashtags that users already follow higher than others. Finally, Instagram sees how many likes or shares the account or hashtag has received. The more interactions, the higher the overall payoff.

For creators who use Instagram as a source of income, here are some tips to make appearing in search results easier. To get started, it's important to have an Instagram handle associated with the content so that it will appear when followers search for that type of content.

If the follower knows the creator by a certain name, then that name should be included in the profile. For example, if a musician uses a stage name, they must ensure that the stage name appears on their profile or as part of their Instagram handle.

Creators can also include descriptive keywords in their bio to make it easier for people to find accounts. For example, a location for a small business can help local users find the business. Finally, make sure to include hashtags and keywords in the description rather than comments, as these can also help the post show up in Instagram search results.