How to use the Instagram ALT Text feature to improve the SEO

Last November Instagram announced a new feature on photos and videos! The ALT text or tag. What does ALT text mean? ALT text stands for alternative text. If you have added images to your website or blog, this is probably something you are already familiar with. ALT text strengthens the message of your articles with search engine spiders and improves the accessibility of your website.

Instagram announced that they introduced ALT text to make the platform more accessible for visually impaired users. ALT text descriptions can be read by screen readers so visually impaired readers can hear about the photos in their feed.
How do you add it?

​Open your Instagram account and add a photo and caption. Then go to Advanced Settings at the bottom of the page.

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Scroll down to accessibility and write ALT Text.

Next add the ALT text. 

• There is a 125 character limitation so make sure you don’t use more characters as this can be seen as over-optimization.

• Include your brand name in the ALT text.

• Make sure you own the copyright of the photos.

Your followers will not actually going to see this text. Instagram will automatically set your alt text on every image if you don't add them. However if you do use them strategically, you will be able provide further SEO value for your brand. Your photos are now going to start getting rankings on Google Image search.

If you would like to learn more about how to improve your Instagram strategy, I would love you to come to my Instagram For Business Workshop on the 5th of February in Guildford.  If you can't make this one, subscribe to my email list to get notified about the future workshops.