The Instagram Explore page is a great way to discover new content and accounts that match your interests. Based on your activity on Instagram, the app’s algorithm curates a personalized feed of photos, videos, reels, and stories on the Explore page.
However, sometimes the algorithm can get stuck showing you the same type of content over and over. If you want your Explore page to refresh with new content recommendations, here are some tips:
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Manually Change What You See in Explore
The easiest way to reset your Explore page is to manually tell Instagram what content you don’t want to see anymore. Here’s how:
- Open the Instagram app and tap on the magnifying glass icon to go to Explore
- Tap and hold on a photo or video that you don’t want recommended anymore
- Select “Not Interested”
By actively marking content as “Not Interested,” you’re telling Instagram not to show you similar posts. Over time as you do this, you’ll start seeing different content populating your Explore feed.
Clear Your Search History
Instagram uses your search history to make recommendations on Explore. Clearing your search history gives the algorithm a fresh start on suggesting posts for you.
To clear your search history:
- Go to your profile
- Tap on the three lines “hamburger” menu icon
- Go to Settings > Security > Clear Search History
- Select “Clear All” to delete your full history
Refresh the Page
A quick way to see new posts is to manually refresh your Explore feed. Simply pull down from the top of the screen to reload the page. This will show you the most recent content that Instagram thinks you’ll like.
Post at Popular Times
Since Instagram ranks timely, popular content higher in Explore, aim to post when engagement rates tend to be high.
The best times to post on Instagram are:
- Mondays and Thursdays at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3pm
- Fridays at 10am
- Saturdays at 11am and 7-8pm
Posting during peak hours gives your content a better chance of going viral and landing on Explore pages.
Relevant hashtags are key for discoverability on Instagram. Including niche hashtags allows your posts to be found by people interested in those topics.
To find good hashtags for Explore:
- Research hashtags used by influencers or competitors in your industry
- Use Instagram’s auto-complete suggestions when typing in a hashtag
- Search for keyword ideas on sites like All Hashtag
- Only use 5-10 extremely targeted hashtags per post
Run an Instagram Contest
Contests and giveaways tend to gain a lot of engagement on Instagram. All of this excitement signals to the algorithm that your post is popular.
To increase your chances of trending:
- Partner with influencers in your niche to promote the contest to their audience
- Require participants to tag friends for extra visibility
- Offer a prize that your target demographic would enjoy
Use Instagram Insights
Instagram Insights shows you analytics on your posts so you can see which types of content best resonates with your followers. Replicate your top-performing posts to create more viral hits.
Key metrics to analyze:
- Impressions
- Reach
- Saves
- Shares
- Comments
- Profile visits
Focus on making more of the content that drives the highest engagement and conversions.
Advertise on Explore
Instagram Explore ads appear in between posts on the Explore tab. You can target your ads by location, interests, gender, age, and more.
If organic methods aren’t getting your posts seen, Explore ads are great for:
- Increasing brand awareness
- Driving traffic to your website
- Promoting products
- Growing your following
The benefit of Explore ads is you can choose exactly who sees your posts, so your content and offers will be highly relevant to viewers.
Continuously Improve Your Content
Getting on the Explore page takes time, strategy, and top-notch content. Make sure each piece you publish is high-quality, visually appealing, and brings value to your audience.
Analyze what topics and formats perform best and focus on improving those over time. Pay attention to trends and test new ideas to keep your content fresh.
Be patient, consistent, and strategic with your Instagram presence. With the right approach, your posts will start getting recognized by Instagram’s algorithm and featured for more users to discover.
