By Onur Demirkol 
The Instagram Explore page is a powerful way to grow your reach. It shows your content to users who don’t follow you but share similar interests.
This guide explains how the Instagram Explore page works and what you can do to get your posts featured.
Table of Contents
The Instagram Explore page is a section of the app that shows content based on your interests. You can reach it by tapping the magnifying glass icon on the home screen. The page is different for everyone because Instagram uses your activity to decide what to show.
You might see Reels, photos, carousels, or videos from accounts you don’t follow. But they match the type of content you usually like. The Instagram discovery algorithm selects this content for you.
The Instagram Explore page helps people find new accounts and content. Your home feed only shows posts from people you follow. Explore goes beyond that and brings in fresh content from across Instagram.
Instagram studies what you like, save, share, and comment on. It uses that data to build your Explore page. So, if you enjoy fashion content, Instagram will show you similar posts, even from accounts you don’t know.
The goal is to keep you engaged by showing content you already enjoy.
The Instagram discovery algorithm decides what shows up on your Explore page. It uses signals like:
- Posts you like or comment on
- People you message or follow
- Topics you often search
- Posts that your friends engage with
- Content that many users find interesting
- New posts that are gaining quick attention
Instagram also creates topic groups. For example, if you like tech content, you may see more posts related to gadgets, apps, or coding.
Instagram updates the Explore page often, so your activity has a big impact on what you see.
To appear on the Explore page, your post needs good engagement. Instagram looks for content that people like right after it goes live.
Here are things that improve Instagram Explore page visibility:
- High number of likes and comments in the first hour
- Posts that get saved or shared
- Content that keeps users watching or reading
- Captions that spark conversations
- Clear and high-quality images or videos
If your post performs well early, the algorithm sees it as valuable. It may then show it to more people through Explore.
Instagram trending posts are posts that do much better than usual for a given account. These posts get a lot of attention in a short time.
A small account with 200 likes on a post that normally gets 20 can have a trending post. It’s not just about big numbers. It’s about strong performance compared to past posts.
Common signs of trending content include:
- Fresh and relevant topics
- Strong visuals
- Captions that invite reactions
- Smart hashtag choices
- High engagement in the first hour
Instagram values posts that people interact with quickly. So, a high engagement rate often beats raw like counts.
Different content types behave in different ways on the Instagram Explore page. Here’s how the algorithm treats each format:
- Photos: Need to stand out visually right away. Composition and image quality matter.
- Videos: Longer watch time helps. The more users watch, the more likely the video will show up.
- Reels: Instagram pushes Reels more than any other format. Original Reels that entertain or educate do well.
- Carousels: These posts get more swipes, which means more engagement. That helps with visibility.
- Long videos: Content like IGTV is now less common. But if used, the intro must be strong, and the thumbnail should attract attention.
Instagram also focuses on recent content. Most of what you see on Explore is no older than a few days. Older posts show up only if they go viral again.
Here are practical steps you can follow:
- Post when your audience is active
- Use hashtags that match your content, not just the most popular ones
- Write captions that invite comments or shares
- Reply to comments soon after posting
- Share the post to your Stories for extra reach
- Focus on clear visuals with good lighting and composition
- Create content that offers value, like tips, humor, or ideas people can save
By following these steps, you help the Instagram discovery algorithm recognize your post as valuable. You can also check out this research for more information.
Many people believe the wrong things about how Explore works. Let’s correct some of the biggest myths:
- Myth 1: You need thousands of followers to be featured.
- Fact: A post with a strong engagement rate can reach Explore, even from a small account.
- Myth 2: Using 30 hashtags boosts your chances.
- Fact: Hashtags must be relevant. Too many can hurt more than help.
- Myth 3: Posting often leads to better visibility.
- Fact: Instagram cares more about quality and timing than how often you post.
- Myth 4: Business accounts get more reach.
- Fact: The algorithm looks at content performance, not account type.
Instagram makes it easy to check if your post reached the Explore page. Go to the post, tap “View Insights,” and look for “From Explore.”
This section shows how many users found your post through Explore.
Track the posts that get Explore reach. Look at:
- Time of posting
- Hashtag use
- Post format
- Engagement levels
- Caption style
Use this data to improve future posts. Patterns will show you what works best.
To grow through the Instagram Explore page, you need more than one good post. You need a clear plan that works over time.
Here are key tips:
- Be consistent with your style and message
- Understand your audience and create content they care about
- Post regularly, but never rush low-quality content
- Learn from Insights and change what isn’t working
- Stay true to your brand, even when trends change
The Explore page rewards posts that people find helpful, funny, inspiring, or beautiful. If your content does that, Instagram will likely share it with more users.
The Instagram Explore page can grow your reach faster than your feed ever could. But you need to understand how the Instagram discovery algorithm works and what improves Explore page visibility.
Focus on creating strong content. Keep your posts fresh, helpful, and aligned with your audience’s interests. Use the right hashtags, post at the right time, and engage with people who comment.
There’s no shortcut to success. But if you follow the tips in this guide and keep improving, you’ll have a better chance of landing among the next Instagram trending posts.