To create a location on Instagram that you can use for geotagging posts on the platform, you need an active Facebook account, via which you need to compose a new post and create a custom location from there.
Geotagging is the process of adding your location to content uploaded to social media, and creators frequently do this to inform their followers of their activities and the locations they visit.
However, personal users aren’t the only ones who can benefit from geotagging, as businesses can leverage this Instagram feature in their social media strategy to promote their brand and boost discoverability.
If you don’t know how to create a location on Instagram and use it to your advantage, keep reading!
Why Should You Create a Location on Instagram?
You should create a location on Instagram because it will literally put your business on the map. While you can always add your business location to your captions or to your Instagram bio, having a custom location tag will make this information more accessible to your audience.
Similar to how Google Business Profile allows your business to appear on Google Maps and local search results, creating a location on Instagram for your business will allow it to be discovered more easily and shared by the app’s user base.
From participating in viral social media trends to trying the latest hot spots for food and photography, the desire to be seen online fuels today’s social media users. In fact, in 2013, Pew Research Center found that over 16% of teens set up their social media profiles to automatically tag the location of their posts, and the number has likely grown since then.
By uploading content with a custom location tag, you immediately let casual scrollers know where your business is located without them having to click on your profile or caption. And when they click on the location tag, they’ll be able to see user-generated content from other people who have visited your business.
But, aside from promoting your business, Simply Measured’s study showed that location tagging can improve your post’s engagement by up to 79%, making it an essential element for any post. Creating a location on Instagram also allows you to optimize your posts for local SEO and can encourage your followers in the area to visit your business.
How to Create a Custom Location on Instagram
To create a custom location on Instagram, you first need to make it on the Facebook app and wait for it to be integrated into Instagram’s system.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the steps involved:
#1. Compose a New Post
To create a location on Facebook, you need to compose a new post and tap Check in from the options below. If you don’t have location services enabled on Facebook yet, you need to turn this on in your phone settings to use the Check in feature.
#2. Create a Location on Facebook
After allowing location services, you can now create a custom location on Facebook. To start, type in your business name in the search bar. If there’s already an existing location with the same name, there’s no need to worry, as you can still create your own. All you need to do is scroll to the bottom and tap the Plus icon next to Add (Your Business Name).
#3. Add the Details to Your Custom Location
Once you have made a new location, you can add important details, like your business name, full address, and city, to it. You can also use the Map Location to pinpoint exactly where your business is on the map. When done, tap Save Custom Place.
Since adding the full address and city details is optional, you can even create a nonexistent location on Instagram. This feature is great for creating branded or themed content.
For instance, rather than using your business name, you can use a catchy tagline or promotional phrase as the name for your custom location, like “The Best Place to Be.”
Then, whenever you use the location tag, viewers will see the tagline and associate it with your business.
Can I Create a Location Without Meta?
Unfortunately, you can’t create a new location on Instagram without Facebook or Meta. But there are other ways to add your business location to Instagram aside from geotagging, which we will discuss later in this article.
Because Instagram uses the same locations as Facebook, maintaining cohesion in your business details across both platforms will allow you to promote your brand to new audiences much more effectively. Also, consider linking Instagram to your Facebook page to make it easier to share content and maintain branding on both sites.
How to Post With the New Location on Instagram
To post with your new custom location on Instagram, simply compose your post as usual and tap Add location before sharing it. Then, type the business name you chose in the search bar and select the right location listing.
When done, click Share to publish your post. When your post shows up on the feed, the location tag will be added below your username. To make sure that you tagged the right location, you can tap the location tag to view it on the app’s map.
Location tagging can already do wonders for your post’s engagement, but if you want to boost this benefit further, consider scheduling your Instagram post with Publer as well. Thanks to our tool, you can tag the locations in all your posts before scheduling; simply tap the location icon when creating your scheduled post and search for your business location.
How to Add Location to a Reel or Instagram Story
Aside from adding a location to an Instagram post, you can also tag locations in your Instagram Reels and Stories. Doing so will help improve their reach and encourage audiences to use your Instagram geotag in their content.
Here’s how you can do this for each post type:
How to Add Location to an Instagram Reel
There are two ways to add a location to your Instagram Reel: using the location sticker and using the location tag.
To add a location sticker to your Reel, tap on the sticker icon and choose the location sticker. This will add the visual element of the sticker to your Reel, but users won’t be able to interact with it.
To benefit from geotagging, you need to tag the location directly on your Reel. You can do this by tapping Add location before sharing your Reel.
If you’re bulk creating or scheduling Instagram Reels with Publer, you can also tag the location on your Reels the same way that you do for posts.
How to Add Location to an Instagram Story
To add a location to your Instagram Story, create your Story as usual, then tap the sticker icon.
Select the Location sticker and search for your custom location.
You can tap the sticker to change how it looks or tap and drag to change its position. When you’re happy with how it looks, you can share your Story.
While you can’t add a location tag when scheduling Instagram Stories with Publer, you can utilize our push notification feature to be notified before your post is published. This way, you can add a location tag before sharing your Story.
How to Add Location to Your Instagram Bio
An alternative way to create a location on Instagram is by adding it to your bio. This lets your followers and profile visitors see where your business is located as soon as they visit your profile.
To do this, you need to go to your Instagram profile and click Edit profile. Then, scroll down to Contact options to input your business address.
It’s important to be as specific as possible so that when users tap on your location from your bio, they can easily navigate your location on the app’s map.
How to Hashtag a Location on Instagram
Another way to create a location on Instagram is by making it into a hashtag. Aside from the usual Instagram hashtags you use for context and discoverability purposes, using a location hashtag will also help improve your post’s visibility on the platform.
To hashtag a location, all you need to do is create an Instagram post and then type out the hashtag you want to use.
You can be as specific or general as you want. Some examples of location hashtags are:
- City hashtags like #SanFrancisco or #Chicago
- Popular attraction hashtags like #CentralPark or #YosemiteNationalPark
- Local business hashtags like #EatLocal or #SupportLocal + your city
Then, when people click on that hashtag, your post will show up alongside other content that uses the same hashtag.
What to Do When You Can’t Set Up a New Location on Instagram
If you can’t find or set up a new location on Instagram, here are four things you can do:
- Disable the location settings on your phone. Since Facebook uses location services to track your location on the app, you may not be able to create a location tag for places that are far from you. When this happens, consider disabling the location services on your phone and then creating a location tag.
- Enable location settings on your phone. Alternatively, if the location tag you created isn’t showing up on the app despite you being in the same area, you may need to enable location services on your phone.
- Assign a category for your location. When creating a new location on Instagram, you may need to assign it to a category to help the system classify the tag better.
- Publish a post. If your location tag still isn’t showing up on Instagram, try publishing a Facebook post with your custom tag.
While you should be able to use your new location right away, sometimes delays in the system can cause your geotag to show up hours or even days after creation. Bearing this in mind, make sure to give it some time before trying again.
If you still can’t create a location on Instagram after following these troubleshooting tips, then consider trying one of the alternative methods we discussed above, like adding your location to your Instagram bio or to a hashtag.
Key Takeaways
- Creating a location on Instagram offers several benefits, such as better discoverability and engagement.
- To create a custom location on Instagram, you need to make it on the Facebook app, as the two platforms share location data on Meta.
- To make an Instagram post or Reel with your custom location, simply add your new location before sharing it. On the other hand, to add a location to Instagram Stories, you need to use the location sticker.
- Aside from location tags, you can also create a location on Instagram by making it into a hashtag.
- If you can’t create a new location on Instagram, consider toggling your phone’s location services on and off, assigning a category for your custom location, or publishing a Facebook post using the new location tag.
Ervin Kalemi
