The instagram suggested profile setting is called “Show account suggestions on profiles” and you can only enable it from a desktop computer. When turned on, Instagram recommends your profile whenever someone follows a similar account in your area — like other realtors, real estate coaches, or local influencers. It’s free advertising from Instagram that most agents don’t know exists.
If you want more followers on Instagram as a realtor, there’s a hidden feature you need to make sure is turned on. It’s called “Suggested Profile” — and most agents have never touched it because you can only find it on desktop.
This single toggle allows Instagram to recommend your profile when someone follows another realtor or real estate account in your area. It’s basically free advertising from Instagram. And it’s one of the easiest ways to grow your following without spending a dollar on ads.
Account suggestions drive 25-35% of new follower growth for profiles that have the setting enabled. Instagram’s suggestion algorithm surfaces your profile to users who already follow accounts similar to yours.
Source: Instagram Official Blog, Account Suggestions, 2025What Is the Instagram Suggested Profile Setting?
The instagram suggested profile setting is a feature that lets Instagram recommend your account to users who follow similar profiles. When someone follows a top-producing agent in your market, a local real estate coach, or a home decor influencer — Instagram can show your profile as a “Suggested for you” recommendation.
A desktop-only Instagram setting that enables your account to appear as a recommendation when users follow accounts similar to yours. Found under Edit Profile → Show account suggestions on profiles. When enabled, Instagram analyzes your content, niche, and audience to suggest you to relevant new followers.
Think of it like this: every time a potential buyer or seller follows any real estate account in your area, there’s a chance Instagram suggests you right next to them. Free visibility. Free followers. Zero ad spend. And all you have to do is check a box.
The catch? You can only turn this on from a desktop — a laptop or computer. It does not appear in the mobile app settings. That’s why most realtors have no idea it exists.
How to Enable the Suggested Profile Setting (Step by Step)
This takes 30 seconds. Here’s exactly how to turn on the instagram suggested profile setting:
Open Instagram on Desktop
Go to instagram.com on your laptop or computer. Log into your account. You cannot do this from your phone — the setting only appears on the desktop version.
Go to Edit Profile
Click on your profile picture in the top right, then click “Edit Profile.”
Check the Box
Find the checkbox next to “Show account suggestions on profiles” and make sure it’s checked. That’s it. You’re done.
Once this is on, Instagram starts working for you immediately. There’s no delay, no review process. Your profile becomes eligible for suggestion slots across the entire platform.
How Instagram Decides Who Gets Suggested
Once the instagram suggested profile setting is enabled, Instagram’s algorithm evaluates several factors to decide when and where to suggest your profile:
- Content similarity: If your Reels and posts cover similar topics to the account someone just followed, you’re more likely to be suggested.
- Audience overlap: Instagram looks at who follows you and who follows the other account. More overlap means higher suggestion priority.
- Location signals: If your content includes local keywords and you’re in the same geographic area as the followed account, you’ll get suggested more often.
- Engagement rate: Profiles with higher engagement rates get suggested more frequently because Instagram knows those accounts retain followers.
This is why keyword optimization matters so much. When your captions are packed with location-specific real estate keywords, Instagram’s algorithm has more signals to match you with the right audience. The suggested profile feature and keyword strategy work together to multiply your visibility.
“If someone follows a top-producing agent in your market? Instagram might suggest you next. If they follow a local real estate coach or influencer? You could pop up. It’s free visibility. And most realtors have no idea this even exists.”— Shawn Kaplan, Content Creator University
How to Get Instagram to Suggest Your Profile More Often
Turning on the setting is step one. Here’s how to make Instagram suggest you more frequently than competing agents in your market:
Optimize Your Bio with Keywords
Your bio should include your city, your niche, and what you help people do. “Helping first-time buyers in Phoenix find their dream home” gives Instagram way more data than “Realtor | Mom | Coffee lover.”
Post Consistently in Your Niche
The algorithm needs a pattern to classify your account. Post real estate content consistently so Instagram knows exactly what category you belong in — and who to suggest you to.
Engage with Similar Accounts
Comment on and engage with other real estate accounts in your market. This creates audience overlap signals that make you more likely to appear as a suggestion when their followers discover new accounts.
Social Realtr creates keyword-rich content for your Instagram every week — which gives the algorithm exactly what it needs to suggest your profile to the right people in your market.
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