Creating a location on Instagram is a great way to increase the visibility of your posts and your business. Whether it’s for a special event, branding or simply to add a touch of creativity to your posts, knowing how to create and effectively use a custom location can make a big difference to your social media strategy. In this article, we’ll guide you step-by-step through creating your own location on Instagram, using simple techniques and practical tips to maximize the impact of your posts.

Creating a location on Instagram can greatly enhance the visibility of your publications, whether for a business, a personal brand or simply to share special moments. This step-by-step guide shows you how to add a location on Instagram, using Facebook as an intermediary. You’ll also learn how to use these locations to improve the reach of your publications and attract more followers or customers. Follow these tips to make the most of this powerful feature.

Why create a location on Instagram?

Geolocation on Instagram is much more than just a tag. It acts as a smart tool that associates your posts with a specific location, making it easier to organize your gallery and improving the experience for visitors to your profile. Locations are essential for gaining reach and relevance. When you tag a location, your publication appears in searches related to that location, allowing other users to discover your content even if they don’t follow you.

For businesses and physical stores, this is a golden opportunity to attract the public and local visitors, as anyone can find your establishment or brand simply by browsing the Instagram map. What’s more, location keeps your memories organized and easier to find in the future. For brands and businesses, adding location information allows customers to leave reviews, share experiences and contribute to your digital reputation.

Benefits of using locations on Instagram

There are several advantages to using locations on Instagram:

  • Greater visibility: By tagging a location, your content can appear in the locations or maps section, attracting the attention of users interested in that place.

  • More interactivity: People who visit or search for information about your site can interact directly with your publications.

  • Reputation and trust: A well-managed location conveys professionalism and reliability, especially if you’re a physical business or personal brand.

  • Free advertising: Customers or subscribers can tag your location in their own publications and stories, increasing your reach without any advertising investment.

  • Easy localization: Users can access your brand or company address with a simple click, helping you convert visitors into customers.

How to create a location on Instagram step by step

To create a new location on Instagram, you need to know that the platform uses locations registered on Facebook. Here’s how to do it:

Access Facebook and create a new location

Access Facebook from your mobile device or computer. You can use the application or the Web version. Create a new message on your personal profile or business page. Click on the record visit option (appears next to a red location emoticon). Scroll to the bottom of the suggestions and select + Add a new location. Fill in all the details: location name, exact address, city and map location. If your business is physical, make sure you enter the address correctly to avoid mistakes. Select the category that best matches your location.

Save location and publish message

Click on Save custom location. It’s important to publish the post so that the location is saved correctly. Note that it may take a few hours, or even up to 48 hours, for the location to be available on Instagram.

How to check if your location is already active on Instagram

Access Instagram and create a new publication, story, reel or any other format. On the editing screen, select Add a location. Start typing the name of the place you’ve listed on Facebook. If the process is correct, it will appear as a suggestion. Select this location and complete the publication. It will now be connected to your content and visible to anyone accessing the map or searching for this location. If the location does not appear immediately, please wait a few hours and try again, as synchronization between Facebook and Instagram is not always instantaneous.

Create fake or custom locations on Instagram

Instagram allows users to customize locations, which can be fun if you want to joke around, confuse your friends or promote a creative event or concept. Create a location from Facebook with whatever made-up or creative name you choose. Choose a category like “Fun” if it’s a funny or irreverent name. Fill in the details as if they were real so that Instagram can recognize and use them in your publications. You can edit and delete your posts to change their location as many times as you like, as long as you’re the account owner.

How to create a place that doesn’t exist on Instagram

If you’re looking for a location and can’t find it either in the suggestions or by typing its name, the solution is to create a location from Facebook by following the step-by-step instructions explained above. This is particularly useful for newly opened businesses, temporary events or locations invented for creative campaigns.

Can I create a location directly from Instagram?

It’s not possible to create new locations directly from the Instagram app. The platform only allows you to choose from locations already in its database (which come from Facebook), or from Google Maps for locations already recognized. If you need a custom location, you’ll need to follow the steps above from your Facebook account.

How to display your location on your profile (Business and Creator accounts)

If you have a business or creative account on Instagram, you can add your business address to your profile to make it easier for users to find you. Go to your profile and click on Edit Profile. Select Contact options and then Company address. Enter the address, city and zip code. Save and exit editing. Your location will be clearly visible to all profile visitors.

How to change the location of old messages

Instagram lets you add or change the location of your posts after they’ve been published, which is very useful if you’ve forgotten to do so or need to correct a mistake. Open the old post in your profile. Click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner and select Edit. Modify or add the desired location and save the changes.

Key tips for businesses and companies on location management

Always include location in publications about your physical business. This will make it easier for your customers to find you, and help you appear in related searches. Encourage your customers and subscribers to share content using your location. This will generate valuable organic content and social proof.

Avoid duplicate or similar names, which can confuse users. Try to maintain consistency in your company or brand name. Update your location data If you change location, open a new branch or discover errors in published information.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them when creating a location

Do not complete all location data (address, category and name). If details are missing, the location may not appear correctly on Instagram or may appear on the wrong map. Register multiple locations that are similar or have different spellings, confusing customers and scattering your business’s visibility. Don’t check that the location you’ve created is active:Do this before telling customers they can tag you. Don’t use the location in your own publications If you’re a business, set an example to create a trend and position yourself as a reference.

Frequently asked questions about Instagram locations

Why does my position take so long to appear?

The synchronization process can take up to 48 hours. If it doesn’t appear after this time, check that you have completed all your details on Facebook.

Can I delete a location if I’ve made a mistake?

You can’t delete locations on Instagram, but you can edit them on Facebook and report errors.

Can I use the same location for several accounts?

Yes, any user can mark an existing location when creating publications.

How do I display my position when searching on the map?

Complete all the registration and promotion steps to increase the visibility of your location, and ask your customers or friends to feature it in their publications.

Creating Instagram posts has established itself as one of the most valuable strategies for increasing the visibility of personal publications, promoting physical businesses and consolidating brand image. Taking advantage of this feature helps you organize your memories, facilitate interaction with your customers and followers, and stand out in location-related searches. Whether you manage a personal account, a restaurant, a retail outlet or an international brand, knowing and applying these steps will open up new opportunities to improve your digital presence and increase your reach on today’s most visual and dynamic social network.

For more information on personal branding and managing your digital identity, visit our article onemployability. You can also learn more about off-site SEO and its importance for digital reputation in our article dedicated to off-site SEO.

If you’re looking to boost your brand’s presence on social networks, discover our community management services on our community management page. For local SEO expertise, check out our interview with Sébastien Schuller, CEO of Karedess, on the local SEO expert interview.

FAQ about creating a place on Instagram

How do I create a location on Instagram?

To create a location on Instagram, you need to go through the Facebook app, as Instagram is owned by Meta and uses locations registered on Facebook. Here are the steps to follow:

  • Open the Facebook application and go to the “Location” section.

  • Click on “Add a new location” and fill in the necessary information such as location name, exact address, city and category.

  • Save the location and post a message on Facebook to make sure it’s properly registered.

  • Wait a few hours, even up to 48 hours, for the location to be available on Instagram.

Can I create a location directly from Instagram?

No, it’s not possible to create a location directly from Instagram. You have to use Facebook to register a new location. Instagram only allows you to choose from locations already in its database from Facebook or Google Maps. For a personalized location, follow the steps from your Facebook account.

How do I add a location to my Instagram posts, stories and reels?

Once your personalized place is active, you can use it on any type of publication:

  • In feed publications: before publishing, choose “Add a location” and select the location you’ve created.

  • In stories: use the location sticker, start typing the name of the place and select it.

  • On Reels or IGTV: the option appears in the same way as in the feed, just before launching the publication.

Why does it take so long for my location to appear on Instagram?

The synchronization process may take up to 48 hours. If your location does not appear after this time, check that you have completed all the details on Facebook. Also make sure that your device’s location is enabled and that you have a good Internet connection to avoid any synchronization problems.

How do you create a fictional or personalized location on Instagram?

To create a fictional or custom location, follow these steps:

  • Create a location from Facebook with the invented or creative name you choose.

  • Choose an appropriate category, e.g. “Fun” if the name is funny or irreverent.

  • Fill in the details as if they were real so that Instagram can recognize and use them in your posts.

Why doesn’t Instagram let me add my location?

If you’re having trouble adding a location on Instagram, the most common reason is that the device’s “Location” function is disabled. Without geolocation active, Instagram doesn’t detect your location and can’t suggest or find nearby locations. Other problems may include a poor Internet connection or insufficient app permissions.