How Instagram Algorithm Works (Using It To Your Advantage)

How the Instagram Algorithm Works (And How to Use It to Your Advantage)

Posted 2 years ago by Anastasia Prokofieva

The Instagram algorithm is桂an桂ever-evolving platform that affects how visible your content is桂to桂your existing 껸꾈삣桂potential followers. For a桂business owner selling on桂Instagram, understanding how the桂algorithm works is桂an桂essential part of桂being successful there.

In桂this blog post, we�셪l explore what the桂Instagram algorithm is, why it桂matters, 껸꾈삣桂what you can do桂to桂make sure your content gets noticed. We�셪l also provide tips on桂how to桂use the桂algorithm to桂your advantage so桂that you can maximize your reach 껸꾈삣桂engagement on桂the桂platform.

What is桂the桂Instagram Algorithm?

The Instagram algorithm determines which posts appear in桂users�� Feeds. It桂is桂based on桂various factors such as桂user history, post popularity, timeliness, 껸꾈삣桂more. The goal of桂the桂algorithm is桂to桂show each user-specific content that they are likely to桂find interesting or桂engaging, thus increasing user engagement overall.

Even if桂two people follow the桂same accounts or桂like similar content, their Feeds will still look slightly different from one another. It桂depends on桂who follows them back 껸꾈삣桂how often they interact with certain types of桂posts.

Why Should You Care About the桂Instagram Algorithm?

It�셲 important for桂businesses 껸꾈삣桂content creators alike to桂understand how the桂algorithm works to桂maximize post visibility 껸꾈삣桂engagement rates. By桂optimizing your posts according to桂current trends 껸꾈삣桂best practices, you can ensure that they reach as桂many of桂your followers as桂possible. High visibility leads to桂higher brand awareness 껸꾈삣桂potentially increased revenue down the桂line.

Moreover, keeping up桂with changes in桂the桂algorithm gives you an桂edge over competitors who may not be桂aware of桂emerging trends or桂best practices. Staying up桂to桂date keeps you ahead of桂the桂curve when it桂comes to桂maximizing brand visibility on桂Instagram.

How Does the桂Instagram Algorithm Work?

The Instagram algorithm prevents users from drowning in桂an桂endless stream of桂content. Only posts with high engagement make it桂to桂followers�� feeds. To桂make sure each of桂your posts is桂seen, liked, 껸꾈삣桂shared, you�셪l want to桂follow the桂tips below.

Here are the桂 when prioritizing posts in桂a桂feed:

Interest: based on桂your past engagement with similar content, the桂Instagram algorithm predicts if桂you�셱e going to桂enjoy this post.
Relationship: how close you are to桂the桂person who shared the桂post, based on桂how often you interacted with their profile in桂the桂past.
Recency: how recently the桂post was shared.
Frequency: how often you open Instagram.
Following: if桂you follow a桂lot of桂profiles, the桂platform will show posts from a桂wider scope of桂accounts.
Usage: the桂app takes into account if桂you stick to桂short sessions or桂spend more total time browsing.

As桂you can see, the桂Instagram algorithm considers your past behavior to桂create a桂unique feed for桂you. To桂ensure you�셱e enjoying your personalized feed, the桂app also prioritizes the桂content with the桂most engagement from other users as桂well.

Tips from the桂platform itself (Image: Instagram�셲 )

The most important engagements for桂feed ranking are comments, likes, shares, saves, 껸꾈삣桂views for桂video posts. Fake interactions (such as桂comments from bots) are identified 껸꾈삣桂don�셳 count.

�뗢�딫ow to桂Work With the桂Instagram Algorithm

Now that we�셶e gone over some basics on桂what influences a桂post�셲 position in桂someone�셲 timeline, let�셲 talk about some actionable steps you can take to桂get your posts a桂larger reach 껸꾈삣桂gain leverage against competitors.

First, . With a桂business profile, you can access your profile analytics, which is桂called Instagram Insights. The insight tool will help you understand who is桂engaging with your business 껸꾈삣桂which content gets the桂most interactions from your followers. Pay attention to桂which reels, stories, posts, 껸꾈삣桂IGTV perform well. Then you can create more content that works.

Once you have a桂business profile, keep in桂mind the桂following points when working with Instagram�셲 ever-changing algorithm.

Get More Interactions for桂Your Content

You�셶e learned that interactions (likes, shares, comments, 껸꾈삣桂views) are vital for桂proving to桂the桂Instagram algorithm that your content is桂compelling 껸꾈삣桂worth showing to桂bigger audiences. So桂how do桂you create content that people want to桂engage with?

Here�셲 how to桂encourage audience engagement on桂Instagram:

Check Instagram Insights to桂find out when your followers are most active. You can then use this data to桂maintain your posting schedule. Post frequently 껸꾈삣桂consistently.
Use Stories Stickers like polls, emoji sliders, 껸꾈삣桂question stickers.
Write captions that promote conversations. Include a桂call to桂action at桂the桂end. For example, ask your audience to桂share their thoughts 껸꾈삣桂ideas. Make sure to桂reply to桂your follower�셲 comments.
Share a桂preview of桂your reels or桂IGTV videos to桂your feed 껸꾈삣桂stories to桂get more views.
Encourage your followers to桂react to桂your stories with quick emojis.
Invite your followers to桂DM桂you with questions or桂feedback.
Use geotags to桂make your content easier to桂discover.
Post stories several times a桂day to桂appear at桂the桂top of桂your follower�셲 stories feed.
Post reels regularly to桂reach more people outside your following.
When sharing a桂life hack or桂tip, remind users that they can save it to桂try later.

Image: Instagram�셲

Embrace Video Content

In桂the桂vertical video era, using video content on桂Instagram is桂key to桂getting your posts seen by桂more users. Videos are more eye-catching 껸꾈삣桂attention-grabbing than photos. That can help you capture people�셲 attention.

Video content increases user engagement, which tells the桂platform that your post is桂interesting 껸꾈삣桂relevant. This boosts the桂visibility of桂your content in桂the桂algorithm, meaning more eyes will see the桂content you want them to桂see.

Reels are one of桂Instagram�셲 newest features 껸꾈삣桂a桂great way to桂boost your reach. They allow you to桂create short videos that appear in桂the桂Explore tab 껸꾈삣桂can be桂discovered beyond your following. This is桂great for桂increasing your visibility on桂the桂platform.

@ritual announces their sale with a桂fun reel

You can use reels for桂all sorts of桂content. Reels can be桂used to桂showcase your products or桂services, demonstrate how-to tutorials, 껸꾈삣桂share entertaining content in桂an桂engaging way that will keep viewers coming back for桂more.

@thepetscoutshop makes fun videos about dogs 껸꾈삣桂their owners

Making video stories is桂also beneficial for桂increasing your reach. They are great for桂giving users behind-the-scenes glimpses of桂your business. They also help you build relationships with potential customers 껸꾈삣桂create an桂emotional connection with them.

@sugarfina shares customers�� videos in桂their stories 껸꾈삣桂adds a桂link to桂their product

Make a桂habit of桂posting video stories 껸꾈삣桂reels often 껸꾈삣桂stick to桂it. Reels will help you reach a桂broader audience. Stories will engage new followers 껸꾈삣桂help you build relationships with them.

If桂you don�셳 have a桂lot of桂videos, start by桂turning your pictures into videos using reel templates on桂Instagram. The slideshow format is桂especially helpful for桂showcasing your product.

Click 혫Use template혬 in桂a桂reel that you like, 껸꾈삣桂you�셪l be桂able to桂replace the桂clips or桂photos with your own 껸꾈삣桂it桂will match the桂time stamps of桂the桂template reel.

Find the桂Use template button above the桂creator�셲 username

If桂you still want to桂publish photo posts, consider slideshow posts instead. One Instagram post can contain up桂to桂10桂pictures. When you publish slideshow posts, the桂Instagram algorithm shows them a桂couple of桂times if桂a桂follower hasn�셳 seen all the桂pictures in桂the桂post.

A桂slideshow post featuring products by桂@indybrandclothing

Also: Shopping in桂Reels: A桂New Way to桂Get Discovered 껸꾈삣桂Sell Your Products

Align Your Content with Your Brand Message

Instagram is桂a桂great place to桂find your potential customers, but to桂do桂that, you need to桂show through your content who your company is, what its values are, 껸꾈삣桂what kind of桂value it桂can give its target audience. This helps the桂Instagram algorithm recommend your content to桂the桂right audience.

To桂gain 껸꾈삣桂retain followers, you need to桂form a桂connection that goes beyond people just being interested in桂your updates. After all, you�셱e competing for桂space alongside your followers�� closest friends!

So桂be桂a桂friend! Be桂a桂personality. You don�셳 have to桂post your products all day, every day. The aim is桂to桂create an桂emotional connection with your potential customers.

@myblissclub shares fun reels their target audience can relate to

There are many ways you can shape your message. Try to桂find answers to桂these questions to桂get started:

Why did you start your company?
How did you come up桂with your product ideas?
What is桂your message to桂the桂world?
What do桂your customers value in桂your brand 껸꾈삣桂why?
What is桂the桂concept that underscores your entire web presence?
How does your product work in桂real life with different people?
What is桂the桂general mood of桂your brand?
What are the桂common areas your followers can be桂interested in?

Remember that your brand message must align with your audience�셲 interests 껸꾈삣桂values. Nobody reads grownup books to桂children. There�셲 no桂sense in桂attracting a桂vegetarian audience by桂telling them about a桂hunter�셲 life.

@sakaralife shares a桂post that explains their brand values

The same goes for桂partnering with other brands 껸꾈삣桂influencers. Collaborate with companies 껸꾈삣桂creators whose followers have the桂same values as桂your brand. People are more likely to桂subscribe to桂your profile after they see a桂collaboration post if桂it桂is桂something that genuinely interests them.

@jot partners with influencers that capture their brand�셲 aesthetic

Learn more: Ecommerce Content 101: Easy Types of桂Content to桂Make for桂Your Business

More Tips for桂Brands on桂Instagram

Having an桂Instagram account for桂your business can be桂really fruitful. After you get used to桂the桂process, it桂will only take you a桂few moments to桂prepare content 껸꾈삣桂post it.

Check out our engaging reels ideas for桂connecting with potential customers 껸꾈삣桂promoting your business. Once you gain a桂solid following, it�셲 time to桂start generating sales with stories.

Mastered your Instagram profile already? Tag your pics with #ecwid_store so桂that we桂can feature you on桂our page!

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About The Author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at 붚죕쳔. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs�� daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

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