What exactly is the Instagram Algorithm?
Shrouded in a cloak of mystery, ⚡the Algorithm⚡ essentially decides what you see on your Instagram feed and in what order you see it. Cracking this code is every digital marketer’s dream because it would mean having the power to place your content in front of more eyes. Which begs the question… how can you manipulate the Instagram Algorithm to get social content out to your entire audience?
How does the Algorithm work?
- Short answer – no one really knows. Long answer, there are certain factors that play into a piece of content’s ranking. What we do know, is that Instagram has three top indicators of a post’s relevance to its audience. They are:
- Relationship – which accounts you’re interacting with through likes, comments, shares, and tags the most! It’s important to engage with your audience on a daily basis! This is why #InstagramHustle is so important.
- Interest – Instagram will always show you what you engage with the most! What do you like to see? Whales? Goats jumping through hoops? The more you like a certain type of post, the more Instagram will show you similar content.
- Timelines – If you’re strategic about the time you post, more of your following will be more likely to see your posts. That’s why it’s always important to be aware of when your audience is online.
How do I make the Algorithm work in my favour?
With the above information in mind, we can start to get an idea of how to leverage Instagram’s Algorithm to your advantage.
- #KEEPSOCIAL. Posting often is a great way to remain relevant. But don’t let this interfere with the quality of your posts. However, post GOOD content, often.
- Use proper hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to have conversations and reach people who are interested in you or your brand without even knowing about you yet.
- Act like a human. Social media was built to be social, so use it to be social. To be involved in the conversation: engage, like, comment, follow, direct message followers and potential followers – whatever your heart desires.
- Make sure your content is #TopNotch. How many people are on Instagram to look at the pretty pictures and read interesting or inspiring copy 🙋♀️? Nobody wants to scroll through boring, generic, ugly or otherwise bad content. Make sure you stand out – both with images and words! For tips on ways to make your content truly killer, don’t hesitate to reach out to Serotina Media.
For more information, check out Hootsuite’s How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2019 (And How to Work With It).
Thanks for reading! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation @SerotinaMedia. #KEEPSOCIAL
Until next time,
✨Ellie
