In the ever-evolving world of social media, Instagram remains a juggernaut. With over a billion active users, it's a platform where success can be truly transformative, whether you're an influencer, a business, or just someone who loves sharing their passion. To thrive on Instagram, you need to understand the algorithm that governs what content gets shown to users. In this blog post, we'll unlock some algorithm secrets to help you succeed on Instagram.
The Instagram Algorithm: Unveiled
Instagram's algorithm isn't some mystic force; it's a complex set of rules and processes designed to serve users with content they'll find engaging. If you need a quick summation (don't overwhelm, it's not rocket science) know and own who you are, speak directly to your audience with intent to connect, listen to their responses and interests and engage with them always, and keep posting with the same quality and a superb cadance.. and you're golden. Long form.. here we go:
It primarily revolves around three key factors:
1. Connection between Creator and Viewer: The strength of the relationship matters. Are you following each other? Are you actively engaging through messages and comments? If you've interacted with a particular user before, you're more likely to see their new posts. (For businesses, nurturing an engaged community by responding to direct messages and comments can boost your brand's visibility on Instagram.)
2. User Interest: Instagram pays attention to the content a user typically engages with. When the algorithm identifies a user's preference for a specific content type or format, it prioritizes showing them more of the same.
3. Content Relevancy: Instagram assesses the "relevance" of each piece of content. This evaluation considers its alignment with trending topics and the timeliness factor, where recent posts are deemed more relevant than older ones.
These factors play a crucial role in determining what appears in a user's Instagram feed, making them essential considerations for creators and businesses aiming to optimize their presence on the platform in 2022.
Factors coming in second for Insta-ranking:
Secondary factors in the Instagram algorithm ranking criteria encompass:
1. Platform Usage Frequency: When a user infrequently opens Instagram, they will encounter only the most relevant content during their sporadic visits. Consequently, this can result in businesses being overshadowed by posts from their family and friends in the user's feed.
2. Number of Followed Users: The greater the number of Instagram accounts a user follows, the fiercer the competition for visibility in their feed becomes.
3. Session Duration: Users who spend minimal time within the app are inclined to see posts primarily from friends and family with whom they frequently interact on the platform. This can pose a challenge for businesses aiming to feature prominently in their feed.
It's a delicate dance, the digital world. Follow the above and you should find yourself good success in growing your account. However, one of the most intriguing (or frustrating) aspects of the Instagram algorithm is its continual evolution. Therefore, creators and social media managers must remain adaptable and receptive to fresh updates. Some of the latest alterations to Instagram's algorithm include pulling the reins on video rankings (and pushing videos more than still or static images) and making it a bit more balanced this year.
The CEO posted in December 2022, Instagram's redefined goals with clarity:
From this statement we gracefully fill in the blanks that Instagram's focus will be on revealing new content (images and videos) from accounts they've not seen before - fresh blood, based on your trends of interest.
He also announced that original content will now rank higher in the algorithm than reposted or reshared content, stating “If you create something from scratch, you should get more credit than if you are resharing something that you found from someone else."
Thanks to SproutSocial and our further research - this grid is a great cheat sheet to what the best times to post on Instagram are:
M-W, and F @ between 10AM-12PM
Be genuinely you. There is only one of you, and one perspective from the shoes you fill. Share that. It doesn't have to be mainstream; it also doesn't have to purposely be against mainstream. You have quirks - we challenge you to love those enough to share some real reel reality. You'd be surprised at how many find you, your service, your product, enriching enough to follow!
Remember! While you can always grow organically, it never hurts to test out some ad spend if you feel the need to stand on a categorically more sturdy Meta-platform to get you out there. Inquire within and book a free consult today!
Post & Grow! Great luck to you!
- kpc creative
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