How Does Instagram Algorithm Work? [Completed Strategies]

Instagram has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a simple photo-sharing platform. Now, it’s a comprehensive lifestyle hub with features like IG Story, Reels, and Instagram Shopping—creating a dynamic space for both consumers and businesses to connect.

Despite the criticism these changes have sparked, the number of Instagram users is staggering. If we were a country, we’d outnumber North America and the European Union combined—that’s a lot of selfies! This vast user base underscores the importance of understanding the Instagram algorithm if you aim to maximize your content reach and visibility.

Thankfully, Instagram’s algorithm isn’t as complex as the ones used by Facebook or TikTok. It’s quite transparent and user-friendly.

This article is going to break down the Instagram algorithm and its 2024 updates, making it easier to grasp and leverage for maximum results for your Instagram content marketing goal this year.

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What is the Instagram Algorithm? 

The Instagram algorithm serves as the platform’s engine, diligently analyzing and curating content to populate users’ feeds based on their unique interests and habits.

In the early days, Instagram showed posts in chronological order. But this wasn’t perfect; users were missing about 70% of all posts, and almost half of these were from people they actually followed. So, Instagram came up with a ranking system to help show you the good stuff first.

Now, the Instagram algorithm looks at three main things: how close you are with the person posting, how recent the post is, and what kind of content you’re into. It also takes into account things like how often you’re on the app, what hashtags you search for, and how long you spend scrolling.

Posts that garner significant search activity, align with content users express interest in, and originate from accounts with a substantial follower base stand a higher chance of earning a prime spot in the feed. 

How the Instagram Algorithm Works

Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, recently shed light on the enigmatic Instagram Algorithm, a term he simplifies as ‘Ranking.’ He acknowledges the skepticism surrounding this concept but assures that it serves a critical purpose: “I know a lot of you are skeptical of ranking, but it really does help us make sure that Instagram is more valuable to each and every person”. 

To clear the air, he dished on the latest updates to the Instagram Algorithm, breaking it down into four parts based on the platform’s main features.

How the Instagram Feed Algorithm Works

The Instagram Feed Algorithm smartly curates your feed by analyzing and categorizing posts into two primary groups:

• Post Data Analysis: This involves examining critical aspects of a post, including when it was posted (timing), what it contains (content), how it’s described (captions), what descriptive text is provided for visually impaired users (Alt Text), and what topics are tagged (hashtags). The algorithm also considers the account that posted the content.
  
• User Behavior Analysis: This looks at how you, the user, interact with Instagram. It takes into account the time you spend on the app, what posts you engage with (likes, comments, views), and the type of content (videos or images) you usually interact with.

One of the main goals of this algorithm is to maintain a balanced and engaging feed. It does this by assessing how interesting an account might be to the wider Instagram audience compared to its interest level for a specific user. Accounts that have garnered more attention over the past few weeks are likely to have a higher ranking score.

The algorithm also pays attention to a user’s interaction with brands on Instagram. It notes whether users visit a brand’s profile page after seeing their posts and how often they click on call-to-action buttons from ads.

How the Instagram Stories Algorithm Works

Are you puzzled why the Instagram Stories of your crush always seem to be upfront and center? While it might be tempting to think they’re frequently clicking on your profile, the reality is a bit more algorithmic than personal.

The algorithms that Instagram uses for Stories operate in a similar fashion to those used for the Feed. They are designed to keep track of how you engage with Stories, such as if you often ‘like’ or pause to view someone’s Story for a longer period.

Additionally, Instagram Stories that incorporate special elements—like music, stickers, interactive polls, or taps—are given an extra boost by the algorithm. These Stories are prioritized, meaning they’re more likely to appear closer to the start of your Stories feed. 

So, if you consistently see his/her Story popping up first, don’t overthink it. It’s most likely that you engage frequently with their content, and the Instagram algorithm has picked up on this. 

How the Instagram Reels Algorithm Works

Instagram Reels are designed to offer a fun-filled, diverse content mix that keeps you entertained as you scroll away. The secret behind this is the Instagram Algorithms.

They’re working behind the scenes, organizing and prioritizing Reels based on their popularity and quality. Factors such as the number of views, likes, comments, and even the hashtags used come into play. They also consider the clarity and overall quality of the content. The higher the quality, the better it ranks in the algorithm’s system.

So, thanks to this clever algorithmic organization, you’re always in for a treat with the most engaging and top-quality Reels lining up your feed.

How the Instagram Explore Page Algorithm Works

The Explore Page on Instagram serves as a curated space for discovering interesting content that goes beyond the accounts you follow.

The Instagram Algorithm here acts as a personalized content recommendation engine that analyzes your interests, previous searches, and engagement history to deliver content tailored to your preferences. Additionally, Instagram provides keywords below the search bar to help you easily explore various content categories. 

Imagine you’re currently searching for recipes and watching cooking videos. In this case, your Explore Page will be filled with mouthwatering culinary content ready for you to savor. 

8 Strategies to Optimize Content for Instagram Algorithm

1. Encourage Engagements on Posts

Instagram’s feed algorithm pays close attention to posts and user behavior, especially engagement rates. The more likes your posts get, the more they stand out in the feed. But, this doesn’t mean you should buy likes or resort to tricks. The aim is to make your posts interesting and valuable, encouraging folks to hit that like or comment button.

A simple way to do this is to ask for engagement in your caption—something like ‘Give us some ❤️ if you agree’. Or create a fun, interactive post like ‘Which comes first: cereal or milk? Comment 💚 for cereal, 🩵 for milk’. When people scroll past your post, it’ll catch their eye and they’ll be more likely to engage. And more engagement means a better ranking score from Instagram’s algorithm, getting your content in front of more eyes. 

2. High-Quality Reels 

Reels are the hot new thing on Instagram, and they’re a great way to reach people who don’t follow you yet but might start after seeing your awesome content. But remember, Instagram loves quality visuals–this is especially true for Reels. The algorithm checks out how clear and high-quality your video is. Consequently, you might find it beneficial to invest more resources in the production of high-quality Reels as compared to regular video content. Additionally, ensure that your Reel content aligns with your audience’s interests, as this increases the likelihood of it gaining popularity. 

3. Interactive Stories

When it comes to followers, it’s quite common to find that a brand’s Instagram Stories don’t garner as many views as those from your personal contacts or the typical Instagram user. This often results in brand stories being pushed towards the end of the queue, potentially causing your audience to miss out on your content. 

However, as we mentioned earlier, the Instagram Algorithm tends to favor Stories that incorporate interactive elements like music, polls, countdowns, or the ‘add yours’ feature. By leveraging these features, you stand a better chance of boosting your story’s reach & visibility.

4. Post Your Content at the Right Timing

The Instagram algorithm values the recency of posts as a significant factor in determining their visibility and ranking. Therefore, it’s important to understand when your audience is most likely active on Instagram to make sure your posts get maximum exposure.

Based on data from SproutSocial, the optimal times to post are between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. These periods typically align with people’s breaks from work or school, making them prime times to capture their attention.

Good News! Instagram has made it even easier for you to keep your content fresh and timely—a key consideration for the platform’s algorithm. You can now schedule your posts using your mobile device or via Meta Suite.  

5. Foster Interaction Between Brand and Audiences

Boosting your ranking on Instagram comes down to building a genuine connection between your brand and your audience. The key to nailing Instagram Algorithm is creating meaningful engagements, something that the platform really values.

Engagement doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as simple as liking posts, responding to comments, or answering messages from your followers. Think of it like having a friendly chat on Instagram. These actions aren’t just polite gestures; they send a signal to Instagram’s algorithm that there’s a strong connection between you and your audience.

As the algorithm picks up on this increased interaction, it sees it as a sign of relevance. This understanding is a plus because it boosts your content’s visibility in the Instagram algorithm’s rankings. 

6. Make Use of Hashtags & Location

Hashtags and Locations are more than just features. They’re navigational tools that help users explore their interests more easily. For brands, they’re a strategic way to boost visibility among targeted audiences—a tactic that works hand in hand with the Instagram Algorithm.

What’s more, these features have evolved. Users can now follow Hashtags and Locations as they would regular accounts. This innovative approach not only enriches the user experience but also opens up new avenues for brands to engage with their audience apart from just the search tab as usual.

7. Leverage with Instagram Ads

So, you’ve heard about the usual tips and tricks, but Instagram Ads is another cool way to get your posts prioritized by Instagram Algorithm. Boosting ads here come with diverse objectives—be it profile visit, website traffic, or getting people to chat with you via direct messages. 

With Instagram Ads, you can reach out to a vast audience or zero in on a specific group; it all depends on what you want for your business. Start with easy-peasy targeting options like age, gender, broad interests, and location. But if you want to get fancy, use Meta Ads Manager. This tool helps you connect with a specific group by considering their interests, behaviors, and connections.

8. Be Authentic!

Our last piece of advice is simple but crucial – always keep it authentic. Whether you’re on Instagram or any other platform, originality is key. This isn’t just us talking; even Adam Mosseri, the big boss at Instagram, has said that their algorithm prefers unique content over reposted or reshared stuff.

Instagram has been making moves to support this too. Over the past year, they’ve added ‘Product Tags’ to regular posts, giving your followers a chance to explore product details more easily. They’ve also introduced ‘Enhanced Tags’. This feature lets you give a shout-out to anyone who helped you create your content.

Pro Tip: these tagging features don’t just make your posts better, they also help your ranking in the Instagram algorithm!

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Beat Instagram Algorithm Now

After diving into the Instagram algorithm, it’s pretty clear that it’s a smart and constantly changing system. It’s all about making sure users have a great time on the app, while also giving props to content creators and businesses.

If you’re managing a brand’s social media, your job is to make sure people feel a real connection to your brand. You can create fun, engaging content through posts, reels, or stories, or you can write snappy captions with the right keywords to get seen on the Explore page.

But don’t forget about the power of interaction—replying and liking their comments, and chatting directly with your audience can really boost relevancy and build a stronger connection.

We hope you find these tips helpful and that they give your Instagram account a popularity boost. After all, who doesn’t want to get the most out of the Instagram algorithm?