Since 2016, Instagram have introduced an algorithm that has been difficult to get our heads around. No longer can we see posts in chronological order, and gone are the days in which we have a full understanding of how the platform works. The new update is difficult to decipher, making life for those whose income depends on Instagram much more difficult.
While Instagram hasn't released any in-depth information about how it works specifically, we have managed to figure out some helpful tips that can help you outsmart the algorithm and improve your accounts performance.
1. Timing & cross-promotion.
The posts with highest engagement are always the ones to appear first on the timeline. The quality of a post seems to be decided within the first hour after posting, so ensuring you post at a specific time when activity on the app is highest will prove beneficial. You should also make the most of your social reach on other social media profiles; sharing the post on these other platforms as soon as it's posted on Instagram will help get more engagement. You could even send it directly to friends and family and encourage them to help.
2. Hashtags.
Instagram allows you to use hashtags to reach a wider audience. Ideally, you should be using around 10 and 20 hashtags related to your post. Don't use unrelated tags - this could result in you being called out as a spammer which will limit your account's reach even further.
When choosing hashtags, don't keep using the same tags over and over, and try to find ones that aren't too generic and popular (unless you have a huge following already). For example, if you search #beauty you will see the search results change within seconds. To give your post more of a chance, find and use more specific, less overused hashtags that will allow viewers more chance of finding and seeing them.
3. Stay active.
Take time each day to be an active member of the Insta community. Comment, like and follow other relevant accounts & images. Accounts that are seen as active will be more favoured by the Instagram algorithm. Try to reply to any comments left on your images. Do NOT use bots for this - if Instagram discovers any suspicious activity, your account will suffer.
4. Videos, image carousels & writing.
Whatever your chosen method, the aim here is to keep people lingering on your account for as long as possible. Videos, paragraphs, multiple image posts - whatever you choose, make sure it's interesting enough to get people to linger. If people stay on your account, Instagram will think your account is of interest and you will be organically boosted.
5. Stories.
Instagram tends to favour accounts who use their newest updates most. So, for example, they released story mode where people can post images that get deleted after a certain time (like SnapChat). People using story mode were found to be at the top of hashtag searches.
They can also help with engagement as you have the ability to create polls and call-to-actions. So try to use every aspect of Instagram in order to help your account.
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