Master the Instagram Algorithm

Master the Instagram Algorithm


We’ve all heard the rumors (and complaints) about the new Instagram algorithm. If you’re on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed your posts don’t seem to reach the same audience as they used to *sigh*. This can be annoying, ESPECIALLY for business accounts. Since social media is such a great marketing tool, it’s important to know how to grow your reach. 


Here’re 9 facts that should help you master the Instagram algorithm. 


  • There is more than one algorithm
  • When we refer to the “algorithm”, it’s easy to imagine one that sorts out our entire feed. However, this is not the case. There are different algorithms used to organize your feed, explore page, IGTV, and Reels. We want to understand them ALL. 


  • Instagram gives posts a “score of interest”
  • Instagram’s goal is to show you the posts that you are most likely to engage with. 

    Time to take notes! Here’re the four factors that affect what posts you see:

    • The post itself- Time of post, number of likes, is it a photo or video?
    • The account who posted it- Are they one of your most-visited accounts or do you rarely engage with them? 
    • Your activity on the app- Do you like photos or videos the most?
    • Your interaction history- What posts do you tend to engage with?

  • You are more likely to see your “close friends” posts
  • This can be used to your advantage. If you are tired of missing posts from your favorite accounts, add them to your close friends list. They may just pop up on your feed more!


  • Instagram treats all accounts equally
  • This one may be surprising, but your profile type does NOT affect your content performance. Business, personal, and creator accounts all receive the same treatment. 


  • There is no time-cap on the algorithm
  • Many people think that how their post performs in the first 30 minutes is crucial to its ranking in everyone’s feed. Luckily, this is not the case! Don’t fret if your post is lacking comments and likes at first, there's still time!


  • You can’t cheat the system
  • Accounts that buy likes and comments? Yikes. Well don’t worry, these accounts aren’t getting anywhere by doing this. Instagram shared that you can NOT trick the algorithm with fake interactions on your account. Phew! 


  • Your posts should be engaging 
  • The more likely you are to like, comment, save, reshare, or click on a post the better. Instagram wants to show you the posts that you will interact with. This is why it is a great idea to ask your followers to comment, click the link in your bio, or save your post. 


  • Instagram stories have their own algorithm
  • Something that we can’t forget about is stories. Instagram shared that over 500 million users share Instagram stories daily. Woah. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Instagram stories are no longer shown in chronological order. If you feel like you’re always watching your bestie’s stories, that’s probably because Instagram puts them front and center on your page. Stories by your favorite accounts are shown to you first. 


  • Reels are key
  • If you’re looking to grow your following, Reels are your new best friend. Reels are favored by the algorithm and can quickly grow your reach. After performing their own experiment, Hootsuite shared that their following “spiked for one to three days” after every Reel that they posted. 



    We hope you are feeling a little more in the loop now. Time to get posting!

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