How Instagram works is a worry that haunts everyone. Professionals and companies know that social networks are useful tools for developing business strategies, but not everyone knows what the right actions to take are.
And you?
The 2023 Instagram algorithm has changed radically. Although the transformation is not visible to ordinary users, for those who deal with digital marketing strategy, a real revolution is underway.
Learn the criteria that govern the Instagram algorithm and create the strategic planning of the actions needed to obtain greater visibility and engagement.
Are you ready to understand how the Influencer algorithm works, increase your visibility and attract your potential customers? If the answer is “Yes”, then jump in!
How does Instagram work?
Nothing happens by chance. If you want to use Instagram in your social media marketing strategies and get satisfying results, you need to know how it works.
I’m sorry if this thought made you tear your hair out, but the success of a marketing strategy comes through knowledge and commitment. So, relax and focus, you are about to learn what you need to start getting the results you’ve always wanted on Instagram!
Stop everyone. Understanding the principle of how the Instagram algorithm works, presupposes knowing what an algorithm is. We can think of the algorithm as a string of alphanumeric code introduced in a programming language. What does it mean in simple terms? What is the role of the algorithm? Very simply, the Instagram algorithm takes into account a series of factors and performs complex operations in order to establish which content to show more to its users.
This code is increasingly advanced, so much so that we now speak of forms of artificial intelligence. The latest update to the Instagram algorithm was introduced in 2022. You need to know it in depth, to understand how to move, and work to make it your ally. So, enough procrastination … now let’s get serious!
Instagram algorithm 2023: here are 3 key factors
Initially the Instagram feed was a chronological flow of published posts. A river of images in which, at each access, you could view the most recent posts. But in 2016 the turning point came.
The Instagram work team introduced an algorithm capable of modeling the flow of posts in the feed. From 2016 to 2022 the Instagram algorithm was implemented, people appreciated it and Instagram is becoming more and more successful.
The Instagram algorithm uses key signals to ensure that people see exactly what they want to find in the feed. It is able to automatically learn people’s behavior and this ensures that there are never two identical feeds. This means that every Instagram feed is unique.
Here are the 3 key factors that form the core of the Instagram algorithm.
1 Interactions
Interactions have always been the cornerstone of any web marketing strategy. The way in which the user interacts with the post and the type of content in which they show interest become decisive for the Instagram algorithm. This is how the rigorous chronological order of the past has been swept away, to make room for a flow of content influenced by the appreciations shown by people.
For companies and professionals this aspect is fundamental. It is necessary to aim for the greatest number of interactions possible. If people interact with your content, they signal to the algorithm that they want to see more.
Share captivating posts that are capable of attracting attention. Create attractive carousels that encourage your followers to scroll to the last post. Engage people by asking them questions. Take care of the captions and select the most important words so that they appear in the foreground.
While respecting your style and tone of voice, you must know how to intrigue and be able to capture attention. Encourage people to follow you, to ENGAGE WITH YOUR CONTENT and the algorithm will help you re-propose it to those who have shown interest.
2 Timing
The fact that the mere chronology has disappeared from the Instagram feed does not mean that the most recent posts have no space, on the contrary. People want to see the posts that interest them, but they must be “fresh”, so the “timing” component remains an important factor.
The first few minutes after publication are fundamental and determine the success or failure of your posts. This is why analyzing your target audience is important: publishing when your followers are on Instagram multiplies the chances of success of your content. Then, if you are able to create content that is relevant to your followers, you will be able to attract their attention and immediately stimulate their reaction.
Content that receives the immediate attention of your followers, with likes and comments, will be considered by the Instagram algorithm as “relevant” and proposed to more people, also based on the hashtags you have combined.
More interactions, more visibility. More visibility, greater possibility of meeting new potential followers in target. If you get the timing of your posting wrong, if your content isn’t engaging and doesn’t stimulate any interaction from your followers, it will end up being snubbed by the algorithm and destined to decline.
You will have to make sure that people don’t miss out on anything about your posts and carefully evaluate what the best time to post on Instagram is. This will require further effort in analysis and understanding. Test and test, to understand what the best times are for your target personas to browse Instagram.
Just like in life, on Instagram it’s all about timing!
3 Relationship
How many times have you been told that in order to sell your products or services, you need to establish and nurture a relationship with your customers? If you intend to use Instagram to fuel your online business strategies, you cannot forget this essential factor. In fact, the Instagram algorithm analyzes and evaluates your relationships with people, or brands, based on the frequency with which you interact with them or their posts.
If the user likes your posts and interacts with them often, commenting or tagging you, they will see more of your content in their feed. This happens because the Instagram algorithm understands which are the closest relationships, the ones you care about the most, even if they are not popular or very active people on the platform.
Be careful… Instagram rewards the quality of content. Do not create posts aimed at merely selling your services! What you offer to the potential customer on the most popular social network goes far beyond your services. Be yourself and bring out your values or those of your brand. In addition to being liked by Instagram, it will increase the interest of your followers and, consequently, the rate of interactions.
As a business or professional, you must know how to develop ongoing relationships with your followers. You must come down from the pedestal and meet the crowd. Consistent engagement is more valuable than sporadic commitment. So, focus on “what” your followers want to see and offer them more quality content.
Do you want to know how to find followers potentially interested in your services or products? This article will be very useful: how to find your target audience.
If it seems difficult or impossible, don’t panic! Know that with Instagram Insights you can track the posts that have achieved the best performances and, based on these, create an editorial calendar that can inspire your followers.
Is that all? Is it that simple? No.
Secondary factors to consider if you want to understand how Instagram works
I know you were about to rush to apply the tips you just learned, but… wait a minute! The new Instagram algorithm has some more surprises in store. Here are 3 more secondary factors that you should know about to get the most out of your social media marketing strategies:
Frequency – How often do your followers log in to Instagram? If they don’t spend much time on Instagram or only log in rarely, like once a week, you’re obviously less likely to see your content if it’s not at the top of their feed.
Number of accounts followed – If your followers follow a lot of accounts, you’ll have more competition to reach the top of their feeds.
Usage – How people use Instagram determines what content the algorithm sees. If your followers log in for very short periods of time, they’ll be served the most relevant posts, the ones it deems priority based on the preferences it’s gathered from their interactions.
So what’s the solution to maximizing the views of your content? As you can easily imagine, to always rank your content at the top of your followers’ feeds, you need to establish a valid and lasting relationship with them. Invest time in interacting with your followers! By doing so, they will not miss a single piece of your content!
Before leaving you to reflect and test the real impact of these factors on the management of your strategies, here are some tips for putting them into practice.
How Instagram Works: 3 Tips to Use
Now you know how Instagram works and what factors influence its algorithm. Before leaving you to plan your strategies, I want to give you the last 3 tips! Remember… put them into practice!
1 Create content that engages
Providing useful content that engages your followers is the heart of your Instagram strategies, but not only that. It may seem like a banal and obvious consideration, but it is better to always remember it: creating useful content that engages is and will always be your competitive advantage. If you need best practices and strategies for creating quality content, continue reading, because there is a surprise for you.
2 Get to know your followers
In a world of algorithm-driven social networks, your constant engagement is the engine of all your activities. To get great results, you need to build relationships, but even more important is knowing who you need to do it with.
The more you know about your target audience, the more you will know how they move and what they think. This allows you to offer what they are looking for in the way they want it, to build strong and trusting relationships.
Sure, it won’t be easy. It takes research, patience, intuition and creativity, but you can do it. You have to do it!
3 Use the right hashtags
Knowing how to choose and include the right hashtags in your content reveals its relevance and helps the algorithm understand what the post is about. They are one of the best strategies for making your content stand out, increasing followers and engagement.
Relationships are born from an audience that you have learned to know and that is able to find you among many of your competitors. Therefore, you will have to carefully study which are the trending hashtags in your sector and use them wisely, to contextualize content and image. Mastering social media marketing strategies is not easy and knowing how to move on Instagram represents only a small slice of all the things you need to do to develop your business. This is why I put my decades of experience at your disposal, accompanying you on this journey from the start to the finish line. Book a consultation with me now and don’t waste any more time… together we will make your business take off!