Instagram is a great platform for brands to gain popularity. Maximize your excellent content by engaging your customers strategically.
About Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform that was launched in 2010, it is now owned by Facebook.
This highly visual platform has over 1 billion users, and 80% of them are following and engaging with brands.
About The Social Media Algorithm
An algorithm is a set of rules that determines how often users are served with your content on social media.
The social media platform algorithms are constantly changing, and can have a significant impact on your content’s performance.
Understanding the way that Instagram delivers content to users will help you tailor your content and maximize organic reach. Basically, brands that give the algorithm what it wants, perform better.
How it Works
There are 6 key factors that determine where your posts appear on your users timeline
Interest Instagram delivers content that users will find interesting based on how they engage with on their newsfeed. Start by understanding the type of content that catches the eye of your target market.
If you show up more on Instagram your audience will have more opportunities to interact and push your content higher in the algorithm.
Relationship
Friend and family accounts appear first in a users feed their interactions determine the digital relationship between users.
Instagram serves content to users based on who they message, what stories they watch, what they search for, and who they tag in photos.
Timeliness
Posting during peak traffic on the app is one easy way to hack the algorithm.
Frequency
Instagram shows users the best content since the last time they logged in. The more frequently a user logs in, the more chronological their feed with appear.
Following
Accounts with ghost or inactive followers appear further down on the algorithm, while brands with an active audience score better. Never buy followers to make your account appear more active, it will hurt your content’s deliverability.
Usage When a user runs out of content the algorithm will serve them "suggested" content. Having active users is helpful. Check in and interact on your businesses Instagram to build relationships.
*Account type is not a factor for the Instagram algorithm; therefore, using a business account instead of a personal account will not affect your ranking negatively.
How to Maximize Your Content
Post on Instagram stories consistently
Publish video content often
Go live on instagram more frequently
Craft compelling captions (try “tag a friend” and captions with a question)
Use relevant hashtags to appear well in suggest content for very active users
Use location tags
Vary content types
Use eye-catching imagery and great photo quality