Unsolved Mysteries: What we know about the Instagram Algorithm

From Stonehenge to who killed JFK, the Instagram algorithm has joined the extensive list of our world’s biggest unsolved mysteries. Well.. maybe it’s not that mysterious, but with over one billion monthly active users worldwide, we are constantly trying to understand how Instagram prioritizes content.

First things first, what is an algorithm?

The Instagram algorithm is a set of rules and formulas that determine how posts are ranked in users’ feeds. The algorithm’s primary goal is to show users content that is relevant, interesting, and engaging.

Instagram uses a variety of factors to determine which posts to show in a user’s feed, including the following:

• Engagement: Instagram places a high priority on engagement when determining which posts to show in users’ feeds. Posts that receive more likes, comments, and shares are more likely to be shown to users.

• Relevance: Instagram also considers how relevant a post is to a user’s interests. This means that if a user frequently engages with posts related to fitness, Instagram is more likely to show them posts related to fitness.
• Relationships: Instagram considers how users interact with each other when showing content. If a user frequently engages with posts from a particular account, Instagram is more likely to show them posts from that account.
• Timeliness: Instagram also considers how recently a post was published when showing it to users. Posts that are more recent are more likely to be shown in users’ feeds.
• Profile Searches: Instagram also uses profile searches as a signal of interest. If a user frequently searches for a particular profile, Instagram may show them more content from that profile in their feed.

Instagram’s algorithm is constantly evolving and changing, which means that it’s essential to keep up to date with the latest changes to ensure that your content is being shown to the right audience.

Some tips for optimizing your content for the Instagram algorithm include:

1. Post high-quality content that is engaging and relevant to your audience.
2. Use hashtags strategically and consider SEO in captions to increase the reach of your posts.
3. Engage with your followers and respond to comments to build relationships and increase engagement.
4. Post consistently to stay top of mind with your followers.
5. Use Instagram Insights to track the performance of your posts and identify trends.

Looking to grow your Instagram strategy? We are here to help. Contact the Matchstick Social team today to learn how our team of expert writers, designers, and analysts can help grow your social strategy.