The Instagram algorithm is constantly evolving, and in 2023 it will be more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve. As a business or individual user, understanding how to hack the algorithm can give you an edge over your competition. The overall purpose of the algorithm is to keep people engaged and on the platform, so if you can create content that does this, you’ll be rewarded with higher visibility.
There are several ways to hack the Instagram algorithm in 2023.
- Instagram Post frequency and consistency
- Push Harder on Reels
- The Unipeg Strategy
- Value your Audience
- Hashtag and Caption Quality
- Create Carousels
- EngageYour Audience with Stories
- Use the correct Formatting
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Instagram Post frequency and consistency
Posting frequently and consistently is essential for growing your Instagram account. The more you post, the faster you can grow your audience. However, it’s important to be consistent with your posting schedule.
If you post 10 times one day and then only twice the next, the Instagram algorithm won’t like that. It wants to see a consistent pattern of posts. A good starting point is to post once a day, every day.
You may be tempted to do more than that, but it’s best to take things slow and gradually increase your posting frequency as you gain more followers.
Consistency is key when it comes to growing an Instagram account, so make sure you stick to a regular schedule of posts in order to maximise your growth potential.
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Push Harder on Reels
Reels have become an essential part of Instagram’s growth in recent months. With the success of TikTok, Instagram has been quick to jump on the bandwagon and offer its own version of short-form videos. It’s hard to say whether this trend will last, but for now, it’s important to focus your energy on creating engaging Reels content.
- The goal is to stop the scroll and capture people’s attention with creative content that stands out from the rest.
- The great thing about Reels is that you can take what you already know about creating content for TikTok and apply it to Instagram as well.
- You don’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to producing content – just use what works and double down on Reels!
- Experiment with different ideas, formats, and styles until you find something that resonates with your audience.
With a little bit of creativity and effort, you can create content that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your following on Instagram.
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The Unipeg Strategy
The Unicorn Strategy is a simple yet effective way to grow an Instagram account from zero to millions of followers. It involves “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, or in other words, following the trends.
This strategy can be broken down into three easy steps:
- look at someone else’s account that you want to be like,
- analyse their top-performing posts and
- think about how you can create it better.
By looking at someone else’s successful account, you can get an idea of what kind of content works best for your target audience. You can then use this knowledge to create your own unique content that stands out from the rest.
Additionally, by analysing their top-performing posts, you can gain insight into what type of content resonates with your audience and tailor your content accordingly.
Finally, by thinking about how you can create it better than the original post, you can ensure that your content stands out from the crowd and attracts more followers.
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Value your Audience
Treating your audience like gold is essential when it comes to building a successful Instagram presence.
- It’s important to respond to every like, comment, and DM you receive to show your followers that you value their engagement.
- Take the time to visit their profiles and interact with their content as well. This will not only help you create genuine relationships with your followers, but it will also get the Instagram algorithm working in your favour.
- It’s easy to forget that there’s a person behind every username and comment on Instagram, but it’s important to remember this when interacting with your audience.
- People get excited when brands (even small, local brands) interact with them, so make sure you take the time to engage with them in meaningful ways.
Doing so will encourage them to like, comment, and share more of your content which will ultimately help grow your following and keep users engaged on the platform longer.
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Hashtag and Caption Quality
When it comes to hashtags and captions on Instagram, quality is critical. The algorithm rewards posts that use relevant hashtags and engaging and exciting captions. To ensure your posts get the most visibility, it’s essential to research trending hashtags and focus on using five of them for each post.
- It’s also a good idea to switch up the hashtags you use every 30 days so that you can track which ones are performing best.
- This will help you refine your hashtag strategy over time and ensure that your content reaches the right audience.
- Additionally, make sure your captions are well-written and creative, and provide value to your followers.
- Captions should be concise yet informative, as this will help draw people in and encourage them to engage with your content.
By following these steps, you can maximise the reach of your posts and build a strong presence on Instagram.
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Create Carousels
Instagram carousels are a great way to engage your audience and provide value. They allow you to post multiple images or videos in one post, which can be used to tell a story or expound on thought in more detail.
To create an effective carousel, it’s important to make sure that the images flow together smoothly and that there is a clear connection between them.
- You can also use carousels to showcase diversity in your feed by mixing them with other posts, such as Reels.
- When creating carousels, it’s important to avoid posting disjointed pictures that don’t have any connection between them.
- Instead, focus on telling a story from start to finish or providing more detail about a particular topic.
- This will help ensure that your audience is engaged and interested in what you have to say.
Using carousels gives you additional opportunities to earn likes and comments from your followers, so make sure you take advantage of this feature!
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Engage Your Audience with Stories
Instagram Stories are a great way to nurture your audience and build relationships with them.
- By creating stories that are interesting and engaging, you can draw in new followers and keep existing ones coming back for more.
- Stories also play an important role in the Instagram algorithm, so it’s important to use them strategically to get the most out of your content.
- When creating stories, think about what kind of content your followers would be interested in seeing.
- You can post behind-the-scenes footage, share tips or advice related to your industry, or even just give a glimpse into your day-to-day life.
- Whatever you choose to post, make sure it’s something that will capture their attention and keep them engaged.
This is a great way to foster relationships with your audience and build loyalty over time.
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Use the Correct Formatting
Using the correct formatting for your Instagram content is essential for getting the most out of your posts. Not only does it make your content look more professional, but it also helps to ensure that Instagram’s algorithm will favour your content.
If you don’t use the proper sizing, the algorithm could penalise you and have a lower reach than you would otherwise.
When creating a square or vertical image, there are specific sizes that Instagram recommends.
- For static square images, they suggest 1080px x 1080px (1:1).
- For stories and reels, they suggest 1080px W x 1920px H (9:16).
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your content looks great and has a better chance of being seen by more people.
Proven tips for getting the Instagram algorithm to work in your favour:
- First, use hashtags strategically to increase your reach and engagement.
- Second, post consistently and optimally when your followers are most active.
- Third, focus on creating quality content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to interact with it.
- Fourth, use stories to engage with your followers and build relationships with them.
- Fifth, experiment with different posts, such as videos or polls, to keep things fresh for viewers.
- Sixth, leverage influencers who have a large following on Instagram to help promote your content.
- Seventh, take advantage of features like IGTV or Reels for longer-form content that can help boost engagement levels even further.
- Finally, use analytics tools such as Panoramiq Insights, Squarelovin, io, and Keyhole to track performance metrics and optimise the future.
Conclusion!
The Instagram algorithm doesn’t work in the way that it used to. It’s gone from being a chronological timeline to being a shadow of its former self. Thankfully, there are ways around the algorithm, and you can use them to your advantage. Some are simple, others are not, but all of them can help get you the desired results.
So there you have it!
A few helpful tips to put Instagram in your favour. Remember that no top bar is the same, and what works well for friends might not pull a ton of viewers on your profile. But if you apply these settings to your account and see what works and doesn’t, you can adjust as needed until you find that sweet spot.
Suggested Read: How the Facebook Algorithm Works in 2023?
