Over the years, we've fought against the "Algorithm Police". Everyone wants to know how to maximize their platform’s audience. It may seem complicated, but it's really simple. Once you learn how it works you can follow the system and give it what it wants. Here is a breakdown of what the algorithm is looking for on Instagram and Facebook.
Stay tuned for our next blog about my favorite platform, LinkedIn.
What Are Algorithms?
Algorithms are the strategy social media platforms use to rank which posts are seen by other users. You might notice you see more posts about a certain topic or from a specific group of people than others. This is the algorithm’s job and here’s how it picks and chooses what it wants you to see.
What the algorithm looks for on Instagram
On Instagram, there are multiple types of feeds available to the user, such as Reels, Stories, the Explore tab, and your main feed. All of these use a similar algorithm that takes into account each post’s information, interaction, and activity. Recently, Instagram has changed its algorithm to prioritize Reels, which has caused a decrease in post engagement. If you’re looking to expand your social media presence, videos are the fastest way to get there.
The rating system is based on the following:
Post info: popularity, time, locations, and video length
Personal relevance: interaction between you and other accounts
Overall activity: the type and number of posts you’ve interacted with the most
Let's keep it real, reels are taking over the world!
Video content is the new "IT" feature, so you might as well hop on board. Have you ever created a reel and couldn't figure out why it didn't get any engagement?
Here is the success formula.
Stay active. Your video content is revealed to profiles that you already interact with.
Follow the trends. Keep track of what is popular and use trending audio.
Vanity metrics matter. Likes, shares, saves, and comments tell the algorithm to show your reel to more people.
Reels are important but don't forget about sharing other types of content. Diversify your platform with a combination of images, GIFs, LIVE videos, and stories.
The Explore Tab is key!
Want to get on the Explore Tab? Focus on sharing content that is already trending. You can find out what's trending by scrolling through your own feed. Remember, if you want to expand your reach you must leverage this feature.
What the algorithm looks for on Facebook
Facebook has a similar algorithm strategy to Instagram. The difference is the people and pages you see are directly from your search and view history. This is why you may see cooking utensil ads after you search for new recipes. In the 2010s, Facebook was prioritizing close family and friends' posts. However, Facebook recently changed its algorithm to push relevant trending topics.
A few things to consider:
Your previous activity tells Facebook what to show you and your followers
Relevancy is assessed so the content is always specific to the user
So whether you're sharing reels, videos, or static images, make sure you pay attention to your analytics and share content that your target audience wants to see. The best way to get ahead is to use these new algorithms to your advantage, so your content ranks higher.
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