Ever feel like your content just isn’t getting “seen” anymore? Or maybe you’re thinking it’s next to impossible to grow? I’ve been there! BUT if there is one thing I’ve learned as a content creator, anytime you feel like growth is slow, it may be time to rethink your content. Your first step to better content is understanding how to beat the 2024 Instagram algorithm and how it works.
8 years ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to grow and make money as a content creator. That decision changed my life. By first understanding how the Instagram algorithm works, I was able to amass a following of 100,000 followers.
Doing this helped me become a full-time influencer AND eventually become an influencer coach, helping other creators have the same success. Now I want to help you!
My job requires me to keep up with the Instagram algorithm, so I’m well versed in everything “algo” at this point.
We have a lot to cover here. So let’s begin by first defining “algorithm.”
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Short on time and looking for a way to boost engagement and reach? Create better Reels with my free Reels course!
What is the Instagram Algorithm?
The Instagram algorithm is a blanket term used to describe the MULTIPLE content rules and processes on Instagram. In simpler terms, an “algorithm” is decision-making technology. Or as head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, puts it, “The algorithm just means a process.” It is used to sort content.
Instead of us combing though THOUSANDS of content pieces to find what we like, the algorithm does most of the filtering for us.
And recently, Adam Mosseri let everyone know that there is no one god-almighty algorithm, “At Instagram there are actually many, many algorithms that we use to try and predict what you might be interested in at any given moment.”
That means there’s an algorithm for Instagram Stories, viral Reels, photos, Explore and so on.
From my 8 years experience as an Instagram influencer and influencer coach, while there are multiple algorithms, the same basic principles can be applied to your overall content strategy so you come out on top.
To make things easy in this blog, we’ll continue to say “algorithm.”
You should also read this: How the TikTok Algorithm Works
How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2024
The Instagram algorithm works by using four key factors to rank content — these ranking factors help Instagram show you videos, photos and Stories it believes you’ll enjoy the most, giving you the best in-app experience.
Knowing how Insta ranks content can help you create photos, videos, etc., that your ideal followers will love, all while nudging the algorithm to show it off.
And when you create content your followers love, that helps improve your relationship with your audience—paid Instagram sponsors love that!
So let’s talk about the ranking factors below!
Insider Tip: If you’re a content creator wanting to work with brands, you should also read this post: How to Pitch to Brands.
How the Instagram Algorithm Ranks Content
Four primary ranking factors go into determining what content appears on our newsfeed:
- The Content
- The Poster
- User Activity
- User Interaction
I’m not pullin’ these outta my @$$. These four ranking factors were confirmed by Instagram.
Anyhow, let’s explain these a bit more!
The Content
First, “content” refers to when a post is live and what kind of post it is. Is it a video post? A photo? With features like Instagram Reels, Guides and Instagram Lives, the IG algorithm uses post types to decide who should see this content.
In addition, Instagram is less likely to show users content posted three months ago and more likely to show users content posted three hours ago. Fresher than a LA juice bar—hayyyyy.
The Poster
“Poster” is who posted the content! Ever notice that when you like someone’s post, you see more of them? The IG algorithm factors in who and what you engage with.
That determines the order of your newsfeed and the content you’ll see. And there’s more! If you comment or are even tagged in someone’s posts often, the algorithm assumes you two have some sort of relationship.
It’s like saying, “Hey, this person is important to me, and I want to see more of them on my Feed.” Pro tip, if you want to boost engagement in 2024, you need an Instagram comment to DM automation!
Read Next: How to Get 100K Instagram Followers
User Activity and Interests
The way you consume content on the app creates your in-app experience. To see this in action, head to the Menu in the upper righthand corner of the app, then “Manage Interests.”
You will see a list of all the post topics Instagram believes you like. You can add or remove Instagram interests as you see fit. The interests you choose determine what content you see.
User Engagement History
Yes, the Instagram algorithm keeps tabs on your app history. Need proof of this? Next time you’re on the app, click on the three dots on your newsfeed’s upper righthand corner of the post.
Then click “Why you’re seeing this post.” Instagram will tell you why! For example, it could be how long you follow a person. But, it could also be the likes on a post. Now let’s talk about 16 tips for beating the Instagram algorithm!
I recommend all content creators read this next: How to Become a Successful Instagram Influencer
16 Ways to Beat the 2024 Instagram Algorithm
In the following sections, we’re going to dive right into my best tips for beating the Instagram algorithm in 2024. These are all based on my experience as a full-time content creator and influencer.
#1 Create Reels Consistently & Frequently
Reels will be your best bet for beating the 2024 Instagram algorithm. So, how do you make good Reels?
We discuss this quite a bit in my Instagram influencer course, but value-driven content is king. Value can come in many different forms, from entertaining to relatable content. Above all, think about the value you can bring to the table and how you can deliver that in a 15 second video.
And even though Reels are short, your Reels should tell a cohesive story that is engaging. To beat the Instagram algorithm in 2024, aim to post Reels at least 5 times a week. If that’s hard, find a posting schedule that works for you, and be consistent!
Insider Tip: If you want to learn how to create viral Reels that will help you grow an engaged audience, then you should click here to enroll in my free Reels Course!
#2 Keep Up with Trends
Additionally, creating trendy content is an EXCELLENT way to get the algorithm on your side! In other words, any time there is a new Instagram trend, you can assume that most IG users are consuming it.
That’s why it’s trending, after all. When you re-create those trends in your way, the algorithm takes your content and shoots it to users already engaging with said trend.
All you have to do is put your name in the hat! The key with trends is to act FAST on them. Trends could potentially get thousands of new eyeballs on your content!
#3 Make Stories Fun
Find ways to get your audience involved with your Stories. For example, use polls, funny gifs, and “questions” stickers to engage your audience.
You can also incorporate videos into your Instagram Stories.
Are you a content creator? You might like this post: How to Turn a Gifted Collab Into a Paid Partnership
#4 Post Stories Day
Post Stories daily, but don’t overdo it. Instagram is currently testing a “preview” Stories feature. I explain it more in my Instagram Stories blog, but for now, try to aim for 3-5 Stories a day.
Stories are probably the easiest thing you can post! Again, if that is difficult, find a posting schedule that is right for you.
#5 Use Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags are a bit hit or miss for me. I wouldn’t RELY on them, but I still use them.
At the end of the day, if your content is bad, a hashtag will not save you.
I would also argue that for Instagram Reels, Topics are more important than hashtags. If you need more help with this, enroll in my free Reels course!
Insider Tip: Think of hashtags like a tool. They’re just there to add to your organic Instagram growth strategy!
#6 Make Your Content Shareable
Shareable can mean many things, but for us, it means making your content easy to share on multiple platforms. For example, creating Reels that you post on TikTok. And that right there is great strategy for becoming an Instagram influencer 😉
Aside from Reels, you can also use new features like the “Add Yours” Story sticker to get others to share your content.
Calling all content creators! Read this next: 6 Reasons You Aren’t Landing Brand Deals
#7 Post Carousels Instead of One Photo (Instagram Algorithm 2024 Hot Tip)
Remember, we want our followers to spend more time looking at what we post, so the Instagram algorithm favors us.
When we share a carousel, our followers naturally spend more time looking at it. And generally speaking, they’re more engaging.
#8 Write Good Captions
Knowing how to write engaging Instagram captions that people want to read is a great way to get users to spend more time on your posts so you can beat the 2024 Instagram algorithm.
I have an easy way to do this. It’s called “microblogging.” In short, microblog Instagram captions are when you write an Instagram caption that is informative and tells your audience about a specific topic. This makes captions interesting!
#9 Get Personal with Your Content
Your followers want to know you. So, you should form a relationship with them! This will help you appear on their newsfeeds more often.
Also, brands love influencers who have a rock-solid relationship with their audience. That relationship is something you can easily highlight in your influencer media kit.
Insider Tip: f you’re looking for brand deals, you’ll wanna check out my guide on how to land paid sponsorships!
#10 Reply to DMs
Because the IG algorithm aims to show off the most engaging pages/ content, you should be looking for the best ways to interact with your audience!
You want the Instagram algorithm to sense that your followers care about your page.
Insider Tip: Replying to DMs is a great way to establish trust with followers and beat the algorithm.
#11 Reply to Comments
See above. If we want to beat the 2024 Instagram algorithm, we need to engage! Your followers want to interact with you. But when you engage with your audience, this helps increase the number of interactions they have with you.
When that happens, Instagram will begin to see you two have a “relationship” and, therefore, your content will be recommended to them more.
Insider Tip: Want to get paid to post? Check out my free Influencer Rate Calculator!
#12 Engage with Accounts You Follow
Engaging with accounts you follow will not move the needle for you, but it’s good practice to be active in the app and interact with other accounts. There are no specific amount of accounts you need to comment on, but overdoing it will look spammy. If you like a piece of content, go ahead and leave a comment; otherwise, just move on!
Ultimately, from experience, I’ve found that engaging with accounts I follow has helped me network.
But engaging with people who use similar hashtags as you or post the same kind of content as you, has turned into a spammy growth hack “furus” have capitalized on. It doesn’t work like that. At the best, engaging with accounts you follow can help you network AND find people to collaborate with—which can help you grow. Needless to say, don’t make this a priority if you’re already limited on time.
You’re better off posting videos 5x a week to grow!
And PSSSSSST: Did you know that even if you have a small following, as long as you have a good engagement rate and relationship with your audience, you can make money as an influencer?
Insider Tip: Read my guide on how to make money as a content creator—even with under 5K followers!
#13 Collab with Other Creators
One of the fastest ways to beat the new Instagram algorithm, and get exposure to new followers, is to connect with others. Instagram is a social network, so you’ll benefit from being social.
Try to collab with other creators and find ways to share your audiences! This is even easier with the new Instagram Collab Post feature.
#14 Give Your Feed a “Look”
I do think a color-graded Feed helps with engagement.
You want your followers to recognize your work and love it, which is what having an overall Instagram aesthetic can help you do!
Insider Tip: Also, there are plenty of aesthetic photo editing apps out there you can use!
#15 Read Up on Insights
To beat the Instagram algorithm, you need to post quality content and note what your followers enjoy. Part of posting quality content uses Instagram Insights to get into how followers interact with your page.
And of course, when you have good insights, you’ll want to highlight that on your influencer media kit (for when you pitch brand deals).
Insider Tip: Not sure wtf a media kit is? Click here to read my guide on influencer media kits.
#16 Stop Deleting and Reposting on Instagram
Finally, while deleting and reposting on Instagram will not do any long-term damage to your account, it’s a waste of time. In short, if a piece of content doesn’t do well for you, move on!
You can maybe archive it and repost it at a later date, but you’re better off just posting fresh content consistently.
How to Get More Reach with the 2024 Instagram Algorithm
- Create Reels Frequently & Consistently
- Keep Up with Trends
- Make Stories Fun
- Post Stories Daily
- Use Hashtags Wisely
- Make Your Content Shareable
- Post Carousels Instead of One Photo
- Write Good Captions
- Get Personal with Your Content
- Reply to Your DMs
- Respond to Comments
- Engage with Accounts You Follow
- Collab with Other Creators
- Give Your Feed a “Look”
- Read Up on Insights
- Stop Deleting and Reposting on Instagram
Instagram Algorithm 2024 FAQ
Let’s use this section to answer some frequently asked questions about how to beat the Instagram Algorithm in 2024.
So, What Content Should You Create in 2024?
To beat the 2024 Instagram algorithm, you need to post:
- Reels
- Stories
- Photos (Bonus)
Now, let’s discuss why these are the only 3 content types you need to worry about.
Reels—Users share Reels more often. So, if your Reels are relatable or entertaining and give people something to talk about, they are more likely to generate shares. That means more engagement with your content!
Stories—Above all, Stories are the easiest thing to post for busy influencers like us. They’re mainly there to help you stay top of mind with your audience. Treat Stories like an easy way to get more engagement.
Photos (Bonus)—Photo posts are otherwise known as static content. Static means the post doesn’t move like a video! But, Instagram has repeatedly said that they’re shifting to focus more on video. In other words, photos are becoming less important on Instagram. So, think of posting photos as “bonus” content.
If you ONLY post photos, you can expect your reach to drop. So photos should NOT be your entire strategy.
That’s why you’ll want to be posting Reels too.
Insider Tip: Instagram has recently stated that they’ve moved “too far” from their roots and photos are still a “priority,” but until we see the numbers, video is what will help you grow much faster in 2024.
What Happens When You Hit “Post”?
Here’s the very very diluted process your content goes through once you hit “post.”
- Once a new piece of content is shared, to a tiny group of users
- The algo thinks these users will enjoy the content
- If they do, and post receives likes, comments, shares, the Instagram algorithm will send the content to a larger group
- Repeat
- Along the way, the ranking factors are applied!
Phew! Talk about a process.
In addition, Instagram makes money from ads. To make more money, they need your followers to see ads. The longer they’re on the app, the more money Instagram gets! So, we can assume that the algorithm “rewards” influencers who keep people on longer.
But Isn’t Reach Still Down?
Maybe you’ve been posting Reels, photos, and Stories but you still find yourself asking, “Why is my reach so low on Instagram?” or “Is Instagram reach down in 2024?” If that’s you, then listen up:
Reach is not down!
Reach has simply shifted to accommodate creators posting what Instagram users want to see. Remember, the 2024 Instagram algorithm wants to show people what they like!
So, to increase your reach on Instagram, you have to make your content more engaging. In addition, your content needs to be timely and specific to your audience. This will help the Instagram algorithm push your content to the right people.
Insider Tip: And more people seeing your content can result in a more engaged audience—that can help you charge more for sponsored posts!
How Does the Explore Page Work?
The Explore Page algorithm works by showing you a summary of what Instagram thinks you will enjoy. Your Explore Page and your friends’ might look entirely different for this reason!
Believe it or not, the Explore Page also operates under its algorithm. It shows you photos, videos, and content categories hand-picked for you!
However, getting on the Explore Page isn’t hard. An easy way to get on the Instagram Explore page is to start using Reels and ensure you’re using great Instagram SEO to help IG understand what your content is about.
Insider Tip: Reels have their section on the Explore page, which can be massive growth for you in 2024.
Your Next Steps for Beating the 2024 Instagram Algorithm
The key takeaway I want you to get from this guide is that beating the Instagram algorithm isn’t impossible, but it isn’t easy! As an influencer, if you apply these strategies to your profile, you’ll create a solid foundation to beat any new algorithms to come.
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