The Instagram Algorithm: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need to Care

Algorithm is designed to maximize time spent on its platform. Since it's such a visual platform it makes sense that users will spend more time looking at pictures and videos if the algorithm does a good job of picking content that matches the user's interests.

The algorithm also limits the number of ads. Both of these things are positives for the user since they provide more relevant content, and increase the value of using Instagram versus other ad-supported platforms.

Meanwhile, the interest graph is established by interests inferred from which hashtags users engage most frequently.

A blog detailing the Instagram algorithm and how it affects platform users.

As you may have heard, Instagram has just announced a new algorithm that will be rolling out over the next few months. The new algorithm looks at engagement—not just likes, but comments and stories that are posted in response to your own posts—as well as how often users engage with your content, and how long they stay on your page.

This means that you should continue to post regular content and try to get people to comment on it. If you want your followers to comment on your photos, try posting photos that are more controversial or thought-provoking than usual. You can also try asking questions about topics that might spark conversation in the comments section of your post.

What Is the Instagram Algorithm?

The Instagram algorithm is a set of rules used by the app to determine what posts users will see in their feeds. We're talking about everything from the photos that pop up on your phone when you open the app to the ones that end up at the top of your feed.

The algorithm has been changing over time, and it's not always clear how exactly it works or what factors it uses to decide what you'll see. But we've got some ideas about how it might work in 2023 so that you can keep up with all the changes.

Instagram Algorithm in 2023

No Capcut or any other video editing software including TikTok watermarks is allowed in the new update.

The first thing that we're going to see is that videos will be edited natively in the Instagram app, not in a separate editing software like Capcut or any other video editing software. This means you'll be able to add filters and effects right on your phone, which should save you time and make your videos look better.

The next thing we're going to see is that there won't be any TikTok watermarks on your videos anymore. You can still share them with other platforms if you want, but Instagram will have its own video-sharing platform that you can use as much as you want without worrying about third parties taking advantage of it.

Instagram algorithms favor posting a grid every day and 9:16 posts and no black borders.

The Instagram algorithm is what determines whether or not your posts show up in the feed, and it's changed a lot since it was first created. In fact, it's changed so much that we've had to make some major adjustments to our content strategy over the years.

If you want to maximize your visibility on Instagram, posting to the grid every day is still the best way to do it. And now, 9:16 posts with no black borders is the new advantage in the new Instagram algorithm. You might want to try that too!

Use 3-5 Hashtags Tops

First things first: you're going to want to use 3-5 hashtags tops. Any more than that and your content will be flagged as spammy by Instagram and may not show up in people's feeds at all.

If you're a business owner looking to target the medical spa market in Orange County, you can use three to five hashtags tops. For example, #ocmedspas #ocmedspa #orangecountymedspa #medicalspas. You can also use your branding tagline, like #brandingLBco, to make sure that people remember your brand quickly! You want to maximize your hashtag use so that people can find you more easily.

Use trending video instead of the original audio.

The platform will be using a trending video feature that allows users to upload and share videos with audio from another video. This means you can choose the audio track that fits your content best. For example, if you want to share a video of someone talking about their favorite song, but you don't have the right to use that song's original audio, you can choose another song's audio track instead!

Engage with your audience.

Instagram is a platform that's been built around the idea that people want to spend more time on it. With its algorithm, Instagram aims to maximize your engagement with the content you see—and ultimately, with the app itself.

This means that the more you engage with a post, the more likely you are to get posts like it in your feed. If you ignore a post and don't engage with it at all, there's a good chance you'll never see something like it again.

So how do you engage? There are three main ways: liking, commenting, or posting your own photo or video response. Each of these actions increases your engagement score with the original post and makes Instagram think you're interested in seeing more from that person or brand.

Post 6 stories a day

In 2023, Instagram's algorithm will be able to recognize the difference between a person who is just posting to get likes and a person who genuinely wants to share content with their followers.

This means that if you post six stories a day in the morning, noon, and evening (two of each), Instagram will know that you're not just doing it for likes—you're actually trying to engage with your followers.

In this way, Instagram is taking on the role of an online community manager: it knows when you're active online and when you're not. If you want to post more than six stories per day, but do so at odd hours or when no one is likely to see them (for example, after midnight), Instagram will know that these are spammy posts and will penalize them accordingly.

Conclusion

There are no sure bets when it comes to predicting the future. But this is a near-certainty: Instagram will continue to iterate its platform to meet the needs of new users, as well as make alterations based on user feedback. If you're hoping to maximize your overall reach on the platform and avoid getting buried in a feed, it's important that you stay informed regarding algorithm updates and any measures that may be taken to impact your organic visibility.