The Instagram algorithm can seem complicated and complicated to understand. But once we understand how Instagram algorithm works in 2021, it becomes an effective tool to grow and promote our page.
In this article, we explained how the Instagram algorithm works for posts, stories, Discover page, IGTV videos and Reels and tips on how we grow our page using it.
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What is 2021 Instagram Algorithm? How does it work?
With the addition of stories, insights, and more, it took time to research and figure out how we should use the Instagram algorithm each year. Instagram has started hiding the likes of some accounts. Moreover, while only 10% of our viewers can see our posts in their streams, it is interesting to see how we can be successful and which interactions will benefit us more.
If we want to brand and stand out on Instagram, we need to keep up with the 2021 Instagram algorithm. For this, we need to fully understand the operation of the algorithm and put it into practice.
The Instagram algorithm prioritizes the posts with the most engagement. Among them are the newest ones. This means that it not only looks at how many engagements our Instagram post gets, but also looks at how long ago the photo was posted. He always wants to present the newest and most interesting posts. Our friends prioritize posts from accounts we value, such as our family. In order to understand this, it monitors and analyzes everything from the time we use the application to the posts we like and comment on. It also places the posts of accounts that it defines as “important” for users at the top, where we can see it at any time.
There are four points that the algorithm tracks in the actions of users: interests, interaction, time and frequency of use.
Instagram Algorithm Tracks What We Like
In the Instagram feed, we come across not only the posts of the people we follow, but also the accounts we have liked in the past and the like. This is because the Instagram algorithm takes into account how and what we interact with and predicts that this is the content we are interested in. Whatever he thinks we’ll like, he’ll bring it to us. So our home feed is actually a combination of all our activity on Instagram. These actions determine the order of our news feed and what type of content we see in the future.
We talked about Instagram hiding likes in some regions and accounts. This does not mean that the likes will disappear. Double-clicking on a photo allows us to see more of similar content in the algorithm.
Instagram Algorithm Tracks Our Interaction With Our Followers
As soon as we follow someone, Instagram monitors how we interact with them by presenting their content and trying to calculate this relationship, our level of interest.
When we spend too much time in the app and there is no more new and interesting content to see, Instagram starts serving us recommended content from new accounts based on our previous interactions.
Frequently commenting on someone’s posts or being tagged increases our chances of being placed in that person’s “important” category. In some Instagram resources, this is referred to as the “friends and family” category. This means telling the Instagram algorithm, “This person is important to me and I want to see more of them on my feed.”
This gives us an insight into the algorithm: If we want to grow on Instagram, we must engage with our followers. We respond to comments and DMs for our followers to see more of our posts.
We consider and respect when someone takes the time to contact us, and we respond to comments and messages. This is how we show them that we value them.
Instagram Algorithm Evaluates Time
Instagram always wants to show its users what’s new and best, which means time is a factor we should always consider. When we pay attention to when most of our followers are online, they are more likely to see our content. Analyzing our Instagram account is the most effective way to keep up with the algorithm. These analyzes also help us measure other important criteria in order to break the Instagram algorithm and use it efficiently. It helps us better understand what works and what doesn’t and create a fine-tuned advertising and marketing plan. It also saves time and effort in the long run.
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Instagram Algorithm Looks at ‘Frequency’ to Rank Posts
The more time we spend on the Instagram app, the more fresh content it shows us. The same goes for our followers. So for an audience of followers who use the app frequently, posts are sorted chronologically. Instagram users who control the app less are only shown content they like and popular. Posting frequently throughout the day makes our page stand out under all circumstances.
In summary, how does the Instagram algorithm work in 2021?
The Instagram algorithm tracks what people like.
It looks at how users interact.
It controls when it will show posts.
To rank posts, it considers how often people use Instagram.
Two Important Points to Solve the Instagram Algorithm
We talked about the four main points that the Instagram algorithm takes into account. Only two of these are criteria that we can influence and improve on: interaction and timing.
Interaction
The Instagram algorithm in 2021 is working to show users content that they are most likely to engage with. As we said before, when we like someone’s posts, we are very likely to see more of them in our feed. If we go back far enough in our page feed, we see posts from most accounts we follow are shared with us here. In fact, when we look at even older posts, Instagram sends us a notification like “You’ve now viewed everything”. This means that our followers need to go to the very end of the page feed to see each of our posts, which is a very time consuming task. That’s why standing out by interacting with our followers is an important criterion for improving our page.
Time
Instagram is a social platform that makes money from ads. The easiest way for our followers to see our ads is to keep them in the app longer. This means that the more we keep our followers in the app, the more the Instagram algorithm will favor us. We provide this with quality and original content.
In summary, the two most important factors affecting the algorithm
Considering Participation
- We interact with our followers.
- We create content that our followers will enjoy interacting with.
Thinking About Timing
- We broadcast when our followers are online.
- We post frequently.
- And we analyze how the algorithm works and what we need to do to overcome the Instagram algorithm.
Breaking the Instagram Algorithm on a daily basis
Instagram as an app is a compilation of many parts. But when we focused on the news feed, we realized that some activities need to be done every day to beat the 2021 Instagram algorithm and we use them to grow our page.
Here’s what to do daily to break the Instagram algorithm:
- Share a post
- Sharing reels videos
- Reply to DMs
- Reply to comments
- Engaging with accounts we follow
- Creating a unique flow
- Turn on post notifications
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Post every day
The best way to grow our account and beat the Instagram algorithm is to be stable. We post on Instagram every day. Consistency gives our followers something to look forward to. Posting a photo or video to the stream is the easiest way to keep our profile up to date.
We don’t need to send new photos all the time. Reposting old images also helps us stand out in the Instagram algorithm.
For our followers who always check the app, we keep a constant connection with them by posting frequently. Followers who like our content and know when it will be out are more engaged, so we can beat the Instagram algorithm. Sometimes we don’t have enough time to prepare a daily post. That’s why we use a posting program that allows us to share the posts we prepared before when the time comes.
Sharing Reals
In general, the videos are very suitable for storytelling and allow us to learn more deeply about our audience. Sharing reels videos at least three times a week is essential to increase engagement. When we don’t want to post videos on our stream, we share them in our stories.
We don’t need to make professional edits to post a video. Most of the top-performing videos are simple videos of mountain landscapes shot with phones. Creating and publishing videos has become easier than ever, especially with the Instagram Reels tool.
Instagram highlights those who use its new features in the stream. Also, according to the algorithm, if our reels video gets enough attention, it is featured as a privilege by İIstagram and appears in the section where the “Reels” button is in the application. That means millions of Instagram users can watch our video.
Reply to DMs
Because the Instagram algorithm aims to show the most interesting pages and content to its audience, we look for the best ways to engage with our followers. When someone takes the time to message us, we usually think it’s for a good and important reason. For this, we try to answer them, even if it is short.
Previously, replying to messages was equivalent to spending hours on the phone. Now, Instagram allows us to reply to messages from the desktop app. Facebook’s revamped inbox combines pages, allowing us to view our “Messenger” and “Instagram Direct” inboxes in one place.
Still, we want the Instagram algorithm to place us in the “special friends and family” category of our followers. Replying to DMs is an accurate and important way to build trust, engage and beat the algorithm in our followers.
Reply to Comments
Replying to comments is another way for our followers to enter the “family and friends” category and be featured more often in the stream. In response to their taking their time and commenting to contact us, we respond to them and make them feel valued to us.
Commenting is not just an interaction from the other side. By following the profiles of our followers, we make comments about their posts and share our thoughts. Because interaction is the biggest key to overcoming the algorithm.
Making Your Instagram Profile Unique
Creating a unique page with colors, themes and texts under the posts is very useful for increasing interaction. In order for our followers to know and love us, we want it to be understood that it belongs to us in every corner of the post they look at. We provide this with different methods such as the colors we use, our writing style, and the flow order. Thus, we both create a professional page view and create an identity of our own.
Having a unique look in our feed makes our followers more interested in our content. It also prevents our posts from being stolen and copied.
Keeping Post Notifications On
Interacting with our followers is important. We follow profiles that are important to us and turn on post notifications. Because the Instagram algorithm makes it harder to see new posts from those we follow, getting notifications is the best way to build a community and stay engaged.
Likewise, turning on the comments and likes of our posts makes it easier for us to communicate with our followers quickly.
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In summary, how does the Instagram Algorithm get used to it on a daily basis?
Posting Daily Posts
- When it’s hard to post every day, we use a posting program
- We are reposting our old content.
Publishing Reels Videos
- We post one video a day.
- We use the Reels feature for simple edits.
Reply to DMs
- We show that we value our followers and respond to DMs. We make time for them, just as they do for us.
Reply to Comments
- We respond to comments as well as DMs.
Customizing the Flow
- We create a consistent editing style in our work so our followers can immediately recognize our post.
Turning On Post Notifications
- Turning on post notifications allows us to connect with people we follow, like and follow us.
How is “good content” defined according to the algorithm?
How can we get our followers to spend more time on our page? And how do we find content that will be of interest to users and that they will love? In fact, the answer to all these questions takes a bit of attention, time, and research.
Creative Reels Videos
We don’t have to be a business expert to work in favor of the Instagram algorithm. Creating simple reels is an easy way to add more videos to our feed and beat the 2021 Instagram algorithm.
It can be as simple as a reels video, a travel clip, or a video compilation. Our observations show that simply clips that people shoot themselves make followers feel like they’re on the scene with that person. Content that users can associate with themselves and find common ground means more interaction. This allows us to circumvent the Instagram algorithm. Also, when we look at the rate of views and likes, we see that people spend more time watching videos than looking at beautiful pictures.
Instagram Stories
Using Instagram stories to circumvent the Instagram algorithm has now become a necessity rather than a choice. Stories are an easy way to stay at the top of our follower feed. The stories we see at the top of our page belong to the accounts we interact with the most. By publishing more than one story throughout the day, we ensure that the eyes of our followers are always on us.
We post polls, funny gifs and “question and answer” events to engage our audience. When stories are entertaining, it keeps our audience engaged with our content longer.
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Choosing Appropriate Label Words
As in previous years, adding hashtags to our posts is still important. Instagram allows us to use up to 30 hashtags. But it’s unclear whether hashtags perform better than in comments and post titles.
Contrary to popular belief, using more tags to reach more people yields negative results. To prevent this, we use corporate, special and only relevant tags and share them in the comments section. Thus, users can easily access our related posts by clicking on these tags.
Now that it’s possible to follow hashtags on Instagram, using the right hashtags in posts increases engagement. By applying a good hashtag strategy, we can reach not only more people, but also people who are relevant to our business and interested in our content.
Another piece of information the tags give us is the possibility of exceeding the Instagram algorithm. By tracking the tags we write on the posts and the rate of likes / views, we can predict which tags we use will stand out. For this, we first search for the tags on Instagram and examine their popularity. In addition, the tags we use also help us determine our target audience.
Highlighting carousel posts
One of the best ways for our followers to make time for us is to come across a carefully crafted post. Often referred to as “swipe posts,” Instagram carousel posts are the most popular way to invite people to visit a particular page. We collect pictures and videos introducing ourselves on different topics and share them as advertisements in a post. With convincing visuals, users can make a preview of the page by swiping the post to the left. They can also easily visit the page thanks to the “Go to Instagram profile” link.
Carousel ads create an opportunity to increase the interaction of the posts we have shared in the past. By turning the images we shared a long time ago into a carousel post, we make them appear as well.
Uploading IGTV videos
Instagram, which previously allowed us to post very short videos, gained speed in video broadcasts with its IGTV feature. It even allows us to share a one-minute preview of this video on our homepage and directs viewers directly to the relevant video thanks to the “Watch IGTV video” button.
IGTV videos are also displayed on the explore page. Including them on our page allows us to reach more people.
Using microblogging titles in posts
Instagram has been working on hiding likes since 2019. The fact that we will not be able to see the rate of likes raises the issue of how our followers can participate in our posts. Instagram has confirmed that comments are very important when it comes to post rank. To increase engagement, our followers need to share, save and comment on our posts. This is where microblogging comes into play.
A microblogging thread means an Instagram thread that is informative and tells a specific topic to our audience. That means quality titles that will increase engagement.
For example, a title type viewed for the first time, “4 must-see spots in Antalya”, “Decor tips for the summer season”, etc. Since these are the topics that directly convey the subject we focus on to the other party, we can attract the attention of our users. At the same time, we ask our followers to share their thoughts and feelings, and tag a friend in the comments. Thus, we not only enable them to contact us, but also reach more people.
In summary, Good content on Instagram,
Sharing Reals Videos
- We are developing our page with reels videos without being a master video producer.
Spending More Time on Instagram Stories
- We offer our followers fun and interactive content with the help of Instagram Stories.
Choosing the Right Hashtags
- We choose our own unique and relevant tags.
- We use hashtags to help our content reach people who might like what we post.
Creating Promotional Posts
- We share a number of them to recycle old content.
- We create carousel posts by selecting the most liked videos and photos.
Uploading Videos to IGTV
- We are working for the growing IGTV and sharing them as posts, increasing the interaction rates.
Using Microblog
- We improve your captions and share things that are informative and interesting for our audience.
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Tips for Instagram Story
Sharing Instastory Every Day
When we open the app, the Instagram stories we see at the top of our news feed are usually the stories of the accounts we interact with the most. In addition, Instagram accounts that publish stories every day constantly appear at the top of the accounts of the followers they interact with the most. That’s why, by sharing stories every day without disturbing the order, we can exceed the Instagram algorithm and meet more people.
In addition, using stickers and GIFs in Instagram stories, doing tests, makes our posts more interesting.
Using New Features
The Instagram algorithm changes and evolves throughout the year. We frequently check for updates to the algorithm and try out new features. Instagram highlights the posts that use new features.
For example, Instagram recently announced that we can add music to stories. The stories shared with the music for the first time received much more engagement and are still popular.
Finding The Kinds Of Stories Ideas That Followers Can Share
Stories are one of the tools that can be followed easily due to their short duration. But getting people to stop and watch what we’re sharing isn’t all that easy. For this, we need to create stories that are fun and that appeal to the interests of the other party.
There are lots of Instagram stickers we can use in Stories, but the best ones to get engagement are poll, emoji, and question stickers. We encourage our followers to spend more time on our stories by captioning our stories and using GIFs. That extra time is crucial when talking about the Instagram algorithm.
We don’t stuff our content with stickers and words just to have something written there. We tell a clear story with a purpose. Thus, we make users curious as well, and we kind of promise that we will gain their trust in the future and share stories that do not bore them.
Using Hashtags in a Story
Using hashtags in our stories is another way to maximize reach and get our content to more potential users.
Instagram Story Tips in a nutshell
Posting Stories Daily
The more stories we post, the better our chances of passing the 2021 Instagram algorithm. Because stories are an ideal way for our audience to both engage and follow us.
Using New Features
Instagram has different tools that we can use to highlight our stories, from GIFs to polls. We keep up with the latest features and try them out.
Giving Users a Reason to Watch Stories
We write headlines in our stories that will encourage our followers to pay attention and read. So, we add captions that are interesting and relevant to the topic. We use fun GIFs and other tools.
Using Hashtags in Stories
Tags help us reach our target audience faster. By adding appropriate hashtags to our stories, we increase our potential audience.
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Reels Tips
Currently, Instagram has highlighted the Reels feature in every field. The Reels button is right in the middle of the app and the Reels have their own section on the Explore page.
To break the 2021 Instagram algorithm, we give importance to Reels videos. By adding tags, appropriate titles and quality captions, we increase the chances of our videos being featured.
Other Useful Tips for the Algorithm
Being Social
One of the fastest ways to beat the 2021 Instagram algorithm and meet new followers is to connect with others. Instagram is a social network, so we really need to be social. We meet blog pages, photographers and influencers that we follow and whose work we like. We connect with them through DM and comments.
Analyzing what people like
We need to publish quality content and take note of what our followers like and what kind of things they are most interested in. We use the Instagram Insights app to post quality content and analyze how followers interact with our page.
Be original
When we included informative and broad content, which we call long-tail, under our posts, we noticed that the response rates increased. Providing valuable information is also a way to get users to spend more time on our content. Posts become more interesting when there is a unique headline about the image or video, followed by a comprehensive and personalized description. Also, asking a question at the end of each post makes it easier for our followers to chat with us.
Cross Posts
As Instagram grew, so did the number of channels we could share content with: Stream, Stories, IGTV and Reels. Thanks to these different channels, we are able to develop and share our new content in a way that appeals to different audiences. Thanks to the sharing strategy we have determined, we can increase our rank in the algorithm and gain interaction quickly and easily.
Going to the Discover Page on Instagram
The Explore page is essentially a summary of what Instagram has to offer that it thinks users will enjoy. For this reason, each user’s discover page has different content.
The Discover page uses its own algorithm. It shows photos, videos and content categories selected for us. The search results are the same for every user searching for a particular hashtag, while the main discover page is tailored to our personal interests.
In order to circumvent Instagram’s discover algorithm and move our posts there, we apply the tips we explained above. Reels videos are the easiest and most successful among them. Reels videos are one of the tools we use to stand out and be recognized, as they have a privileged place in the Explore section. Seeing what other users are posting also gives us ideas for new content.
However, the most effective key to entering the explore page is to use tags. In this way, the Instagram algorithm can categorize our content for others’ discover pages. Our post reaches an audience of more specific relevant audiences, not posts from a huge pool of unrelated posts. This increases engagement rates.
If you want to get more information about being featured on Instagram, you can contact us.
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