It refers to the mathematical formula that determines who and how many users will see your posts.
Today, the news feed of each social network (Facebook, LinkedIn, SnapChat etc.) has its own algorithm which responds to its own rules and each social media manager must be aware of this in order to create relevant content.
Instagram: the Eldorado of businesses
Number of Instagram users in Canada
Before getting into technical explanations, let's talk a little about Instagram and its meteoric rise.
In less than 10 years, Instagram has gone from being a simple social network african whatsapp number being an integral part of the daily lives of more than 1 billion people ( 1.3 billion by early 2023 ). Take a look:
instagram algorithm chart tips
It has also become a key platform for businesses:
It is the 4th most used social network in the world.
83% of users say they discover new products or services on Instagram
80% of users follow at least one brand on Instagram
70% of American businesses have an Instagram account
30% of Instagram users worldwide are between 25 and 34 years old
The opportunity is MASSIVE.
And naturally, competition is fierce. To capture users' attention, you have to know how to stand out constantly. And to stand out, you first have to understand how its mysterious algorithm works.
What determines what Instagram shows?
How to create content that will be favored by Instagram's algorithm?
Put on a comfortable outfit, we'll take you "under the hood" of Instagram. You'll even discover with us 10 tips to increase your engagement rate on Instagram!
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What is the Instagram algorithm?
Instagram's algorithm is a set of rules and parameters that determine the order in which posts appear on your news feed.
Based on various signals and user behaviors, the algorithm decides what content will be shown and the order in which it will be presented across the app, including in users' News Feed, Explore page, Reels feed, and hashtag pages.
How does the Instagram algorithm work?
To understand how the Instagram algorithm works, you first need to look at the company's business model.
How does Instagram generate revenue?
Since the app is free, the company makes a profit from advertising revenue.
Instagram shows you “sponsored” content as you browse the platform:
The more time you spend on Instagram, the more likely you are to see this sponsored content.
(Actually after 1 or 2 scrolls on your news feed or between 3 Instagram stories, you should see an ad)
Instagram is trying to get you to spend more time on the platform
Instagram's algorithm is therefore built to make you spend as much time as possible on the platform , by showing you an ever more relevant type of content (which it thinks you will like).
The content of Instagram accounts adapts to your profile (compare your Explore tab to that of your neighbor, you might be surprised!)
Because the more satisfied you are with the content you see, the more Instagram can advertise to you… the more ad revenue the company generates! Simple, right?
The famous “ranking signals” of the Instagram algorithm
How the Instagram Algorithm Works
To determine who will see your posts, Instagram relies on 4 main factors (and 3 secondary factors):
But that's not all. Because once it has measured the engagement rate of your content, the algorithm will distribute it to targeted users according to 'ranking signals'. To date, there are three main factors, and three sub-
