How to beat the Instagram algorithm in 2023

Why does Instagram promote certain content? So I’ve studied the Instagram algorithm to figure out why some accounts gain millions of followers while others never see much success at all. Instagram just made an algorithm update, and there are tons of content on google all over the place, articles online that are just pushing outdated strategies.

How to beat the Instagram algorithm in 2023:

So if you are an entrepreneur, or maybe you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, then make sure that you are hitting that subscribe button to learn everything that you need to know, all the way from starting your Shopify store to running Facebook ads.

So make sure that you’re hitting subscribe. Now, if you guys aren’t already aware, Instagram recently made an algorithm update, and one of the major changes was that they amalgamated all the video content now to be in Reels.

There’s a little bit of a fire under Instagram, but because TikToks come in hot, there’s some tough competition coming from TikTok. So Instagram needs to start prioritizing more video content because that’s what people want to see these days.

Short video content: How to beat the Instagram algorithm in 2023

Short video content is the new currency of attention. Now, considering that Instagram used to be a photo-sharing app. This next piece of advice may be a little bit confusing, but what I think you should do is I think you should abandon photos altogether.

Literally. Forget Carousels. Forget single photos. Just make reels all day, every day. Focus on making reels because they’re going to get you 120% more reach than photos could add captions on your reels.

This is because only people are reading their articles with their sound on. So if you don’t have captions, you’re going to be missing out on the other 85% of people. They’re just going to scroll right by your stuff.

So make sure that you are adding captions to hook people in. So if you want to add captions, you’re just going to go and grab the caption sticker like this and it will automatically generate captions.
Now if you’re not loving the native tool within Instagram, then you can check out the App store. There are going to be tons of free options there and it will give you more control of the look and the feel of your captions.

Instagram launching new content creator features:

Instagram also launched some new content creation features that are going to help make your videos more interesting and more dynamic. So we’ve got Dual which allows you to record on the backside of your phone while also showing your reaction.

And then we also have a green screen and split screen just like TikTok. These features are great because if you are trying to create content with added spice, you don’t have to go into postproduction.

You can just edit it right with an Instagram. This makes content creation a little bit more scalable if you are trying to post frequently and consistently. So definitely leverage these tools.

Start your videos off with a hook. So people are going to lose interest in less than 2 seconds. That is a fact of life. 2 seconds before someone starts. So you want to start your video with audio and visuals that take up a lot of space
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Maybe someone’s jumping into the frame. Maybe if someone’s dancing. Maybe you have like a crazy interesting factor to share right away. Or maybe you have like crazy visuals of like, someone Skydiving or a landfill or something.

Maybe you’re telling a joke with a quick punchline. I don’t know. Point is, is that the hook is what is going to get people to continue to watch. And then when Instagram sees that your content is being watched, they’re going to push it out to more people, which means more exposure for you.

So how often should you be posting? Well, you should be posting one to two times per day in the current state that Instagram is in. And I know it’s like, should quit your day job in order just to do this, but if you choose formats that are simple to complete, you can make it a lot easier on yourself.

It can be time-consuming. Yes, that’s true. But honestly, anything worthwhile is. So if you’re posting reels and you’re doing that consistently, you’re going to be golden. I’m currently working with an eCommerce brand, and one of the things that we’ve noticed, even though we’re a brand that has a really large following, is that nothing other than reals is working right now.

So take it from me, Real is the key to exposure, and it’s going to be the key to more followers. Instagram is making a point to make their search function better on the platform. So when you think about the way that YouTube or Google search function works, you know that when you search for something, you’re going to get the results that you’re looking for.

So make sure that you’re focusing on keywords. So speaking of hashtags, are they dead? Hashtags aren’t dead. They’re not, but they’re different from what they used to be. Now the best way to use hashtags is to create amazing content that people are going to want to see.

Then, based on your engagement, the Instagram algorithm understands what your content is. Keeping people on the platform. And that’s when it starts to push content on the hashtag pages and explore pages.

So essentially, your content isn’t going to get more views or more followers just because you’re using hashtags. But if your content is good, then Instagram will start to leverage the hashtags that you’ve used to give you an extra push.

It’s Instagram’s world: How to beat the Instagram algorithm in 2023

It’s Instagram’s world. We’re just living in it. But if you ask me my personal opinion, no one asks, but I’m going to say it anyways. I don’t like hashtags. I find them to be cluttered and not necessary, but they still work.

And if you are serious about Instagram growth and you want to see every opportunity you can to explode your account, then use them. So if you do want to learn more about how you can create amazing content and blow up your Instagram following, then I recommend you download this free social media template.

It is designed to help you create a rock-solid Instagram strategy. And you’re going to learn how to create content that breaks through all that noise that we’re seeing on social media. And you’re going to learn how to provide value to your audience and make money online.

So, if that sounds good to you, you can click the link right over here or in the description box below. Don’t worry, it’s not going to stop this article. It’s just going to open a new tab so that you can have it ready when you’re done reading this article here.

Posting times the time at which you post your content is really important because the minute you post your content, you want to show Instagram that your videos popping and that there are tons of people watching and engaging.

But the thing with that is that you need to make sure that you’re posting during the times that your audience is actually on Instagram to get that engagement right away. So it’s super simple.

You’re just going to take a look at your analytics just like this here and see when your audience is on most and then just literally post during those times. Simple as that. But if you’re like, I’m doing all these things, Michelle.

I’m still not growing. This is a crazy tip that I just learned from a YouTuber here. His name is Chris Howe. He says you should your account to see if you are a shadow band. You know if you ever use like a follow and unfollow app or maybe you’re like doing too many actions at once, Instagram might think you are a robot.

This is against Instagram’s policy. So you could be shadow banned. So let’s check this out together and see if you are a shadow band. So you’re going to go into your Settings account, and account status and then you’ll find out whether you have any strikes against you.

And if so, that could be what is hindering your growth. So make sure that you are checking that out. Instagram rolled out a feature called Notes. So not everyone has this yet, but it’s almost been said to be kind of like Twitter, kind of like MSN Status Update.

And if you’re looking for this, this is going to live in your Direct Messages tab and only your close friends can see this or accounts that you follow and follow you back and see your notes. Now Instagram is still testing this feature out and I thought that once they did roll it out that not a lot of people would use it.

But randomly I’m seeing a lot of my friends using it, which I find super interesting. I don’t see this as being like a growth tool considering only people in your network can see your notes. But I see this more as an engagement tool.

The more that you show up in people’s feeds, the better chances you have of connecting with your audience. So if you are trying to add more one on one touch points with your audience, then definitely take a stab at Notes just to see how your engagement does get affected.

Instagram offers a massive opportunity to drive traffic to your online store. If you have Instagram Shop, you can link to your products and this is a great way to make it easy for your customers to purchase from you.

You can even take advantage of Instagram’s latest feature, shopping on Explore. This makes reaching new customers so much easier than before. And if you do want to grow your business with Instagram and you do want to manage your store effortlessly, and you want to offer a seamless shopping experience for your audience, then I recommend that you sign up for a free trial with Shopify.

Final Words: How to beat the Instagram algorithm in 2023:

Let me know in the comment section below. Other than that, guys, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode. And if you are new here, don’t forget to subscribe because we are a blog that helps you start, run and grow an online business.