Instagram's algorithm in 2022: all you need to know

Sometimes we realize that our content is less attractive, that the views decrease, that our visibility on new accounts is less, that we generate less likes. And yet none of our habits have changed.

So why this loss of hearing? Well let's explain it to you. Have you ever said that it probably comes from Instagram's new algorithm ? No ? Don't panic, we'll fix that.

What is an Algorithm?

Understanding the Instagram algorithm is key to successfully growing your business. It will collect data on users and thus predict what will work or not. What is liked or not and by whom. This is how it will offer content adapted to each user. The algorithm is here to consume your time, it wants you to stay on the app the longest.

Why does the Instagram algorithm change so often?

Instagram perpetually changing. What is relevant today will not necessarily be so tomorrow. The operation of the algorithm can be something complex to understand. In recent years, Instagram has started to communicate on it, which it did not do before.

However, it does not clearly state the changes and it is sometimes hard to follow them. We are here to help you not get lost!

If Instagram changes its algorithm so frequently, it's for update its content regularly. As the algorithm changes, the expected content also changes, users make new content that is different from before, and a wave of novelty invades Instagram. It is a virtuous circle. Instagram, like its customers, wants change, renewal and modifying the algorithm frequently allows it.

The objective of this approach is to give drink to users thirsty for novelty. It is with this in mind that the network is still functioning as well 11 years after its launch. What the platform seeks from you is your time.

The more a person is loyal to Instagram, the more they will come across sponsored content, the only social media practice that makes Instagram money.

Why seek to understand the Instagram algorithm?

Some practices promote your enhancement on the news feed of your subscribers or on the news feed of the general section. What are they ?

The algorithm pyramid

There are different types of commitment signals.

An engagement signal will measure the investment of your subscribers, this goes through likes, shares, comments and recordings.

Instagram has made sure to create a hierarchy of social signals. According to Instagram's algorithm, a like is worth less than a save, for example. We will explain this to you in more detail.

The likes

At the very bottom of the scale, we have the likes, very commonplace, which have become almost automatic for users, it has lost value and is almost useless.

Gaining a like will only make you gain very little visibility, other practices will favor you much more.

The shares

In fourth position, we find sharing. Being reshared in story will favor you much more than a like. For the algorithm, this means that you produce qualitative photos and videos that make other users want to share them with all their followers. Thanks to this doubly advantageous practice, you will gain visibility and the algorithm will put you forward.

Comments

Surprising? And yet very true, feedback is key! For Instagram, it is easily easy to detect fake comments, so we discourage you from using this practice. Better to use the tips we are about to give you.

Instagram favors accounts with real comments. He likes the interaction between his users, it highlights social actions that provoke discussion. Thus, the text that accompanies your publication is very important. Do not hesitate to insert questions in order to elicit reactions, which will make you more visible. It is with these kinds of practices that you will create commitment and build loyalty in your community.

The real

Extremely favored by the algorithm. Launched in 2020 by the network, the Reals are the new feature of Instagram. Very trendy now. A word of advice: use them! Creating tutorials is the thing to do. Why ? Simply because if the user is interested, he will save it in order to review it later. What is interesting with the registration is that the user will come back to your account and therefore generate traffic. But that we will come back to.

Note that they appear in your newsfeed as Lives, but also as a video: so you have 2 times more visibility. As you will have understood, by creating a Real, you double your chances of visibility.

Recordings

At the very top of the pyramid and well above the likes, we have Recordings ! As we said, recordings drive traffic to your account, they will be seen and reviewed. This is exactly what you are looking for when creating an Instagram post. They will cause the increase of what we call Dwell Time, which should not be overlooked.

Use all the stated features and you can be sure that your Instagram posts will get more organic reach.

Dwell time

Keep in mind that Instagram analyzes, it is a visionary, it predicts what you are likely to like based on what you have liked before. Everything is meticulously calculated. Over the years, the algorithm is more and more efficient and leaves less and less room for surprise.

Do you know what Dwell time is?

This is the time users spend on your Instagram account. The more important it is, the more positive it is for you. Create tutorials or choreographies significantly increase your Dwell Time. Instagrammers will watch and watch until they succeed in what you teach them. And how many times do you think they'll replay your video? We tell you: a bunch of times!

Of course, if it's not your habit to create choreographies, don't do it, it could screw up your news feed. Creating quality content is already a good thing.

In 2022, we demand more qualitative content than volume content.

In short, the more time spent on your account, the more you will be propelled.

To do this, do not hesitate to interact with your community. Use stories, ask them questions, use the poll! Everything is a good opportunity to get noticed.

The date of publication

Regularity! The basic principle to follow to master the Instagram algorithm.

Take tests, weekends or weekdays, midday or evening? Set a posting frequency. Tailor your niche to your audience. Use the statistics provided.

If you're targeting working adults instead, post around 13 p.m. during your lunch break. If you're targeting teenagers, post at 19 p.m. after you get home from school and outings with friends. Adapt.

Once you have found your time slot, continue on it.

To be active ? Yes, but at what price ?

Set a pace that you can sustain over time. Look at the long term. Posting a post on Monday and another on Friday for a month, then dropping your subscribers for 2 months and coming back after doesn't lead to anything.

Try to find a rhythm that you can keep. Your subscribers should not feel abandoned.

Producing quality content is essential. Photos must go together. Get a real news feed with consistency. For example, you can publish only black and white photos.

Recycle your content and reuse your posts that have worked. Repost them from another angle, for example. If you're selling products, take a photo in a different location.

Previously, the network favored quantity over quality. This is no longer the case as we have said the algorithm has improved now judging what is qualitative and what is not and those thanks to the commitment of subscribers.

A frequently logged in user is more likely to see your post since Instagram updates each user's news feed at the start of each login to show them the most relevant recent posts.

The keys to success on Instagram in 2021

Build the loyalty of your community, take care of your followers before trying to recruit others. Build a fan base that regularly likes, comments and shares your content. It will propel you and make you gain visibility.

On Instagram, there are 2 types of people:

The connected are the fans who already follow you, with whom you have a relationship and interactions.

The unconnected, users who do not follow you yet, those you are trying to convince through sharing, for example.

Question yourself!

Why is this type of content not working? What am I looking for?

Your goal on Instagram is not necessarily to maximize your number of followers, but rather to increase your number of potential prospects, customers and partners.

Is it essential to have a large number of subscribers? Wouldn't partnerships be a better way to quantify your success?

Set yourself a goal. This can be for example to have more visitors on my website.

Engagement is measured by your number of followers and their interactions with you and your posts. Simply put, it's the percentage of your followers who will engage with your posts in a meaningful way. Clearly, it is your most loyal subscribers who will increase this rate. You know, those who re-share, who save, who comment, who like, well, that's exactly the type of subscribers you need to win.

Depending on the importance of this rate, you will be more or less highlighted with the hashtags.

That's why having a supportive community on Instagram is so important. Pamper and pamper it, take care of it.

Additionally, we've found that if someone regularly likes your photos, your posts will tend to go to the top of their news feed.

As you will have understood, hashtags are therefore of paramount importance. Ignoring hashtags is not a strategy to consider. Choosing the right hashtags will increase your visibility.

Hashtags allow you to sort through posts. Instagram uses Machine Learning, this algorithm classifies photos based on their hashtags. It will classify the images in order to better list them. If your image is relevant and has a direct link to the hashtag, it will be pushed to the top of the hashtag page.

The friendly advice we could give you to tame the Instagram algorithm is to use all the types of formats offered. We tend to only use photography. But at a time when TikTok has appeared and is starting to make Instagram old-fashioned, it has made the decision to boost its content.

In creating its new concept of Reels, Instagram was strongly inspired by TikTok and is leading it tough competition. Your position ? In the middle of this standoff between the 2 giants of social networks. In order to prevent your page from becoming obsolete, we recommend that you use them. Diversified content will increase your chances of visibility. 

Sharing a Reels will triple your chances of being seen

The Reels may be visible in the Reels tab of the news feed dedicated to it, but also in two places of your news feed, on the homepage with all the rest of your content and on the Reels tab. So, you will understand, posting a Real can really boost your views.

Accounts using multiple formats are more likely to be seen. In this way, the Instagram algorithm will favor you.

Understanding the Instagram algorithm is something quite perilous, as changes are frequent and not clearly stated. It's through testing that we understand what works and what doesn't.

Now you have all the keys to being visible on Instagram, all you have to do is use them and grow in peace… until the next changes!