Secrets To Beating The Instagram Algorithm In 2024: Expand Your Follower Base

This Instagram algorithm determines who gets an audience and who doesn’t on the platform. Once you know, the system plays the key to the gate to the followers and the attention they bring. Eliminate the algorithm; no matter how good or popular your content is, your account will be fated for failure.

In 2024, here’s how the algorithm works in Instagram. There is not one, but “a combination of multiple algorithms, classifiers, and processes that exist at Instagram.”

At the start, Instagram only allowed users to share pictures in a feed based on the time. Now, the app’s Feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore sections have their own algorithm to assist people with content.

Here’s what Instagram looks at for different aspects of the platform.

Instagram Algorithm for Reels

The biggest change in Instagram in 2024 is they are doubling down on Instagram Reels. And if you pay no attention to Reels, you definitely lose your account.

IGTV is no longer extant; therefore, you can no longer do horizontal or long-form videos, as Instagram values short-form videos above everything else. To shift your content production process to maximize the Reels algorithm, here’s what you need to do:

• Ensure all video content is cropped to 9:16.
• Videos should be within 30sec – 90sec.
• Make content as fast, arresting, and entertaining as possible.

It demotes videos that contain very visible content re-used from TikTok or videos that are low resolution. Instagram loves Reels, which get likes, comments, shares, and views. It also counts when users download videos or add Reels to Stories.

What Engagement Metrics Are Important for the Algorithm?

But if you have a business account – which you should – there are many metrics to glean. However, that does not always mean that every value is important to the algorithms. Insta focused on double taps and followed a while ago, but with pay-for followers and bots, they started serving more organic engagement on the Explore page and feed.

Also, do not forget that the algorithm affects content so that users spend more time on the platform. So here are the three main engagement metrics you should optimize for your Instagram account:

Shares: Are your viewers forwarding it to their friends and those returning to the platform?

Saves: Is your audience bookmarking possible content to read or interact with at a later time?

Comments: Can you capture your audience and elicit responses in the comment section of your content?

Likes: The first engagement rate for IG…double taps are still relevant.

Retention: For how long are consumers engaging with your video content? Are they ‘filling in’ the video?

Explore the Feed Algorithm of Instagram

The Explore tab allows people to find new content that might interest the user. For this reason, most of the images and videos you come across are of people you do not follow when you open the app. You might get one or two of your daily feed posts and the rest from the remaining minority.

Instagram also says, “The most important actions we expect people to take in Explore are likes, saves, and shares.” The Explore algorithm also considers other factors:

Who’s Posting the Content: Is the profile an account that many of your friends subscribe to? Have you ever messaged with them in some form (through the Explore page or through Reels not having the option to follow)

Information About the Post: Is the target persona engaging with other users through a rapid search, liking, commenting, and sharing such content? Is it recent and timely? Which users have enjoyed this post? What other forms of content do they often consume?

It simply gives the users what they want to see, and they get to manage this with every interaction they have on our application.