The Instagram algorithm in 2024 is the gatekeeper to success on the platform. Master the algorithm, and you’ll unlock access to more followers and higher engagement. Ignore the algorithm, and your account could be doomed to obscurity—regardless of your content’s good or wanted.
How the Instagram Works in 2024
There’s not a single Instagram algorithm in 2024 at play—there are “a variety of algorithms, classifiers, and processes, each with its purpose.”
In the beginning, Instagram just featured images chronologically. Now, each part of the app (Feed, Stories, Reels, Explore) uses its algorithm to help people find content.
Here’s what the Instagram algorithm in 2024 considers for different parts of the platform.
Algorithm in 2024 for Reels
INSTAGRAM ALGORITHM
The most important update to Instagram in 2024 is that they’re going all-in on Instagram Reels. If you’re not focusing on reels, then you’re losing your account.
IGTV is dead, meaning you can’t use horizontal or long-form video because Instagram is prioritizing the short-form video format above all 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 anywhere from 30 seconds to 90 seconds.
- Optimize content to be quick, engaging, and entertaining.
Instagram for Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories operates similarly to the Feed. Besides ads, the content you see in Stories is from those you already follow, not new accounts. However, you can’t like or comment on Stories, so Instagram uses different signals:
- Direct Messages (DMs): Does a user view your story and respond?
- Profile Clicks: Does a user click your profile to see more of your content after watching a story?
- Finish or Skipped: Did your user watch your stories in their entirety, or did they get bored and skip to the next one?
Users turning on notifications for your Stories or sharing a story with their friends (or on their own Stories) will also impact the performance of your content.
All these actions are signals that impact whether the algorithm will give preference to your content. Create engaging content that’s going to get your users to do something the algorithm likes. Experiment with surveys, stickers, and Q&As to get your followers to take action on your content.
Instagram Algorithm in 2024 for the Feed
You’ll mostly only see content from those you already follow here, and that’s the first significant algorithm nuance. When you’re on the Explore or Reels tab, content from your friends and family isn’t going to be prioritized. Sure, it’ll be there, but other factors will carry more considerable weight.
Next, the Feed’s algorithm looks at a few other signals to determine what gets preference at the top:
- Who Made the Post: Is it someone you engage with often? Do they have a large, engaged following? Do they typically produce great content?
- Information About the Post: Is the content an image or a video? If it’s a video, how long is it? What time of day was it posted? Are you viewing the content on your phone or desktop? Is there a location attached to the post?
- Your Activity: What type of content have you looked at and engaged with in the past? What are the chances you’ll leave a comment?
Instagram Algorithm for Explore
The Explore tab is where users go to find brand-new content that’s relevant to their interests. Because of this, you’ll find that almost all of the images and videos you see are from accounts that you don’t follow yet.. You might see a post or 2 now and then from accounts you follow, but those fall into the minority.
Instagram algorithm in 2024 says, “the most important actions we predict in Explore include likes, saves, and shares.” The Explore algorithm also considers other factors:
- Who’s Posting the Content: Is the profile an account that several of your friends follow? Have you interacted with them before (through the Explore page or Reels) but not followed them yet?
- Information About the Post: Are other users quickly finding, liking, commenting, and sharing this content? Is it recent and timely? Which users have liked this post? What other kinds of content do they typically engage with?
- Your Activity: Have you interacted with similar content in the past? Do you typically save this kind of content or share it to your Stories?
Instagram’s algorithm is trying to predict your interests. For example, if you follow Manchester United and like their content, the platform might try to show you other football clubs. Or, the platform might think you’re generally interested in sports, and they may try to show you basketball or baseball videos.
If you like those suggestions, they’ll keep showing you more of that content. If you don’t, they’ll move on and try to find something else that’ll keep you engaged.
What Engagement Metrics Matter for the Algorithm?
If you have a business account (which you should), plenty of metrics are at your fingertips. However, that doesn’t mean each data point matters to the algorithm. Back in the day, it was all about double taps and follows, but with the rise of pay for followers and bots, Instagram decided to reward content on the Explore page and feed based on more authentic interactions.
And remember, the algorithm rewards content so people stay on the platform longer. So here are the three main engagement metrics you should optimize for your Instagram account:
- Shares: Are people sharing your content with friends and followers that bring them back to the platform?
- Saves: Are your followers saving your content to view or engage with later?
- Comments: Is your content provoking conversation and reaction in the comment section?
- Likes: The original engagement metric for IG…double taps still reign.
- Retention: How long are people watching your video content? Are they completing the video?
For more information: https://viralenews.com/
