Outsmart the Instagram Algorithm Like a Boss

65% of the world's population are visual learners, which means they need to see information to remember it. This is probably why Instagram is a crowd favorite. 

Instagram is proven to be one of the best platforms to engage users. This is why many businesses prefer to use it over Facebook to promote their products and services and generate leads. 

In fact, Instagram generates 23% more engagement compared to Facebook. And 50% of Instagram users are more interested in a brand when they air ads on Instagram. 

The data above shows that if you want to drive more engagement and reach out to new customers, you should definitely include Instagram as a part of your business' internet marketing in Miami. 

However, we've seen complaints all over the internet that their engagement rates on Instagram are declining. Some have even complained about their accounts getting deleted or blocked. 

What exactly is going on with Instagram's algorithm?

See, the majority of the algorithm changes made on the platform were never really publicized. But don't worry, just because you don't know how Instagram's algorithm exactly works doesn't mean you can't do anything to get your engagements up again. 

In this article, we will share seven strategies you can use to beat Instagram's algorithm and restore your business Instagram account to its former glory.

Without further ado, let's get started!

How to Outsmart the Instagram Algorithm Like a Boss?

Make Use of Cross-Promotion

The Instagram algorithm works so that posts with high interaction rates appear first in a user's feed. The performance of a post is determined during the first hour. 

The more likes or comments it gets, the more it's going to show up on your followers' feeds. So, your goal should be to get as many engagements as you can within the first hour of posting.  

To do this, you need to figure out what time most of your followers or target audience are active on the platform. You should post during this time and then share your post on other social platforms, such as Facebook. 

You can even send links to your friends and family and ask them to like your post. 

Localize Your Hashtags

Hashtags can do wonders for your post. Not only will using the right hashtag increase your post's visibility by up to 3x, but it can also drive quality leads to your page, mainly if you localize them. 

Ideally, you want to use branded hashtags to make it easier for users to organize and sort out your posts. 

You also want to use keywords that your target audience will likely use if they search for your products or services on Instagram as your hashtag. Too many hashtags can look spammy and annoying, so make sure to only use relevant ones. 

To find out which hashtags to use for your posts, here are some tips you should consider:

• Monitor your competitor's accounts and social media influencers' accounts to see what hashtags they're using and which of them drive the most engagement
• Find out which hashtags are trending by using RiteTag
• ‍Add your location to your hashtags. For example, #veganfriendlybagsFlorida
• Use a social media listening tool to find out which hashtags are appropriate to use for every social channel you're on
• Use related hashtags
• Look back on your previous posts and analyze which hashtag drove the most engagements

If you look at the most popular tags, such as #love, #sunset, and #cute, you'll notice that the images displayed vary every few seconds. Choose more specific hashtags to target users who are looking for what you have to offer. 

Make a point of changing your hashtags regularly. Otherwise, you risk being marked as a spammer, which will limit the visibility of your posts. This should go without saying, but you should avoid using irrelevant hashtags.

Users can (and will) complain about your posts if they are not related to the hashtags they follow, which can limit the reach of your account. So, please avoid doing this. 

Be Sociable

Your job on social media isn't just to post, post, and post. You should also engage with other accounts, like additional pictures, reply to your followers' comments on your posts, and whatnot. 

Socially active accounts tend to appear at the top of the feed. So, take the time to respond to comments left on your posts. Set aside some time each day to engage with your followers by liking the photos they tagged you in, commenting on posts, and sharing posts on your IG Story. 

Just a warning, while it may be tempting, you should never utilize bots. Not only is it an obvious turnoff for your audience, but Instagram will penalize your account if any questionable activity is detected.

Upload Videos

You want to keep users engaged on your posts for as long as possible. To do this, you want to either write a long caption or post a video. You can also assign multiple pictures in one post to keep users sliding and checking out each photo. 

The longer a user engages with your post, the more Instagram's algorithm will think that your content is worthy of appearing on more of your target audience's feed. 

Experiment with different sorts of content to see which ones work best for your audience. Great content includes:

• a brief video clip
• a carousel with a complete panorama
• a background about the photo

Create More IG Stories

Did you know that more than 500 million users use Instagram stories each day? People love stories because they're short, sweet, and highly engaging, which captures their attention. 

Although stories do not impact the visibility of your posts, they do help in keeping your followers engaged. They're a great way to promote time-sensitive offers, behind-the-scenes clips of an upcoming product launch, and feature user-generated posts!

Explore the Live Stream Feature

Live videos can be thought of as a more community-focused version of Instagram stories. They are displayed first in the stories stream, and followers are notified as soon as you go live.

Viewers can leave comments in real-time, making live broadcasts a unique venue for engaging your audience.

It would help if you chose a topic that your fans will enjoy, such as a tutorial, a Q&A session, or a sneak peek at your current product. 

You can use this live feature to get the feedback of your customers and audience about your products or services. It's also a great avenue to generate new ideas and concepts that you haven't thought of before. 

Analyze Your Metrics

The only way to improve is to understand how you're currently performing and which areas you need to work on. Keep an eye on Instagram analytics to understand what works best for your business and how to refine your social media strategy to impress your audience.

However, don't focus too much on vanity metrics, such as your number of followers or the views on your promotional videos. Vanity metrics may appear impressive on the surface, but they don't really translate to actual business results. Instead, you want to focus on actionable metrics, such as impressions and conversions. 

Bear in mind that social media is a tool to help you expand your business. So, make the most of the tools it provides you, and focus on critical actionable metrics. 

Use Social Media to Boost Your Internet Marketing in Miami

Instagram is an essential tool for any business that wants to succeed online. That's why you should include it in your internet marketing Miami! 

Try the tips we shared with you above if your posts are no longer getting as many engagements as they used to! At Digital Resource, we can help your social media marketing get back on track! Our team of social media experts can get your business in front of your target audience, generate quality leads, and help your business make more sales! 

Internet marketing in Miami is challenging, but you'll have peace of mind knowing that you're working with a highly skilled and trustworthy team of digital marketing experts! 

Learn more about our digital marketing services and contact us today for a free consultation