How to Crack the Instagram Reels Algorithm

June 13, 2022

Since 2020, Instagram Reels has been TikTok's most viable competitor. With Instagram Reels receiving 22% more engagement than videos that appear as normal Instagram posts, Reels are a valuable tool to attract users to your brand. You may now be wondering, “How do I make the most out of my company’s Instagram Reels?” Here are some hacks to make sure your Reels rise to the top of users’ feeds.

The Algorithm

In the same way that posts appear on your Instagram Feed, Reels will not only show videos from accounts that you follow but also from suggested accounts that you do not follow. These may be selected for you for various reasons. The first reason is that you and that user are related in some way. This could be through direct messaging or having a mutual following section. Your affinities will also come into play when videos are selected for your feed. Do you interact with content from the NBA and NCAA Basketball? Then Reels may suggest videos of basketball trickshots and game highlights. The final piece that Instagram Reels takes into consideration are the video’s age and popularity. Newer and more popular Reels will appear at the top of your Reels feed.

Now that you have an idea of how the algorithm works, let’s look at a few ways to adapt to it:

Developing Content

Video content is the core of your Reel. If your Reel is unamusing or not engaging for users, then it will sink to the bottom of the feed. To ensure that this doesn’t occur, try to make your content relevant and personable. According to Google, about 90% of viewers see this type of content as engaging. Another way to create content is by looking at some of your past posts. Instagram offers in-app analytics like the number of plays and likes. Find your video with the most likes and build off of the strategies that were used in that Reel. To really sell your content, make sure it is visually appealing and has an appropriate duration.

Audio

Similar to TikTok, videos that use trending sounds are more likely to receive more engagement than those that don’t. For instance, “Somebody to You” by The Vamps and Demi Lovato has become one of the most popular audios for graduation season videos, according to Instagram’s @creators account. To avoid copyright infringement, it is best to use audio clips directly from Instagram’s audio library. Be sure to do your research before selecting background music for your Reel!

Captions

Hashtags are your key to getting discovered on the Reels page. Not only will they allow your post to appear in searches using keywords that appear in your hashtags, but it will also share your Reel to the feeds of those who follow those hashtags. This is a great way to target individuals based on their interests.

Social media and digital marketing are continuing to thrive, so Instagram Reels could serve as a valuable asset in your company’s marketing efforts. The best part is that Instagram Reels are low cost and easy to produce. Get up and get filming today!

Looking to develop your brand’s marketing strategy? Contact the SparkShoppe team today!

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