How the Instagram algorithm works in 2018

Il new Instagram algorithm 2018 has brought a bit of turmoil within the social network, confusing the cards on those who are methods to get more followers. 

This year, in fact, the new Instagram algorithm seems to make it even more difficult to view your published photos. Moreover, there seems to be no intention to return to the feed in chronological order, an alternative very welcome to users but opposed by the development team.

So, the question of the day is this: how much will the new Instagram 2018 algorithm impact on the use we make of the social network? In this article we will analyze the answers to this question, trying to propose them in the simplest possible way.

How does the Instagram 2018 algorithm work?

There is no doubt that Instagram posts are no longer getting the follower exposure we were used to. In fact, with the new Instagram algorithm 2018, estimates say that only 10% of followers actually view what we publish.

This can become a very unpleasant situation, especially for those who cannot see the posts of friends and relatives, or even more frustrating for those who invest their time on social networks, such as companies and influencers. So let's focus on what we know about the new Instagram 2018 algorithm.

To clarify this topic even more, before reading this article, we recommend that you carefully watch this video.

Engagement: one word, many results

From the moment there was the change of the feed based on the chronological order of the posts, we know for sure that the Instagram algorithm is mainly based on engagement. This word literally means the degree of involvement that a certain content arouses in users.

So, when a place receives lots of likes and comments, it is a symptom of the fact that the new Instagram algorithm is rewarding your content, considering it quality and able to satisfy other users.

Instagram itself has defined this new method as the possibility for users to improve their experience, prioritizing the most important moments, which they care most about. Now let's see some tricks and tips to take advantage of the new Instagram 2018 algorithm.

1. Use Instagram Stories more

Instagram Stories are one of the best ways to stay in touch with your followers. In fact, this year too, we can expect this type of communication to continue to dominate the scene and to be a key point of Instagram's marketing strategy.

Le Instagram stories in fact, they can rely on more than 300 million of active users on a daily basis, many of these public figures who bring with them many followers.

It is therefore no wonder that many users decide to use stories more, sometimes leaving out the more classic feed: the new algorithm in fact, takes into account the interactions you receive through your timed posts, such as responses or views. .

Precisely for this reason it is necessary to make the most of this possibility, perhaps inserting gods surveys, or the swipe up to view a particular link, even if this function is only open to users with more than 10 thousand followers.

2. Interact with your followers

It is now clear that, if you interact with your followers, the new Instagram 2018 algorithm will reward your work. If before, in fact, popularity was based on different factors, now, to a large extent, it depends on yours degree of engagement.

This year it will therefore be more important than ever to stay in touch with other users, in order to grow your audience and retain users who already follow you. So concentrate, in addition to the likes, on the comments.

In fact, leaving the right sentence under a person's post will increase your visibility and increase the likelihood that this user will do the same with you. Of course, the time to spend on the social network in this case increases, but if it is your interest to cultivate the profile, we strongly advise you to follow our advice.

3. Space for speed

Not only does the new Instagram 2018 algorithm analyze your degree of engagement, it also cares about how fast interactions take place.

If your posts are receiving comments and likes in a very short time, this is a sign that you are on the right track. These contents are in fact rewarded by the social network, with a visibility that normal contents usually do not receive.

Speaking of this technique, it is essential to understand the right moments in which it is possible to publish a post. To help you and receive truly comprehensive statistics, the best way is to create a corporate Instagram account. 

You will thus have the possibility to access complete and easy to read data, which will inform you about the habits of your audience.

3. More importance to the residence time

The Instagram 2018 algorithm has conformed to what is Facebook's policy regarding the time a user stays on your posts. The seconds that people use to view your photos or videos are one of the factors that determine the popularity of your images.

To increase the time spent, our advice is to take full advantage of the captions, in order to encourage users to interact with you and leave a like, a comment.

4. Optimize hashtags

Using hashtags always remains one of the fundamental requirements to be successful on Instagram. With the algorithm change this year, this prerogative has become even more important.

In fact, it is no longer enough to use generic hashtags, the like-catching ones that users like so much. Instagram now awards those most related to the content you publish, without overdoing the issue. It is no longer necessary to use all 30 hashtags granted, now too 15 can make a difference.

So try to always choose hashtags linked directly to your posts and, if you can, keep a publication line that is more or less stable. In this way you will attract more and more followers interested in your images

5. Authenticity is rewarded

Although the major updates to the Instagram 2018 algorithm are now in the public domain, the social network continues to work on even minor aspects to become even smarter.

You may have noticed that often, some comments seem generic and out of place to say the least. This is because they are often published by bot Instagram, tools that allow you to automate most of the interactions, but making them unrealistic.

To overcome this problem and not incur penalties due to poor engagement, it is necessary to maintain a constant relationship with your followers. Plus, to try to get them to interact, try to use captions whether they are nice or perhaps include a question that users are prompted to answer here.

6. Use all the functions of Instagram

To improve your interactions with Instagram users it is highly recommended to use all functions that the social network makes available to you.

In fact, Instagram continues to launch new features every month, giving users the opportunity to use new and extravagant ways of communication. The most interesting of the moment are certainly the GIF and the new mode text, which allows you to publish a text, with an improved and personalized layout.

Other interesting articles and conclusions

Did you understand then? The new Instagram algorithm 2018 disrupts the normal use of the social network that you used to do. Do not worry, however, as we have seen in this guide, the methods to exploit these changes to our advantage are there and are important.

In the meantime, if you want to know even more about all the features offered by Instagram, we recommend that you take a look at these articles.

Finally, we remind you that you can contact us for other questions or problems that you are unable to solve. The easiest way to use is through the comments box below or through ours Facebook page ..