Instagram remains a valuable social media platform for beauty entrepreneurs, but that’s slowly changing.
It used to be the perfect social media channel to highlight your masterpieces and gather tons of followers and potential customers. However, the platform is changing, and new algorithm rules are affecting how posts reach their intended audience.
If you’ve noticed your posts getting fewer and fewer likes and comments, you’re not alone. It is a dilemma experienced by many small business owners who’ve reported declining engagement despite regularly posting content.
There’s a Change.org petition that asks Meta, the company behind Instagram, to bring back the platform to its original intent. Over 300,000 users have signed asking Instagram to return to its old algorithm. However, even though they have stalled some updates, Instagram executives are adamant that the app has to change and adapt to the changing times.
With that said, staying on top of the latest Instagram algorithm changes is crucial if you want to thrive on the platform. Here are the important 2023 Instagram updates you need to know.
2023 Instagram Algorithm for Reels
There’s no single Instagram algorithm that you need to hack. Instagram has different types of “pages,” each with its algorithms. Reels is Instagram’s most significant update recently, which is their bid to rival the growth of TikTok.
Reels are short-form portrait videos that are 30 seconds or less. Technically, you can create longer reels, but the platform prioritizes shorter ones.
To ensure the Instagram algorithm picks up your Reels, follow these tips:
- Crop videos to a 9:16 aspect ratio.
- Keep videos under 30 seconds long.
- Use trending music provided by Instagram.
- Put text or an on-screen caption that describes your video and helps viewers understand your content even if they have audio turned off.
- Create quick, entertaining, and engaging content.
- Avoid videos with watermarks, such as TikTok’s logo.
- Encourage viewers to Like or Comment on the video.
When creating any video content, it’s essential to start with a captivating hook that entices viewers to watch the video until the end. Remember that people are scrolling continuously on their feeds, and you need to capture their attention.
You should also create a lot of Reels and post them consistently. Make bite-sized content that viewers will find informative such as beauty hacks, tutorials, product and services reviews.
2023 Instagram Algorithm for Feeds
Another significant component of the Instagram app is the Feed or Home Page, where posts like photos and stories appear. Users will see content primarily from people they follow, plus the occasional ads, on their Feeds.
Feeds contain a mix of reels, photos (single images and carousels), and Stories. You want your audience to follow your account so that content will appear on their Feeds.
On the Reels and Explore tabs, content from strangers is prioritized, but on the Feeds page, content from people you follow is the hero.
Here are tips to ensure you appear at the top of people’s feeds:
- Get your audience to follow your account and comment on your posts
- Add information about your post, such as an alt text that describes what it is
- When posting images, use engaging carousels that start with a hook and tell a captivating story
- Add location tags if applicable
- Post consistently but not too often since Instagram avoids showing successive posts from a single person
- When posting Stories, encourage engagement through polls, questions, and quiz stickers
Also, only post original high-quality videos and photos (avoid blurry images) and follow Instagram’s Community Guidelines. The Feeds algorithm always prioritizes excellent original content.
2023 Instagram Algorithm for Explore
The Explore tab delivers content that it thinks a user will like or find interesting. The content displayed here is based on your past interactions with similar posts. From the word itself, the Explore page helps you find new accounts and is the complete opposite of the Feeds tab.
To get your content featured on Explore, you should always encourage your audience to interact with your posts. Likes and shares will go a long way in increasing the engagement signals of your content.
Other tips you can follow are:
- Use relevant hashtags in your captions
- Add keywords that describe your content
- Include as much information as you can about the post
It’s Time to Thrive on Instagram
It can feel frustrating posting on Instagram and seeing dismal engagement. After all, you put much effort into your post and rely on it to drive traffic to your business. By understanding the 2023 Instagram algorithm changes and how to beat them, you can increase the reach of your posts.
With the tips above, you’d soon increase your followers, drive more engagements, and have an influx of leads.
Keep in mind that any social media platform, like Instagram, is built to drive social engagement among its users. Posting consistent original, high-quality content will be the ultimate key to your Instagram [marketing success].