Are you curious about how to go around Instagram’s algorithm when everyone else is doing the same? It takes a little bit of luck, a lot of excellent material, and some knowledge of Instagram’s inner workings to hack the system.

We’ll discuss several little-known tips in this article that can significantly impact your reach and engagement.

Sometimes it’s simply not enough to post awesome content on Instagram. Let’s talk about ways you can hack the algorithm and (hopefully) get your first big break.

1. Stop recycling your content

We know you’re busy. And we know it’s so easy to cross-promote the same content across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and the like. But the Instagram algorithm combs the platform for recycled content, and deprioritizes it. Original content on Instagram should be your focus. Although, you can cross-promote if you remove watermarks (like TikTok’s).

Luckily, you can easily create video content for any social platform in the Mojo app. In just a few taps, you can optimize a post for TikTok, another for Instagram and another for YouTube.  

2. Go vertical 

Make sure you are always shooting your Instagram Reels vertically – and using a 9:16 size. In the Mojo app, we’ve got that covered when you select a Reels format.

If you mistakenly shoot something horizontal, we suggest you reshoot. The Instagram algorithm won’t appreciate it.

3. Keep your text ASAP

In this case, ASAP means “as short as possible.” Remember: Instagram is the land of visual content. 

If your Reels or posts contain too much text over the visual component, your post will get deprioritized. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your words only take up about one-fifth of the image.

4. Match your hashtags and content

We’re all guilty of stashing popular Instagram hashtags away in a note on our phone. Then, we copy and paste them into every Reel we create. And it’s no surprise. The thought process is, “These hashtags work, so I should use them all the time.”

The problem with this copy-and-paste method is that your saved hashtags may not be relevant to your video. And since hashtags land your Reels into specific filters, you’ll want your hashtags to match your content.

Here’s an example…

Say you made a new Reel about your 5 favorite children’s books. You use the hashtags #toddlermom, #booksforkids and #puppies (because who doesn’t love puppies). 

Which hashtag isn’t relevant to your content? #puppies. 

Users on Instagram who are searching for #puppies (or who tend to interact with puppy content) may come across your video and immediately swipe away. The Instagram algorithm thinks that puppy people don’t like what you posted, and it’ll be deprioritized.

Read Also: Harnessing the Power of TikTok Influencers: Transforming Your Brand’s Revenue

Make sure all your hashtags closely match the individual Reel.

5. Remind viewers to comment

The Instagram algorithm wants to see your Reel get engagement, especially in the form of comments. And no, spam and bot comments don’t count. While you can’t hack the Instagram algorithm with a bunch of comments created by you, you can encourage your viewers to comment. 

How can you do that without seeming desperate? Here are a few ideas about what you can do in your video to inspire more comments:

• Ask a question to viewers
• Talk about something “controversial” (like “pineapple on pizza or not?”)
• Host a prize drawing if people leave a comment or tag friends
• Use your Reel as a place to talk about a subject 
• Quiz your viewers 

6. Get viewers to save your post

When someone saves your post, the Instagram algorithm believes that it was useful to the viewer. 

Just like with comments, how do you get someone to save your video without sounding desperate? There are plenty of ways to inspire someone to save your video. Here are some ideas:

• Create an educational video
• Do a “how-to” process
• Be inspiring (like #hairgoals)
• Add a “save this Reel” CTA
• Start an Instagram challenge (with instructions laid out in your video) 

7. Start with excitement

Hacking the Instagram algorithm also requires people to actually view your video. In general, the more time someone spends on your video, the more the Instagram algorithm thinks it’s something worth watching. 

It’s really a matter of what the video is about and how you organize it. 

That’s why it can be beneficial to give a glimpse of the final product at the start of the video – before you dive into how you got there. 

Another strategy is to start your Reel with the most “exciting part” in the first several seconds. This is an old-time marketing hack that starts the “storyline” at the climax. It avoids a long, slow build up. 

For example: You’re doing a Reel about a new sports car. Instead of showing off all the cool features in slow-mo, start your video with the car zooming by. This high-action intro will get people interested and keep them watching.

8. Funnel them to your profile

If you go viral on Instagram for one of your videos, great. But you’ll want to funnel all that new traffic towards your profile so that you can hit it big again and again. 

You’ll gain attention from the Instagram algorithm if people watch your Reels and then click into your profile. That tells the algorithm that you’re not just a one-hit wonder. Here are video ideas on how to funnel people to your profile:

• Use a CTA that encourages them to follow you
• Say that you have more content “like this” on your profile
• Tease other videos in your current video
• Do a giveaway if viewers complete a “scavenger hunt” within your previous posts
• Collaborate with influencers or other accounts
• Split the content of your videos into “part 1” and “part 2”

9. Keep your old stuff, if it’s good

When trying to go viral on Instagram, people are quick to delete previous content. 

Posting on Instagram is a learning curve, so don’t be afraid to keep your “pretty good” stuff up there. It’ll help you look more established, and give the Instagram algorithm something to index in the analysis of your account. 

We suggest going through old content and deleting anything that is off-brand. Also, if you have cringeworthy content, get rid of that too. 

Some “oldie but goodie” content includes:

• Content that got higher engagement
• Content that educates
• Content that fits your niche
• Content that was done in collaboration with someone else

10. Use auto captions

In the Mojo app, you can automatically generate auto captions in your videos. All you have to do is add your video, and the app will instantly create the captions. They encourage all users to use auto captions in their videos. It’s a great way to cater to people who are hard of hearing or who need the additional written text to retain the information. 

Auto captions let you reach people who can’t listen with audio at the moment. 

This will help your video get seen by more people – whether with sound or without. And if you have a written CTA, you’ll likely get more engagement on it too. The Instagram algorithm will love that.  

What are the Main Factors of the Instagram Algorithm?

Algorithms often change — for example, Google updates its algorithm multiple times per year. But how does Instagram determine what content to deliver?

Instagram algorithm pillar one: Interest

Of course, the content that Instagram serves you is heavily based on interest — that is, the kinds of content and accounts that you interact with traditionally.

But what does “interact” mean? Before we can really talk about the interest pillar of the Instagram algorithm, we’ll have to flesh out what’s included under the umbrella of post interactions. Here are some common interactions:

• Posts you’ve liked
• Posts you’ve commented on
• Posts you’ve shared
• Posts you’ve been tagged in
• People you’ve been tagged by
• People you’ve been tagged with

All these interactions prove your interest in accounts, users, and subject matter, and the Instagram algorithm takes them into account when choosing what content to deliver to you.

If you’re marketing your business on Instagram, there are a few ways you can use this algorithm element to your advantage.

• Create engaging posts that encourage users to like, comment, and share
• Encourage users to tag their friends in the comments of your posts
• Post content often to give users more opportunities to interact with and show interest in your posts

Instagram algorithm pillar two: Relationship

When you follow accounts on Instagram, they likely fall into one of two buckets — accounts that you really enjoy, and accounts that you don’t enjoy as much. For example, accounts that you really enjoy might be your best friends, your hip Instagram mom, groups you’re a part of, etc. Accounts that you don’t enjoy as much might be the fifth-place winner of American Idol in 2012 that you had a crush on, clothing brands, etc.

This information might not seem important, and you might struggle to think about what accounts mean the most to you — but that’s why Instagram does it for you. Instagram’s algorithm looks at the users you interact with most to develop a clear picture of who you’ve got the strongest relationship with — and therefore, whose content you want to see most often. Instagram uses info like who you search for and who you message to determine how close you are with them, serves you their content, and then monitors how you interact with it.

Through trial and error, Instagram eventually learns who you’re closest with, and what content they should serve you.

As you market your business on Instagram, it can be difficult to build a close relationship with your customers, but it is possible. Here are some tips to help you build close relationships with your followers:

• Encourage them to DM you with any questions or issues they might have
• Create posts that encourage users to interact

Instagram algorithm pillar three: Timeliness

When it comes to Instagram’s algorithm, the platform places a lot of emphasis on timeliness. As something that users complained about in the past, Instagram has revised this part of its algorithm to ensure that users see fresh posts. This update means it’s highly unlikely that you’ll see a post weeks, or even days ago.

Instagram’s goal is to ensure that you always see the most up-to-date content in your feed — and that you don’t miss the opportunity to be the first like on your best friend’s engagement post.

Since Instagram likes to serve users with fresh, timely content, consider these tips:

• Determine when your audience uses Instagram, and post your content then. Consider your audience that lives in different time zones and post content to match their peak usage times.
• Post often to give followers more content to interact with

Instagram algorithm pillar four: Frequency

How often do you open the Instagram app? Did you know that your usage frequency plays a part in what you see in your feed? If you feel the need to pop into Instagram every hour, or more, your posts will naturally show up in more chronological order than if you were to use the app less frequently.

That’s thanks to the timeliness pillar of the Instagram algorithm. Since the app wants to show you only the freshest posts, the more often you scroll, the more your content will be ordered by time stamp. If you use your app once a week, your feed will be a combination of the relationship, and interest pillars rather than the most recent content in chronological order.

As an Instagram marketer, you can’t do much when it comes to the frequency pillar.

Some users naturally use the app more, while others use it less frequently. Even if you could encourage users to open the app more frequently, there are too many other algorithm items in play to ensure that your posts would float to the top. It’s better to focus on the algorithm pillars that you can use to your advantage rather than this one.

Instagram algorithm pillar five: Following

If you’re an Instagram user that follows thousands of accounts, chances are you’re always going to see fresh content.

On the other hand, if you follow fewer accounts, you might see repeat content in your feed. It goes without saying that if you want to see more content, follow more accounts.

Like the previous pillar, there isn’t too much you can do about how many users your audience follows. That said, it’s better to focus on the pillars that you can use to your advantage.