INSTAGRAM ALGORITHM CHANGES AND POST ENGAGEMENT

In my last post, I went through the new search rules being made with Google's search algorithm. Since this past January, Instagram has now set new changes in place with their algorithm, also. In order to not get shadow banned, (banned from your account--without your knowledge), please abide by these new rules!

1. When posting, your post might only be shown to 10% of your audience.
When the algorithm searches your post and sees active intervention, it will then increase your audience viewers. So, if you have one post with a lot of likes and comments right when you post it, your post will then be exposed to the other 90% of your audience.

Also, a good thing to do would be to answer any comments within one hour in order to increase the percentage.

Please Note: Emoji comments and comments three words or less do not count as comments. They have to be 4 or more words.

2. Illegal groups on Instagram.

One of the reasons for this sudden change with Instagram is because last year people started forming PODS (people in groups that agree to increase each other's posts with engagement)-- which happened as soon as a member announced they had a new post. The others in the group then go to it and like and comment on it. Because of this underhandedness, numerous people were getting shadow banned.

3. Business accounts.

If you're creating a post about your business, you now must have a special business account. This is actually a good thing because when you have a business account, you will be able to check additional stats and other features.

4. Stories.

Posting stories is the best way to rate. Stories that engage your audience and are well thought out are the most likely to get a higher percentage exposed to your posts.

5. Captions. (Hashtags).

You know how you are able to include up to 30 hashtags at the bottom of your post? Well, now it is considered SPAM! They are suggesting only 5 are to be used. Also, DO NOT put the hashtags at the end or bottom of your post. You are now required to place them within your text (story). If they're listed at the bottom, they won't be included in the searches and will be useless.

Don't use the SAME hashtags over and over again. If you do, you will look like a bot and will be considered SPAM--which can lead to shadow banning. Choose longtail hashtags instead--(more than one word or a phrase) to change your hashtags up.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EDIT YOUR POST AFTER YOU'VE POSTED IT! It will lessen your changes of being seen!

Lastly, you will now be able to follow hashtags, so random people may turn up on your profile to request to befriend you.

With all this said, Instagram's newest search algorithm is definitely more strict. There are always those who will abuse platforms on Social Media and there will always be tighter rules because of it.

Happy posting!
Erin :)!