Reel Spy Work: Infiltrating the algorithm with Instagram Reels
Understanding how to hack the Instagram Reels algorithm can pay dividends when it comes to growing your profile on the platform. That’s why we’ve conducted some reel spy work to reveal everything you need to know about how to crack your Instagram growth strategy wide open.
Instagram reels explained
Instagram Reels is a feature that you can use to create 15-second clips to share with your followers. The reels feature strikes many similarities with TikTok, and you can search for reels from people you follow, as well as those that are trending from popular accounts.
Reels are the future, as evidenced by the impressive results businesses and followers have seen in recent times. For instance, Later revealed that their engagement rate increased by 500%+ since they embraced reels as part of their strategy. But how do you crack the code? Let’s take a closer look at how the reels algorithm works.
Primarily, the Instagram reels algorithm works by prioritising videos based on what it believes that a viewer will be most likely to interact with. Three crucial signals for the reels algorithm are:
Who?
Who created the posts that you’re interacting with? If you regularly comment, like, or engage with a specific user’s content, their reels are more likely to appear on your feed.
What?
What type of content do you usually engage with? For instance, if your feed is filled with posts about travel, the algorithm will feed you content based on your interests.
When?
Instagram also considers when a specific post has been created and shared. But it also considers how often you scroll through your feed, so it will select what to show you based on your habits.
It’s also crucial to understand that Instagram prioritises quality, original content. It will actively deprioritise content that is recycled or of low quality, so make sure you invest in quality content creation.
The reason for this is that Instagram wants to discourage users from sharing content directly from TikTok with visible watermarks, which makes sense when you consider the fact that they’re in direct competition with one another.
How to create reels content that the algorithm will favour
Now you know the basics, it’s time to put a plan together. Helpfully, Instagram revealed some helpful tips that all content creators can utilise when planning their reel posts. Creators should focus on posts that:
- Are entertaining, fun, and attention-grabbing.
- Are inspiring and potentially trend-setting.
- Utilise a range of creative tools like filters, text, or camera effects.
- Use vertical video (9:16 is ideal).
- Use music from the reels library.
- Are original and experimental.
Equally, you need to make sure that your content is high resolution and meets Instagram’s strict community guidelines.
By following these super simple tips, you have a great chance of cracking the Instagram algorithm and can create killer reels that will boost your engagement figures. Learn more about how Bark’s innovative data-driven approach can help you execute your influencer marketing strategy.
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