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Fewer things irritate me more than Instagram right now. Their STUPID ALGORITHM is driving not just me, but every other influencer, insane! Instead of allowing smaller creators to grow, it rewards companies who pay to get their posts seen. Our posts are hidden because Instagram has turned into a machine that just wants to make money.
The other day, I hit 1.4 thousand followers. It was so surreal to see my follower count to hit 1.4 and then grow 15 above that! But then, the next day, I lost 35 followers. In less than 24 hours. Why? Because Instagram is the worst.
And it is so disappointing because Instagram is one of the first social media platforms that I used, and I loved. I love that it is such a visual platform, you can be super creative with it and it is a great way to monitor your content and see how people are responding to it.
So, instead of completely writing off Instagram, I decided to do a little research and make a plan of how to overcome it! Read my tips below…
Tweed Jacket: Zara (similar)
Bodysuit: American Apparel (similar)
Skort: Forever 21
Heels: Alberta Ferretti
Bag: Valentino
1. Post consistently
This is one of the things that has really helped me grow my account, but also keep the followers that I do gain. People want to make sure they can count on you to post, and post good content.
2. Post at the same time each day
This kind of goes along with #1, but again, your followers want to be able to depend on you. If you are posting randomly each day, they don’t know when they should look at your account. The Instagram algorithm is a machine, and machines do well with a routine. So, if you post at the same time each day, your posts will be further up in the algorithm than an account who posts sporadically.
KEY TIP: I recommend posting at night, after 10pm. When I posted at 7pm, I only got 50 likes. Yep, that’s more than 150 less than I do when I post late at night!
3. Use hashtags, but be careful which ones
Gone are the days that you can use #instadaily #f4f and #wiw. These hashtags are so generic, and they might even cause Instagram to hide your posts. These hashtags are used by spam accounts, and if you use them too much, or on photos that they aren’t relevant to, Instagram will pick up on this and hide your posts even more. In addition to that, these hashtags are super saturated. If you use one’s that are more specific, and tailored to your content, more people will see your post in that hashtag!
4. Use insta story & tell your followers you posted
Another one of the things that I did that really helped grow my account was using Insta Story. It is a sad, but true, fact that people are more likely to watch your insta story than click on your profile- so use that to your advantage! Be sure to post multiple times a day so your account comes up in their story list. It is a gentle reminder that your profile is there. And, this also helps with the whole hidden post thing. If you post on your insta story and tell your followers that you posted on your feed, people may click on your profile to see the image!
Also, Instagram wants to reward their users who use ALL of their features. This includes insta story and their LIVE feature.
5. Do not re-edit your post
This is a new one that I found out, and it actually is true. If you go back in and edit your post in any way after initially posting it, the algorithm treats it as a new post and places it in the order a different way. Double check that your caption is right, the location is set and that you tagged everything you needed to before you post. That way Instagram only moves your post once, not twice.
6. Use all 20 of your tags
I always tag 20 accounts on each of my photos. This not only increases your chance of being reposted, but it increases the number of eyes on your photo by 30%. Tag the brands you are wearing, the photographer, shoutout accounts (like ootd magazine) and any affiliate networks you are part of!
So Instagram, if you are reading this, I’m going to outsmart you. Take my word and the words of the millions of people complaining about your platform and CHANGE YOUR STUPID ALGORITHM!!!
xoxo Gabriela
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