Algorithm Breakdown: Why Instagram Is Prioritizing Video Content?

Key Takeaways

• The algorithm for Instagram reels is based on many factors, including account relationship, interests, and post relevancy.
  
• An Instagram account’s feed and stories are composed of the accounts it’s recently followed. They’re modified by factors like the number of likes, when it was posted, location, account popularity, and user activity.
• Instagram’s video algorithm is to help it best compete for users against other platforms like TikTok.
• It can seem like the Instagram algorithm hates you, especially if your content is low-quality or unoriginal. And the best way to change that is through fresh, original content.

If you’ve been trying to build effective Instagram strategies, you must know about the all-mighty Instagram reel algorithm. No matter how attractive your content is, you still have to play by the Instagram algorithm’s rules to stay ahead. 

Read on to learn about why Instagram prioritizes some posts to appear at the top of the feed. And if you’d like, reach out to us to talk about making video content that wins great engagement online.

How Does the Instagram Reel Algorithm Work?

The Instagram algorithm decides the order of the posts you see when scrolling through your news feed. Instagram prioritizes the best posts based on particular signals. For instance, it pushes the most relevant posts to the top and makes them the most visible, while other posts are further pushed down.

Therefore, if you want your brand’s Instagram strategy to stand out, you must consider these three ranking factors:

1. Relationship with the User

Your future content will be most visible to users who interact with you often. This makes repeated, continual engagement on the posts crucial to creating a loyal audience.

2. The Interest Conveyed by the User

This factor is established when users interact with the same accounts and similar posts when exploring Instagram. Other users who also engage with similar posts will probably come across your posts too.

3. The Post’s Relevancy

The Instagram reel algorithm gives a post a relevancy score after you upload it. This score impacts who your post is shown to in the feed.

Instagram Feed and Stories

Your feed and stories are the most recent posts of the accounts you follow on Instagram. Instagram’s reel algorithm modifies the order of those feed posts and stories. Instagram does this based on:

• Basic Information
  

Instagram considers how many likes the post has gotten, the time it was posted, and whether there are location tags on the post.

• Data on the Post’s Account

This factor is all about how popular the account is. The Instagram video algorithm considers this information to weigh the possibility that a user will be interested in this account’s post.

• User Activity

Instagram always knows how many posts you’ve liked, saved, and shared. It uses that information to assume what posts you’ll be interested in.

• User Interaction History with a Specific Account

This factor gauges how often a user lingers on a particular account’s posts, comments on them, saves them, likes them, or visits the account’s profile page.

Why Does it Seem Like “The Instagram Reel Algorithm Hates Me?”

“The algorithm hates me” is a common phrase people use when they see a downturn in engagement or lots of content that doesn’t get engagement. But keep in mind, the Instagram reel algorithm doesn’t have personal feelings (at least not yet). There are a few reasons why you might see a drop in engagement. And, of course, there are solutions to each issue.

Your Content May Be Inconsistent or Low-Quality

The Instagram reel algorithm notices quality. Thoughtless re-gifting of specific content or ineffective hashtags can have a negative effect on visibility on Reels as well. Many advisors will tell you to focus on high-quality content as well as unique and creative short videos, rather than trying to skate by and grow your audience by constantly ‘regifting’ content that is not of your own creation.

Your Content May Not Be Original

Reels will now give priority to original content by disincentivizing aggregator accounts. Many accounts gain a large following by constantly reposting popular Instagram video content, essentially hacking the reel algorithm by grabbing an audience via sheer quantity of posts and reposts, piggybacking on the creativity of other content creators.

Not only will these reposts now contain the original content, which benefits the original creator, but the Instagram reel algorithm will now label reposted content, directing users to the account that initially posted it rather than the account that reposted it.

Instagram Likes Originality

That’s why it’s so important to plan and produce your own content! When you work with 336 Productions, you’ll own all of your own video, and the Instagram algorithm will never punish you like it would for frequent reposts.

Instagram is Competing with Other Social Media Platforms

Instagram is constantly updating its algorithm to entice content creators away from TikTok and other platforms. For the last few years, the fate of TikTok has been up in the air, and many TikTok influencers believe they may need to find another home for their content. And so, Meta’s Instagram algorithm for video, specifically, Reels on Instagram, has been in a state of constant revision to win over influencers on other platforms.

An Opportunity for New Creators

The fact that the new Instagram algorithm changes give priority to original content means that new video content creators on Instagram’s Reels have a lower barrier to entry.

Many have complained publicly about the weighted priority the Instagram reel algorithm gives established accounts with large followings, even if the content is subpar. Changes Instagram has announced have acknowledged and corrected this issue, which they say will give “all creators an equal chance” at success on the platform.

Instagram Has Its Niche

TikTok will not be banned in the US, as it turns out, but this won’t stop Instagram from trying to win over established TikTok influencers, or give the next generation of new young content creators the same opportunity for achieving influencer status for video content creation on Instagram’s Reels. And 336 Productions can help you create your next branded viral video.

Find Your Audience

In creating original branded content for Instagram Reels, finding your audience starts with understanding your audience. What does your audience want? If you can answer that question, you’ve taken the first step to success.

Plan Content that Stands Out with 336 Production

Want to create rank-worthy video content but don’t know where to start? Let’s use the algorithm to take your brand to the next level on Instagram Reels!

336 Production is among the best video production companies in California. We provide excellent video production services to many businesses and make top corporate videos that earn ROI. Contact us to get started.