Constantly changing and varying from platform to platform, social media algorithms can be tricky to navigate at the best of times, but especially difficult when you’re just getting to grips with social media and trying to build a following. That’s where we come in.
Here’s everything we know about algorithms and how you can make them work for you.
What is an algorithm?
Social media algorithms are essentially a way of organising content so that users see posts that they actually want to see first, prioritising content based on the user’s interests and past behaviours.
What’s their purpose?
Social media is constantly being flooded with content, we’re talking thousands of posts every minute. Algorithms act as a filter removing irrelevant and low-quality content from users’ feeds.
The downside is that this can also severely impact a post’s reach, limiting or even hiding content from users.
The question is how can you prevent this from happening? Is there a way to somehow beat the algorithm?
In short, no. Algorithms are designed for a reason and social media platforms, Instagram in particular, rewards those who use the algorithm correctly. But to do that you need to understand it. Here’s a breakdown of the algorithms for Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram.
Facebook’s algorithm is designed around meaningful engagement and currently ranks posts from users’ friends and families above those from businesses. It is based on four factors:
- Relationship
- Recentness
- Popularity
- Content type
It’s also worth noting that paid Facebook content has a separate ranking system based on meaningful customer engagement, relevance and user response.
With a focus on networking and B2B marketing, Linkedin’s algorithm is based on three key elements:
- Connection
- Engagement
- Relevant content
Instagram’s algorithm is notable for being the most changeable. As of 2022, the algorithm prioritises six factors:
- User relationships
- Interests
- Time it was posted
- Frequency of use
- Time spent on the app
- Following
Instagram also has different ranking systems for Feed, Stories, Reels and Explore, each with their own set of priorities, however, they all value high-quality content.
While it can feel overly complicated and overwhelming, ultimately these platforms reward active users sharing interesting, engaging content and creating this kind of content can help future-proof you against any algorithm changes.