Instagram has rolled out some significant updates that could change the way you grow your audience. Here’s what you need to know and how to use these changes to your advantage.
New Analytics Update
Instagram’s latest analytics update is game-changing. You might have noticed your stats glitching lately, but now retention curves are available for older accounts too. Check your insights—you might already have them!
One key metric to look for is the follows metric. This tells you how many followers you gain from a specific reel. The more followers you get from a reel, the more Instagram’s algorithm will favor your content, showing it to a broader audience.
Action Step:
- Check Your Insights: See which reels are gaining the most followers.
- Replicate Success: Create similar content with the same style and hooks to increase your reach.
Removing Spam Account
Instagram is cracking down on spammy accounts. If your account is flagged as spam, you won’t be able to follow others, and your content will primarily be shown to your current followers.
To check if you have spam followers, go to your followers list and look for a section labeled “potential spam.” These accounts often follow many people but have few followers and poor-quality content.
Action Step:
- Avoid Spammy Behavior: Ensure your account has high-quality content and a balanced follower-to-following ratio.
- Remove Spam Followers: Manually remove spammy accounts to improve your account score.
Boosting Your Account Score
To improve your account’s algorithm score, avoid “post and ghost” behavior. This means don’t just post content and leave the app. Instead, engage with the platform—like posts, comment, and interact with your followers.
Using Instagram’s in-app editor for creating reels can also boost your score. It’s simple to use and gives you an edge in the algorithm.
Action Step:
- Be Active: Engage with other posts and explore content on the app.
- Use In-App Tools: Create reels using Instagram’s editor for better algorithm performance.
Extended Shelf Life for Reels
Reels now have a longer shelf life. Previously, reels had a 2-3 week period to blow up. Now, it can take 4-6 weeks for a reel to find its audience and gain traction.
However, relying too heavily on trending audio can backfire. Once the trend dies, your content might not get pushed out anymore, even if it’s good.
Action Step:
- Balance Trends: Use trending audio sparingly.
- Focus on Longevity: Create content that remains relevant beyond current trends.
The Anti-Hook Strategy
Traditional hooks might not work as well as they used to. People are becoming immune to these methods. Instead, consider using the “anti-hook” strategy, which dives straight into the action and keeps viewers curious.
Action Step:
- Use Anti-Hooks: Start your videos with engaging content right away, skipping the traditional hook.
- Align Elements: Ensure your visuals, audio, and text align to keep the audience engaged.
