How do you stay updated and informed on the latest trends and changes in social media algorithms?

While following official sources keeps us updated on new feature announcements and updates, the changes in and to the algorithm are less transparent and even elusive. Savvy creators and influencers are continually testing, to figure out algorithm and achieve growth. For those creators that primarily use Instagram, Instagram’s @Creators account gives tips and CEO Adam Mosseri goes live to help bridge that gap in transparency and often answers direct questions. Similarly, @LinkedIn for Creators does a good job at helping creators keep on top of updates and optimize.

Social media platforms often have official blogs or newsletters where they announce algorithm changes, updates, and new features. Subscribing to these can provide you with accurate and timely information.

In addition to listening, sharing and asking questions in online communities, attend community in-person events, and influencer marketing industry conferences. Often the discussions and panels at these conferences yield golden tickets to growth.

Any successful creators with reach will have optimized and continue to optimize their processes in line with algorithm using metrics measurement tools and KPIs. Bigger reach, bigger rewards, yes. Another tool to keep on top of what’s trending would be using Google Alerts and even something as simple as keeping on top of trending audio on the platform of choice.

Knowing your audience and continual ideation and innovation in content types for brand and niche is part of the fun, but don’t fix what isn’t broken. If your audience loves it and has got to know you for a certain form, keep that and add to it for growth.

As a talent manager, I pay attention to what my creators are talking about. GUARANTEED they will tell me about any new feature or idea or opportunity or anything new rolled out by any social media platform. I've been able to curate an amazing sisterhood of women with the talent I represent and everyone is great about sharing what's new, what's working, how to use a feature esp if someone has access to it before others. They're out there in the influencer streets, at ground zero so to speak so I make sure to pay attention to them - along with following the content of some other smart creators who are savvy as well about this kind of stuff.

Reverse dissecting what has worked for other content creators provides great learnings and case studies, but remember copying has consequences. Be true to your brand, and your own talents, create.

Test and analyze. Repeat. And repeat again. In all seriousness, what works for one brand or influencer may not work for another. Start small by testing with organic/integrated content. You want to make mistakes because that's where you can learn and grow.