Algorithm and posting tips from Instagram themselves

So I got "accepted" into Instagram University... yes that's a thing.

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Instagram invites about 100 creators to their twice-yearly Instagram University sessions. Which is really just an interactive Zoom presentation created by Instagram and a few people that are behind some big accounts (influencers, meme pages, freelance creators, etc.). They gave us early details on all things that are coming up and currently enact with Instagram.

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I'm going to share what I learned! As always. Here are my social media updates for you to know.

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The algorithm...?we're always chasing her because she's always being updated. The algorithm on Instagram has been updated again and this is what they said is the sweet spot for getting your content on people's timelines:

???3-5 hashtags on your posts (if you use them). Hashtags don't matter much anymore. Your keywords need to be in your caption so that your content shows up when people search for things. But if you're using hashtags for that extra bump. stick to 3 to 5. Less is not so effective, more signals as spammy.

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?? 6 story posts per day. Yeah, they're getting this specific about it. The sweet spot for stories is 6 posts (using the built-in IG sticker features for an extra boost) and not all at once. Specifically 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 2 in the evening. I wouldn't invest too much time in getting this exactly right. But if you?really?want everyone to see your stories every day, this is supposed to be the trick.

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?? Instagram does?NOT?want to see watermarks from other apps on reels. If you're saving a video from TikTok and posting it as a reel, Instagram will repress your content if it has the TikTok watermark on it. Start utilizing sites that let you download videos from other apps without watermarks. The same goes for CapCut... Instagram will know when you use it.

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Some new features are rolling out with Instagram?as well. One that is already out is shared collections. Now, when you're working with a team on social media, you can save posts in a collection that's shared with all of their accounts. Helpful if your business is partnering with another on something and you want to collaborate on a mood board.

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The other that's already out for Android, but coming soon to iPhones is an?updated reel creator.?You'll now have more control over editing your reels in Instagram. You can control sound and how long it plays and where in your reel it plays, and more easily cut and edit your clips.?

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A tip for increasing engagement with people that already follow you?is to go to the list of people you follow and select "least interacted with". These are people that show up less on your timeline (and vice versa) because you don't interact with them. Go through that list, like some recent feed and story posts from them and this will boost your place on their timeline.

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Advice from an Instagram creator?that partners with big brands (@joyofodu) is to DM them. Regularly. Consistently over the years. Not in a spammy way of course. But be intentional about communicating with brands you want to partner with. This means tagging them in story posts that actually relate to them, responding to their story posts in an "authentic way", engaging with them, and of course, straight up asking them for what you want. Ask them if they have partnership or influencer opps for you. Tell them what you can do or create for them. Ask to connect with their partnerships exec because you have an idea. It works.

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Fast round 411:

???The order in which your story viewers show up means nothing. There's no order, it's completely random

???Instagram says they don't shadowban people but also gave the tip that you can view your account status in your settings and see if you've given Instagram any reason in the past to repress your content. If you feel any flags are unfair, you can try to dispute it.

?? Instagram of course does not tell people when their story is screenshot. HOWEVER, if someone sent you a disappearing photo or video to your DMs and you screenshot it, it will tell them.

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Happy Instagramming!?

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XOXO

Koko

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