The Explore Page
Overall, the Explore page and the feed algorithm are quite similar — they both deliver content that Instagram thinks you’ll be most interested in, based on your prior interactions. However, your Instagram feed will be made up of content from accounts you already follow, whereas the Explore feed will consist almost entirely of content from new accounts. The Explore page is constantly evolving, with new topic categories and advanced search functionalities being introduced all the time.
For example, you can now search by keywords, as well as hashtags, to discover feeds of relevant content. The Explore page algorithm is essentially trying to serve people the best, relevant content. So by continually sharing great content with strong captions and hashtags, you’re already contributing towards your Explore page ranking.
It’s more important than ever to focus on your niche topics and use hashtags to help categorize your posts.
Instagram Stories
Typically, Instagram Stories that appear at the start of your feed are from accounts that you engage with the most, whether that’s through likes, comments, story views, reactions, or DMs. The Instagram Stories algorithm also puts a lot of focus on timeliness, as it wants to make sure it’s always showing you the latest stories from your favorite accounts.
If you regularly engage with an account, their new stories will be bumped to the front of your feed every time they post — even if you’ve watched all their stories from the previous day. So with this in mind, it’s a good idea to consistently post to Instagram Stories. By posting to Instagram Stories more often, you have a better chance of reaching viewers as they browse their daily stories — and the more views you gain, the better your ranking will be.
IGTV Videos & Reels
For IGTV videos and Instagram Reels, the algorithm prioritizes content from the accounts you interact with the most, as well as the type of posts you typically engage with. Beyond the home feed, Instagram serves suggested IGTV videos and Reels in relevant Explore pages, including the new Reels tab. This is based on what Instagram thinks you will like, based on a machine learning model. So how can you give your IGTV videos and Reels the best chance of being seen by new (and existing) audiences? The trick is to give them as much of a helping hand as possible.
For IGTV videos, you can share a 1-minute preview to your Instagram feed — increasing initial exposure and providing a positive signal to the algorithm. For Reels, always share them to your main Instagram feed, and include several hashtags to boost their discoverability. Also, you can always inform your audience that a new content is available on your profile by sharing it through “Stories” and ask people to click on the preview to see the full content.
Instagram Guides
Instagram has launched a new format for sharing curated, scrollable content: Instagram Guides. The new feature gives users an easier way to share and consume helpful recommendations and tips in an easy-to-digest format. They allow users to follow a curated flow of posts with commentary — which is great for step-by-step guides, tips, and recommendations.
To create your first Guide, tap the plus icon on the top-right of your profile page and select “Guide.”
| If you would like to view additional resources: |
| Have a look at this profile on Instagram (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) and see how they used this tool to share information and good suggestion about mental health care. |