How does Instagram work? An 8-step guide to using Instagram

Do you want to understand how instagram works? Know how it works and how to use instagram to your advantage? We give you access to all the how-to's in this article. You'll know exactly how instagram works.

Instagram how it works?

These days, it seems like just about everyone has heard of'Instagram.

After all, there are nearly a billion monthly active users sharing content on the app every day!

As popular as'Instagram is, there are still people who don't understand what it is and how Instagram works.

If you're an individual, brand or influencer who hasn't yet discovered how to master "the art of Instagram", don't panic. We're not going to give you a dunce cap and sit in the corner.

However, we're here to tell you that it's worth learning as much as you can about instagram. Not only is it one of the world's most popular social networks. But Instagram images generate around 4 times more engagement than their Facebook counterparts.

This means that if you use IG (Instagram) correctly, you'll get more followers, who are more willing to interact with you on a daily basis...

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To learn absolutely all Instagram's secrets and how it works, discover our dedicated instagram guide and continue reading this article.

The'history of the Instagram social network

To answer the question "How does Instagram" work, we first need to delve into the'history of the app.

What's Instagram for? What is instagram?

It's a photo sharing app for your smartphone. It combines social networking and amateur photography. The aim being to enable anyone to share photos or videos with other members of the social network.

With filters and stickers, anyone can create a stunning image in no time.

When you consider how difficult it was to share attractive photos before Instagram, it's easy to see why the tool has been such a success.

Just 6 months after its release on the iPhone, Instagram had already gained 5 million users. By the time IG launched on Android, the new app had already gained 1 million Instagram profiles on its first day.

Over time the social network has evolved from version to version and today offers'thousands of possibilities, you can :

• See a post from someone who lives on the other side of the world
• Share stories or real ones to vary the media
• Use a hashtag to spread the word about your latest video
• Gather thousands of followers
• Launch an ad to improve your engagement

And all from a screen that fits in your pocket.

Why do we need to understand how Instagram works?

People who wonder "How does Instagram work" generally don't want to get an insight into the app's code and operating mechanisms. If that's why you came here, we apologize.

Instead, most people try to discover how instagram works, how it categorizes posts, and why helps certain instagram accounts gain popularity.

If you understand how instagram works, you'll find it easier to gain subscribers. You'll be able to get noticed more easily on the social network.

Like most social networks, Instagram has something called " algorithm ". A set of rules it uses to dictate which user sees which content, and when. And this applies to a photo, a video, an ad, a story, search results and even the real ones.

Like most social networks, IG's'algorithm is constantly changing, making it harder for marketers to master the model.

In 2016, Instagram changed its algorithm so radically that it triggered a petition from people using the app to go back to normal.

In March 2018, Instagram began to focus more on time as a key feature of the algorithm, but it's not the only consideration users need to take into account.

The change moved Instagram away from a standard " chronological " feed, to give more priority to specific types of content. The problem was that people didn't understand what they needed to do to get on the right side of Instagram.

With so many marketers and influencers wondering how insta worked. The company decided to hold a press conference where it revealed the main factors to consider when organizing the Instagram news feed. These factors are:

• Relationships
• Interest
• Speed of execution

Instagram also announced that frequency, usage and followers may also have a role to play in their algorithm (to a lesser extent).

Understanding how the Instagram algorithm works : The'Interest.

L'"interest" is a metric that Instagram uses to determine how likely you are to be interested in a particular post.

When IG announced its new algorithm, it explained that it would put content that it believed would interest its users above other types of content.

So, how does Instagram know what you like?

Well, one option is to look at the type of posts you're already interacting with. For example, if you're always liking and commenting on photos of puppies, then Instagram knows to show you photos with the hashtag #Puppy first.

For people who want to excel on the platform and know exactly how to use Instagram, this means only one thing, you need to know what your followers are looking for and make your content relevant to them. It's as simple as that.

Understanding how the Instagram algorithm works: Speed of execution.

The second main ingredient of the Instagram algorithm is the degree of " punctuality " of your poublications.

For example, if someone logs on to Instagram at 9am and you shared your photo at 8:45am, it's more likely to appear on their News Feed, than a photo shared by someone else at 10:30pm the night before.

Instagram wants its users to enjoy the latest and most relevant content.

This means that even photos with more engagement and interactions won't necessarily appear before posts that have recently appeared on Instagram.

For brands and influencers, this means you need to determine when your target market is online so you can publish content at the right time.

Publishing stories at 4am won't bring you the same results as posting it at 6pm. Your engagement will be much lower.

The good news? It's easy to do with Instagram's statistics page on a pro account. You can automatically see when your followers are online, and even gather a few more details about their demographics while you're at it.

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Read this article to learn more about when to post on Instagram.

Understanding how the Instagram algorithm works: Relationships.

Now we come to the last major metric of the'Instagram algorithm: Relationships.

In an announcement about the new ranking algorithm in 2016, Instagram said that, no matter how many accounts a user follows on IG, they will always see photos and videos of their friends and family first.

At the end of the day, IG wants you to see content from the people you care about above all else.

It makes sense, wouldn't you rather see a photo of your mother's dog than a photo of a brand you once loved?

The question is, how does this work for IG users who don't have a personal connection with all their subscribers? It's simple, you need to start improving your interpersonal skills. That means:

• Interacting with people and their posts through "j'likes" and comments
• Responding to posts, comments, stories and direct questions
• Making sure you show up in the right searches using #Hashtags

Summary of the 3 pillars of the Instagram'algorithm :

Instagram is a forward-thinking social network that has been able to evolve since its inception. To understand its dynamics, here's a summary of how Instagram structures its content:

1. First, Instagram allows you to'post content that matches the tastes of Instagram users, based on what they choose to 'like'. To illustrate, if you tend to take a photo directly from the app 'and click on the 'heart' icon for landscape photos, Instagram will prioritize this type of content for you.
2. In the interests of timeliness, Instagram also offers to highlight the most recent publications. So when you open the app, located at the bottom of your smartphone, recent content is generally found at the top right of the screen, ensuring continuous freshness in the news feed.
3. Finally, Instagram's core functionality is based on interaction. This means that all instagram users who interact with you frequently, whether through mentions, stories or even directly on photos and videos, will be more visible in your feed.

To better navigate this social media and exploit all the options and features that'Instagram offers, don't hesitate to explore your account settings, usually located in the top right-hand corner, or download the Instagram app for an optimized experience.

Additional factors taken into account in the operation of instagram.

The world of Instagram, since its inception, is constantly evolving. This application isn't just a place to share a photo on Instagram or choose the perfect filter for your profile photo.

Its complex algorithm takes various factors into account to decide the order in which publications will appear.

Here are just a few of the elements the app evaluates, in addition to interests, recency of publications and interactions:

1. Frequency of use: If you access Instagram just once during the day, the app presents you with the publications deemed most relevant for the day. On the other hand, for those who are on the app often, Instagram tries to offer content that has not yet been viewed. This is Instagram's way of ensuring an ever-changing experience for its users on Instagram.
2. Volume of your subscriptions: Instagram's algorithm faces a challenge when you follow thousands of accounts. With more content to process, you may see fewer posts from each individual account. It's a fine balance between diversity and relevance.

• Mode of use: Whether you use Instagram for short sessions, while waiting for a friend or for longer periods marathon-style Netflix, it also influences the type of content that appears on screen.

The Instagram algorithm isn't as bad as it seems: Here's how it works

Here's the thing.

Although the IG algorithm has left countless companies asking and forced a few people to start a petition against it, this new algorithm isn't all bad.

As we've seen this year, the number of Instagram users keeps growing, which means there are more instagram posts to sort through every day.

Followers who are fed up with trying to find content that interests them won't even bother visiting places like the #Explore page, or typing in the search bar, because they'll know it's a waste of time.

An Instagram study also showed that users missed around 70% of posts on their home pages before the algorithm changed.

The'Instagram algorithm means that as long as you're actively creating engaging, timely and relevant content for your audience, you're going to get views on your posts and your instagram profile will be highlighted.

Whether you share a post, story, real or video your publications will be highlighted on your followers' feed, hashtags and in search results.

Inversely if your publications don't appeal to anyone, Instagram will hide them.

Know that'this is what counts in the world of social media. It should be one of your goals when using Instagram.

Without the algorithm, the only thing you could do would be to post endlessly, all day, something with which even the best brands and influencers would lose out.

The Instagram app works'Now, how to use instagram to make your strategy work too.

Instagram, having been around for some time on the social media landscape, is more than just a platform for sharing photos or videos.

But are you wondering how to harness the full potential of Instagram for your strategy?

Let's look at the numbers: with over one billion monthly users, 71% of whom are under 35, Instagram is one of the most popular platforms for young people.

It's an El Dorado for anyone looking to establish a relationship with this audience, whether to share products or services.

To navigate effectively, you need to familiarize yourself with the buttons and how they can serve your strategy.

For example, you can share your content not only with your followers, but also directly with other users thanks to the features Instagram offers.

The key lies in mastery: knowing what to publish, when and how to present it to captivate your audience.

Although many entrepreneurs are still in the learning phase with Instagram, the important thing is to understand what "instagram does" for your community.

If the challenge seems daunting, take heart : Boostfluence is here to guide you.

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You don't have to go it alone. If you're confused and overwhelmed by Instagram, and want to grow your profile faster, thanks to automation. Find out how you can accelerate your success on Instagram in no time! And start your free trial today'today!

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