I’m sure you’ve noticed that short-form videos have been all the rage on social media lately. With Tik Tok taking over the social media world, Instagram has needed to up their game. Instagram Reels is the social media platform’s solution to staying relevant in the world of video sharing. If you haven’t been posting reels and other video content, I highly recommend that you start doing so now! You can beat the Instagram algorithm with video content, and I’ll walk you through it in this post!
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Why the Instagram Algorithm Likes Video Content
As I said before, Instagram is trying to stay relevant amidst the up and coming social media platforms. To do so, Instagram has to create new features to keep app users engaged. First was the addition of IGTV to keep up with Facebook videos and YouTube, and now the Reels feature to keep up with Tik Tok.
Instagram wants users to stay on the app for as long as possible, and rewards accounts that take advantage of all features. If you scroll through your feed, you’ll notice that Reels content gets pushed to the top of the list. This is because Instagram wants you to continue watching Reels like you would on TikTok! Creators who are publishing engaging and entertaining Reels are rewarded with more organic reach. There’s also the opportunity to have your content seen by new potential followers in the Explore page. One viral video could attract thousands of new followers! This is why it’s important to be using this feature to gain exposure when trying to beat the algorithm.
What Types of Video Content Should You Focus On?
Instagram has three types of video content.
Each type of video serves a purpose, so you should focus on creating content for all three!
- Reels
- In-Feed Video
- IGTV
Reels
Reels are short-form videos that can be up to 30 seconds long. There is talk amongst the creator community that this time limit will be extended to 58 seconds… I will update this post once that is confirmed! Reels can be short videos of anything, as long as it serves a purpose to your target audience. Is it entertaining? Educational? Inspirational? Helpful in any way? If the answer is yes, then create a Reel! I recommend posting at least 4 Reels a week to get your content seen by more people.
In-Feed Video
In-Feed videos are under 1 minute long and great for adding variety to your content. If you have a short video that relates to a photo , you can add them together in a carousel post. Videos are sometimes more engaging and interesting than a still photo. Having videos on your feed also keeps people looking at your content longer. This is a good sign in the Instagram algorithm’s eyes! Someone watching your content means it must be important, and the algorithm should push it out to more people. Try adding at least 1 video to your feed every week.
IGTV
IGTV is a place for videos that are longer than 1 minute. Types of videos that work well for IGTV are in-depth educational posts, hair/makeup tutorials, or how-to videos. These videos can live on your feed or in their own section of your profile. You can create series in IGTV too, which helps keep everything organized. If you use Instagram Live, you can create an IGTV from your Live video as well. I recommend posting at least 1 IGTV a week.
Recap: How to Beat the Instagram Algorithm with Video Content
Bottom line- Start thinking of Instagram as a short form video sharing app rather than just a photo sharing app. The more you can incorporate videos into your weekly content, the better! Utilizing all of the Instagram features shows Instagram that you’re invested in all areas of their app. Instagram rewards users who use all features by showing that content to more users. In order to boost your reach and hopefully gain more followers, you should aim to do the following:
- post at least 4 Reels a week
- share at least 1 In-Feed Video a week
- post at least 1 IGTV a week
- mix these videos in with your photos and carousel posts to make it feel organic
Adding in video to your current content will give you a nice little boost in the Instagram Algorithm! I’ve been trying these tips for the past two weeks and I’ve seen more targeted followers come to my page. (Connect with me on Instagram!) I will continue to update you with more information as I learn about it! Good luck out there 🙂
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