Más listo que el Feed: ¿Cómo funciona el algoritmo Instagram ?

Instagram es increíble consiguiendo que los usuarios permanezcan en la aplicación y se desplacen sin pensar durante horas. Pero, ¿alguna vez te has parado a pensar por qué? He aquí por qué Instagram es tan adictiva: la plataforma adapta el feed a los intereses de cada usuario. Por eso parece que nunca quieras desconectarte. Pero, ¿cómo funciona el algoritmo de Instagram ?

There are so many questions about how Instagram curates the content you see. If we’re being real, it’s a little freaky that the app knows exactly the type of content you gravitate toward. That’s why today, we’re diving into the inner workings of the Instagram algorithm and what makes it tick. Let’s unravel its secrets and learn how creators like you can come out on top, shall we?

Cómo funciona el algoritmo Instagram : 6 factores que tiene en cuenta IG

Instagrames una auténtica obra de arte. Se trata de una compleja fórmula que la plataforma utiliza para decidir qué contenido va en el feed o en la página Explorar de cada uno. El objetivo principal del algoritmo es garantizar que todo el mundo vea contenidos relevantes para él y sus intereses.

Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, explains that the algorithm “ranks” content according to its perceived relevance to each user. Posts at the top of this ranking process are the ones that appear on someone’s feed. That way, the posts you see actually add some degree of value to your life and overall Instagram experience.

If you don’t like what you see on your app, you can always simply refresh your feed. When you do that, the algorithm tries again, providing fresh content that you might like more than the first.

Pero, ¿en qué se fija exactamente el algoritmo a la hora de clasificar las publicaciones en la plataforma? Estos son los seis factores que tiene en cuenta a la hora de elegir qué contenido priorizar en el feed.

1. Alto compromiso

The first thing the algorithm looks at is how much engagement a post has driven on the platform. The more likes, shares, and comments a post receives, the more relevant and well-perceived it seems. So, the algorithm ranks it higher on the feed and Explore page.

And the higher it goes on the feed, the more people see it. When a larger audience sees it, it gets even more traction (if it’s worthy, of course!).

It seems that the trick is to always create high-quality content that will excite people and encourage them to interact. So, it gets high engagement, then more views when the algorithm promotes it, and then even more engagement after that.

2. 3. Periodicidad del puesto

While the Instagram homepage doesn’t display a chronological feed, it does prioritize recent posts. You’ll likely see very recently posted content at the top of your feed. The rest of the posts you see as you scroll were probably uploaded in the last three days.

Instagram prioritizes newer posts to ensure that everyone sees fresh, relevant, timely content any time they open the app. That way, none of the posts are stale and outdated. Very rarely will you see content on your main feed that has been around for weeks.

3. Con quién interactúa más

Un problema del que solían quejarse muchos usuarios de Instagram es que no ven el contenido de sus amigos en el feed. Esto es especialmente cierto para quienes siguen miles de cuentas. El contenido que realmente les interesa se pierde en un océano de desorden.

That’s why today’s algorithm prioritizes the content of accounts you interact with most. Instagram notes your interaction history with every friend, brand, or creator. Then, it shows you the posts of those you message the most, share content with and tag in your posts.

The more you interact with someone on Instagram, the more the algorithm assumes you care a lot about this user. So, their posts will automatically show up at the top of your feed when they publish anything new. That means you get to see your besties’ content first every time!

4. El uso de la música de moda

Background audio matters a lot, specifically to the Instagram Reels algorithm. The more popular the music you use on a Reel, the more Instagram pushes it out to the feed. That’s why it’s always a bright idea to use popular songs and trendy sound bites in your video content.

Think about it. How many Reels have you seen on the feed using Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” recently? And for some reason, why do those Reels keep coming? That’s because that’s a song that is extremely popular. So, the algorithm ranks content with that song higher. It’s a cultural moment, and Instagram recognizes that and rewards creators who honor it.

5. Temas por los que ha mostrado interés

The Instagram Explore page is where people discover new content from brands and creators they don’t yet follow. There, the algorithm’s main priority is to serve content that is aligned with someone’s interests and hobbies.

Instagram gathers information on your post interaction history to determine what niches and types of content you enjoy. They look through posts you’ve liked or bookmarked and find patterns to learn what lifestyle topics you’re interested in. Then, they will show you more content on those topics.

Let’s say you love all things fitness. So, you tend to like and comment on workout videos and meal prep tutorials. Don’t be surprised if you see more exercise and physical training content on your Explore page and Reels tab. Your previous behaviors tell the algorithm that you love this niche, so it will show you content related to it.

The algorithm also considers what kinds of creators you follow. If you follow plenty of fashion influencers, you’ll likely see OOTDs and styling content on the Explore page, too.

6. Formatos de contenido Instagram Prioridades

Once in a while, Instagram announces that they will start prioritizing certain content types on the feed. Those formats that gain Instagram’s internal favor will get a boost in the algorithm’s ranking system.

For example, back when Reels were new and the talk of the town, Instagram prioritized them on the feed. But more recently, Adam Mosseri announced that they’re balancing the platform by prioritizing photos now.

InstagramEl formato de contenidos preferido y "favorito" de los internautas cambia a menudo. Sigue sus canales oficiales para ver qué tipo de contenido ocupa el primer puesto en cada momento.

Aside from the formats Instagram prefers, the algorithm also considers the content types you engage with most. If you hit “like” on many short-form videos, you might see more Reels on the feed. And if you interact more with photos and carousels, you’ll probably see more of those instead.

¿Cómo funciona el algoritmo en Instagram Stories?

The six factors above determine what content people see on their feed, Explore page, and Reels tab. However, Stories are a whole different ball game. With those, you compete only with people your followers are following, not with every post on the platform. So, how does the algorithm work on Instagram Stories?

Las Historias se ordenan en la bandeja de Historias de cada uno en la página de inicio en función de su relación con las personas a las que sigue. Estos son algunos de los factores que tiene en cuenta el algoritmo para decidir qué historia se ve en primer lugar:

• Whose Stories you’ve viewed in the past: Instagram takes note of users whose Stories you’ve historically viewed in full without skipping any part of it. This tells them that you find their posts interesting and relevant. So, they’ll rank these people’s Stories higher on your tray.
• Who you interact with most: Like with the regular feed, Instagram prioritizes the Stories of the people you interact with most. That means the friends you DM and engage with most on the platform.
• How often you engage with their Stories: If you often react to someone’s Stories or reply to them through DMs, you’ll see that user’s posts more. It also happens when you respond to their Stories’ interactive stickers a lot, like question stickers and polls. This signals to the algorithm that you like their posts. So, Instagram will try to show you more of them.
• Quién te ha puesto en su lista de Amigos íntimos: También verás primero las Historias de quienes te han incluido en su lista de Amigos íntimos. Las Historias de amigos cercanos aparecen al principio de la bandeja, en la parte superior de tu página. Tienen un círculo verde lima alrededor de la foto de perfil del usuario en lugar de uno magenta.

¿Cómo utilizar correctamente Instagram para conquistar el algoritmo?

Whether you hate it or love decoding it, the Instagram algorithm is here to stay. As a creator, you have no choice but to work around it if you want people to see your content. The best you can do is try to outsmart it and do everything you can to come out on top.

Pero, ¿cómo utilizar Instagram de la forma correcta para poner al algoritmo de su lado? Así es como puedes vencer al algoritmo mientras tus competidores se comen tu polvo.

Publique contenido cuando sus seguidores estén activos

When you post at a time when your followers are online, it’s easier to drive lots of engagement easily. People are already looking at the platform. So, there’s a higher chance they’ll catch your content as soon as you post it.

Recuerda que el algoritmo de Instagram da prioridad a los contenidos que consiguen una gran participación genuina. Si publicas cuando tus seguidores están activos, seguramente obtendrás likes y comentarios instantáneos de ellos. Esto indica al algoritmo que tu contenido es interesante e importante. A continuación, lo enviará más a los feeds de la gente e incluso a la página Explorar.

You can check your followers’ most active times on the app through Instagram Insights. Note, however, that this feature is only available for professional accounts, like creators, and business pages.

Utilice hashtags relevantes para clasificar su contenido en temas populares

Añadir hashtags relevantes a los pies de foto de tus publicaciones en Instagram ayuda al algoritmo a clasificar tus contenidos según su nicho. Esto facilita que la plataforma distribuya tus publicaciones entre los usuarios interesados en esos temas.

For example, if you post a recipe video on your food account, use popular hashtags like #foodie and #recipes. Make sure you mix it up with more niche hashtags that are more pointed but a little less competitive. These include tags like #easyrecipesathome, #veganmeals, #farmtotabledinner, and more.

But you can’t just choose any hashtag off the top of your head to add to your content. It’s important to conduct proper Instagram hashtag research to find tags that actually resonate with your target audience. That way, you don’t waste your caption space with spammy, overrated tags your potential followers aren’t even interested in.

Añade sonidos y música a tus mensajes

As mentioned earlier, the Reels algorithm prioritizes video content that uses trending music clips. Incorporating viral sound bites and songs that are on the charts is a fantastic way to boost your videos’ visibility. Add music to your Reels and make sure the song you choose is familiar and well-loved by your audience.

Lo mejor de utilizar las canciones de moda -además de su favoritismo algorítmico- es que tienen sus propias páginas en Instagram. Cualquiera a quien le guste una canción concreta puede examinar todos los Reels que la utilizan como música de fondo. Es otra forma de utilizar sonidos y música virales para aumentar la visibilidad de tu vídeo.

Diversifique los formatos creativos de su contenido

Instagram notes which content formats each user interacts with the most. Those who love liking and saving Reels might see more videos than photos on their feed. Meanwhile, those who engage more with images might notice more carousel posts and photos on theirs.

The trick to showing up on the feeds of both these types of users is to diversify your content formats. Post a few photos, then switch it up with a Reel or two at the end of the week. This ensures that your content appears on people’s feeds, whether they prefer photos or videos. It’s a really smart way to beat the algorithm and be present everywhere on the platform.

Incluye pegatinas interactivas en tus historias

¿Quieres mejorar tu posición en la bandeja de Stories de tus fans en Instagram ? Intenta aumentar sus niveles de interacción contigo añadiendo divertidos stickers a tus Stories. Utiliza encuestas para obtener su opinión o deslizadores emoji encantadores para que interactúen fácilmente con tu Historia.

The thing is, with this strategy, you’re playing the long game. Post interactive stickers in your Stories a couple of times and wait for your followers to engage with them. Then, sit back and wait for the Instagram algorithm to clock these interactions.

After a while, Instagram will start pushing out your Story to everyone who consistently interacts with your stickers. That means your Stories will reach more of your followers and show up at the top of their Story section.

Preguntas frecuentes

Esté atento a cualquier cambio de algoritmo en Instagram para adelantarse a los acontecimientos.

Understanding Instagram’s complex algorithm is a must if you want your content to reach a wider audience. You have to work around what the algorithm ranks high. That means driving engagement for your posts, posting at the right time, using trendy music, and more. Be vigilant with these best practices, and you’ll be well on your way to conquering the algorithm.

Remember to be on the lookout for any significant Instagram algorithm changes, though. That way, you can tweak your strategy and still come out at the top of the feed every single time.

Now that we’ve answered, “How does the Instagram algorithm work?” it’s time for you to take the reins. Appease the algorithm so it pushes your content out to potential followers.

But who are we kidding—that’s easier said than done. It’s challenging to please the algorithm gods. Luckily, Path Social can promote your content organically. With our expert strategies, we can boost your discoverability without you having to navigate the algorithm.

Businesses like Hailey’s Clothing have amassed almost 20,000 followers with our help, and we want you to experience the same! Get more eyes on your content and get more followers with Path Social.