New Year, New Instagram Algorithm: What Marketers Need to Know in 2023
Here we go, the Instagram algorithm has changed … YET AGAIN!
It’s very difficult to constantly have to change your marketing strategy to adapt to changes on platforms. You have content scheduled out for a month, and then you suddenly get the news that Instagram Reels are dead.
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But the beginning of a new year always means the biggest shifts are taking place. Instagram has been laying out the groundwork for 2023 with its 2023 Instagram Trend Report.
This report highlights some of the biggest topics, issues, and trends that are coming into play for the year. All things that creators should be considering when planning out long-term strategies.
The important stuff that lets us get creative, however, is the new features and tools for us to use!
As with all business material, it’s important to keep up with the latest changes so here are some of the latest Instagram algorithm changes in 2023.
Instagram Algorithm Changes for 2023
#1. Bots Be Gone!
Instagram has been really keen on cutting down the spam and malicious accounts that have been increasingly appearing in our direct messages. The automated systems at Instagram are constantly checking profiles and removing them as they see fit, even causing some innocent profiles to be deleted without verification.
This is completely normal for a newly implemented threshold that determines what accounts are spam or not. You shouldn’t be alarmed though, as Instagram will give you a chance to verify your identity to confirm the authenticity of your profile.
Additionally, there is going to be a huge rollout of verified badges across the platform, ranging from DMs and stories. This should surely add an additional layer to both preventing victims of fraud, and building trust with consumers if you’re a business
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#2. The Explore Page will be HUGE in 2023
The Explore page on Instagram slowly faded as suggested and similar posts began appearing on our main feeds. But the good news is, thanks to the latest Instagram algorithm changes they’re going to be huge this next year!
The biggest issue with the explore page is when it starts to present you with content that feels irrelevant and uninteresting. Well, now you’re granted with the ability to manage your recommendation preferences on your explore page by filtering out content you’re not interested in.
The Not Interested button will let you curate your explore page to show only the things you’re interested in seeing. So if, for example, you absolutely hate seeing pictures of cute cats sitting in boxes — you can completely remove them!
For creators, this means you now have to pick your hashtags and captions wisely. Keeping your caption keywords accurate and relevant gives you the best chance of appearing on your target audience’s feed.
#3. Instagram Reels Are Dead
Instagram Reels could be used to increase your reach by double, and sometimes triple your followers. Posting a single successful Reel on Instagram can help you see hundreds of thousands of likes, comments, and shares. But that is no longer the case.
Instagram Head, Adam Mosseri, has spoken out about how the Instagram algorithm overfocused on Reels in 2022, and not enough attention was given to photos.
He stated his intentions for 2023 are to reassess the algorithm, along with any redesigns, to ensure that photos still get the love that they deserve.
The Instagram Reels train has long left the station, and planning on producing more video content in 2023 could do more harm them good. It’s important to not only assess the Instagram algorithm but also your own page’s personal analytics and establish what works for you rather than for others.
Why did Instagram Change Algorithms?
As with everything, preferences change. What worked last year may not be working anymore, and that forces Instagram (along with TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and so on) to shift its approach as well.
These latest Instagram algorithm changes are just small steps toward an arbitrary goal. It’s important to take these changes into consideration with your social media marketing strategy, but also expect more changes to be coming soon.
Conclusion
The Instagram algorithm changes for 2023 aim to combat spam and malicious accounts, improve the Explore page experience for users, and re-balance the emphasis on photos versus videos.
These changes reflect the ongoing evolution of the platform and its effort to keep up with changing preferences. Businesses and content creators should keep these changes in mind when formulating their social media marketing strategy and expect more changes to come in the future.
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