What exactly is the Instagram algorithm?

The Instagram algorithm consists of a set of instructions that determine when and how specific content is displayed to individual users. It takes into account numerous factors such as user history, location, profile, device, trends, relevance, popularity, and more. Algorithms play a vital role in deciding which content reaches the intended audience, from search engine optimization to social media platforms.

Since algorithms are constantly evolving, yesterday’s marketing tactics may not be as effective in the future. It’s crucial to adapt your strategy on each platform accordingly. While regularly posting with relevant hashtags is important on Instagram, it doesn’t guarantee reaching your target audience every time.

So, how does the Instagram algorithm work in 2025?

The Instagram algorithm determines the order in which users see posts while scrolling through their feeds. Based on specific signals, it prioritizes the best posts, pushing the most relevant ones to the top for maximum visibility, while others are placed further down.

Although the algorithm is subject to change, the following three key ranking factors can guide your Instagram strategy:

Relationship with the user: If a user has interacted with your past Instagram content, they are more likely to see your future posts. Therefore, fostering continual engagement is crucial for building a loyal audience.

User’s expressed interest: The algorithm analyzes whether a user interacts with similar posts and accounts while exploring Instagram. Users who engage with similar content are more likely to see your posts.

Post relevancy: When you publish a post on Instagram, the algorithm assigns it a relevancy score, which influences its visibility in the feed.

Consider the following general factors as well:

• High competition if users follow numerous accounts.
• Lower odds of visibility if users spend less time on Instagram or infrequently open the app.
• Business and creator accounts don’t face disadvantages in terms of organic reach compared to personal accounts.
• Instagram enforces community guidelines and may remove posts or suspend accounts for repeated violations.
• Misinformation labels are applied to posts containing false information, and repeated offense may lead to decreased visibility for the user’s content.

Instagram Feed and Stories

The majority of what users see on their feed and in Stories are recent posts from the accounts they follow. The algorithm further customizes the order of these feed posts and Stories based on various signals:

Basic information about the post or story: This includes factors such as likes, posting time, and location tags.

Data on the account behind the post: The algorithm considers how many people have interacted with the account recently, gauging its popularity and the likelihood of user interest.

User activity: Instagram tracks the number of posts liked, shared, and saved to predict which posts will interest the user.

User’s interaction history with the account: This involves measuring the user’s engagement with the account’s posts, including comments, likes, saves, and visits to the account’s profile page.

By analyzing this data, Instagram makes educated guesses about the content that should be presented on each user’s feed.

In March 2022, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, introduced two features that allow users to customize their feed:

Following: This feature displays posts from followed accounts in chronological order.

Favorites: This feature prioritizes posts from accounts with the most interactions and allows users to view them chronologically.

However, the Instagram algorithm still personalizes the main feed based on the aforementioned signals.

Instagram Explore

The Explore page algorithm on Instagram aims to help users discover new content. It uses the same signals as the feed and Stories to curate and rank engaging content for individual users. User actions like likes, saves, and shares play a significant role in the Explore algorithm.

For example, if a user is a fan of Avengers movies, Instagram may present popular Marvel content or even superhero content from other franchises like DC or Image on their Explore page.

To increase your chances of being featured on users’ Explore pages, utilize strategic hashtags and engage with recent trends. Leveraging hot topics and news stories can boost your posts’ ranking on users’ Explore pages.

Instagram Reels

Similar to Explore, Reels are usually seen by users who don’t follow the accounts posting them. The Instagram algorithm applies similar signals as it does for Explore but emphasizes content that entertains the user. It focuses on predicting whether a user will watch a Reel till the end.

To enhance the visibility of your Reels, share them on your feed first, accompanied by hashtags and a location tag. Additionally, engage with Reels that appeal to your target audience. Reels are designed to help users discover you, so it’s important to develop a strategy to maximize your Reel content as soon as possible.

Now that we’ve covered how the Instagram algorithm works, let’s explore different ways to adapt your approach and reach more customers.

Tips for working with the Instagram algorithm in 2025

Consider the following tips to leverage the Instagram algorithm for your business:

Focus on relationships, not just reach: Audience loyalty and continual engagement are more crucial than ever for earning top spots in your followers’ feeds. Foster relationships with your audience through tactics such as posting user-generated content on your Stories and sharing Reels.

Comment on posts from relevant users and brands: Engage with potential customers, influencers, and related businesses by leaving thoughtful comments on their posts. Be genuine, add value, and avoid generic responses or sales pitches.

Respond to comments promptly: Replying to comments, particularly while your post’s reach is at its peak, boosts social proof and encourages further engagement. It can spark conversations and increase the reach of your current and future posts.

Utilize hashtags effectively: Choose hashtags that your target audience actively searches to discover content and users. Engage with posts that use relevant hashtags, and click through to explore and interact with the content.

Repost past content to Stories: Repurposing previous posts ensures your best content receives additional visibility. However, avoid excessive repetition and keep your feed fresh by pruning repeated content.

Encourage engagement on your Stories: Use hashtag stickers with your branded hashtag, share user Stories, and employ interactive stickers like polls and questions to foster engagement, which can translate into higher reach for your static posts.

Share Instagram posts to Stories: Maximize your social media strategy by sharing your most important posts, such as new product announcements, to your Stories. This increases the chances of reaching your followers.

Consider paid options: If organic reach is limited, consider Instagram ads or influencer marketing to boost your visibility. Set a budget and monitor your spend to remain in control.

Monitor your results: Track your progress using Instagram Insights. Look beyond follower count and examine metrics like accounts reached, accounts engaged, and total followers to understand the impact of your Instagram marketing efforts.

Remember, while the Instagram algorithm may change, building and nurturing relationships with your audience remains essential. By adapting to algorithm updates and engaging with users both inside and outside your posts, you can find new ways to reach your intended audience on Instagram.

Ready to take your social media presence to the next level? Don’t let the ever-evolving digital landscape hold you back. At twelve-o-one, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs like you explode their social media reach and connect with their target audience.

With our customized done-for-you support and our proven Social Launch Intensive program, you’ll have all the tools and strategies you need to start growing your social media following and achieving your business goals.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stand out in the crowded social media landscape. Take action now and reach out to twelve-o-one. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your social media presence. Contact us today to learn more and get started on your social media journey.

The post Understanding the Instagram Algorithm in 2025 (Latest Insights) appeared first on 1201 Journal.

In today’s digital age, social media has become a fundamental component of business strategy, with a significant impact on brand recognition, customer engagement, and sales growth. Social media planning is essential for optimizing your social media strategy, and having the right tools can make all the difference. In this blog, we’ll discuss the must-have social media planning tools for 2025 that will help you streamline your strategy and take your social media marketing to the next level.

Canva

Visual content is crucial for engaging your audience on social media, and Canva is an excellent tool for creating high-quality graphics and visual content. Canva offers a wide range of templates and design elements that can be customized to suit your brand, making it easy to create stunning graphics and visual content that can be shared on social media.

1. Canva Free: Canva Free is a web-based graphic design platform that offers basic features and tools for creating simple designs. It provides access to over 8,000 templates, 100+ design types, and 1GB of cloud storage. Canva Free users can also upload their own images and access a library of free images, icons, and graphics. However, it has limited access to premium features and resources.
2. Canva Pro: ($149,99 CAD / Year) Canva Pro is the paid version of Canva that provides users with access to more advanced features and resources. With Canva Pro, users can access over 75 million premium stock images, videos, and graphics, collaborate with team members, create brand kits, and access unlimited storage. Canva Pro also offers a range of productivity tools such as Magic Resize, which enables users to resize their designs to multiple formats with just one click.
3. Canva Team: ($199.90 CAD / Year) Canva Team is designed for businesses and organizations that require collaborative design tools. It offers all the features of Canva Pro, plus additional features that enable teams to work together effectively. With Canva Team, team members can collaborate on designs, share brand assets and templates, set up workflows and permissions, and monitor usage and analytics. Canva Team also offers an enterprise-level solution, Canva Enterprise, for larger organizations with more complex needs.

Overall, Canva Free is a great option for individuals and small businesses looking to create simple designs, while Canva Pro and Canva Team offer more advanced features and resources for professional design work and collaboration.

Buzzsumo

Buzzsumo is a powerful content marketing tool that allows you to discover trending content in your industry and identify the top-performing content on social media. With Buzzsumo, you can track your competitors’ social media performance and gain insights into what type of content resonates with your audience, helping you plan your social media strategy more effectively.

SEMrush

SEMrush is a powerful SEO and marketing tool that offers a range of features to help you optimize your social media strategy. With SEMrush, you can track your competitors’ social media performance and gain insights into what type of content resonates with your audience. It also provides detailed analytics and reporting features to help you measure your social media performance and track your ROI.

Metricool

Metricool is an all-in-one social media management platform that allows you to manage all your social media accounts from a single dashboard. It is an excellent tool for social media planning and scheduling posts ahead of time. Metricool also provides detailed analytics and reporting features to help you measure your social media performance and track your ROI.

With plans starting at $0 per month, Metricool offers a range of options to fit any budget and social media management needs.

PRO 5 plan is just $12 USD per month (annual payment), or $18 USD per month (monthly payment) and includes management of 5 brands with all social media profiles, scheduling up to 2,000 posts per month, competitor analysis for up to 100 competitors, reports in PDF or PPT, and more.

For larger businesses, their TEAM 15 plan is $35 per month (annual payment) or $49 per month (monthly payment) and includes management of 15 brands, scheduling up to 5,000 posts per month, team and client access, role management, customized report templates, and more.

Besides being one of the most comprehensive social media scheduler tools on the market, Metricool recently rolled out features like AI copy assistance which makes creating content even easier for businesses. Metricool is a top choice for businesses of all sizes. Sign up for your free trial today and take advantage of this powerful tool to grow your social media presence!

Flick.tech

Flick.tech is a powerful Instagram hashtag generator that helps you find the most relevant and effective hashtags for your Instagram posts. With Flick.tech, you can analyze hashtag performance and gain insights into what type of hashtags resonate with your audience, helping you optimize your Instagram strategy and improve your reach and engagement.

Flick.tech offers a range of pricing plans to fit any budget. Their Starter plan is just $10 per month (annual payment), or $12 per month (monthly payment) and includes up to 2 Instagram accounts, hashtag suggestions, engagement metrics, and 150 monthly searches. For larger businesses, their Advanced plan is $20 per month (annual payment) or $24 per month (monthly payment) and includes up to 5 Instagram accounts, advanced hashtag analytics, competitor analysis, and 500 monthly searches. With features like these, Flick.tech is a must-have tool for any serious Instagram user. Get a head start on growing your Instagram following today with their free 7-day trial and experience the power of Flick.tech firsthand!

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic is a content marketing tool that allows you to discover the most popular questions and topics related to your industry. With AnswerThePublic, you can identify the most popular search terms and queries related to your brand, helping you create content that resonates with your audience and improves your SEO performance.

In conclusion, social media planning is crucial for optimizing your social media strategy and achieving your business goals. With the right social media planning tools, you can streamline your strategy, create high-quality content, and measure your social media performance more effectively. By incorporating these must-have social media planning tools for 2025 into your social media strategy, you can take your social media marketing to the next level and achieve success in the digital world.

We know social media planning can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance it with other aspects of your business. But with twelve-o-one’s Plan-In-A-Day workshop, you don’t have to worry about spending countless hours planning your social media content. Our workshop is designed to show you exactly how to plan all your content for the month in just one day, leaving you feeling confident and stress-free about your social media planning. With our expert guidance, you’ll learn how to create a comprehensive social media plan that aligns with your business goals and helps you engage with your audience. Sign up for our waitlist today and take the first step toward mastering your social media planning workflow!

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Video Content Will Continue to Reign Supreme

Video content has been on the rise for years, and its popularity will continue to grow in 2025. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are perfect for sharing videos that capture attention and engage audiences. Businesses that leverage video content will have a significant advantage in reaching their target audiences.

Augmented Reality (AR) Will Transform Social Media

Augmented reality is no longer a novelty but a significant part of the social media experience. In 2025, expect to see more businesses using AR to create interactive experiences that immerse users in their brand. From virtual try-on experiences to interactive product demonstrations, AR will transform the way businesses engage with their audiences.

Social Commerce Will Take Center Stage

Social commerce is the integration of e-commerce with social media platforms. In 2025, social commerce will continue to grow, and businesses that take advantage of it will see significant benefits. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are perfect for social commerce, with features like shoppable posts and product catalogues. Brands that embrace social commerce will be able to convert social media followers into customers seamlessly.

Private Messaging Will Become More Important

In recent years, private messaging has become increasingly popular, and its importance will continue to grow in 2025. More people are using private messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and WeChat to communicate with friends, family, and businesses. Businesses that are accessible through private messaging platforms will have a significant advantage in engaging with their customers and providing personalized experiences.

Personalization Will be Key to Success

Personalization has been a trend for a while, but in 2025, it will be essential to success. Social media platforms will continue to provide businesses with more data to understand their customers better. Businesses that use this data to create personalized experiences for their customers will stand out from the competition. From personalized content to customized offers, personalization will be a significant factor in social media success in 2025.

In today’s fast-paced world, keeping up with the constantly evolving social media landscape can be a daunting task. Businesses need to focus on adapting to the latest trends in order to stay relevant and engage with their audiences effectively. At twelve-o-one, we understand the importance of social media success and can help guide you through the process.

By allowing us to take care of the technical aspects of your social media strategy, you can focus on areas of the business you are most passionate about, such as creating new products or services. Our team of social media experts will work with you to develop a tailored strategy that meets your business’s unique needs, leveraging the latest trends, such as video content, augmented reality, social commerce, private messaging, and personalization. To learn more about our services and how we can help take your business to the next level, visit our website or contact us today to book a call. Let us help you achieve social media success in 2025 and beyond.

The post <strong>5 Social Media Trends You Should Know in 2025: Insights for Business Success</strong> appeared first on 1201 Journal.

Defines your goals and objectives

A social media strategy helps you define your goals and objectives, allowing you to create a clear plan of action to achieve them. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, or boosting sales, a well-defined social media strategy will help you stay on track and measure your success.

Improves your targeting and engagement

A social media strategy helps you target your ideal audience and engage with them in meaningful ways. By understanding your audience and their preferences, you can create content that resonates with them and encourages engagement. This, in turn, can help increase your reach and drive more traffic to your website.

Builds your brand awareness and reputation

Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and reputation. By consistently sharing valuable content and engaging with your audience, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and increase your brand’s visibility. This can also help improve your online reputation and establish trust with your audience.

Enables you to track and measure your success

A social media strategy allows you to track and measure your success, providing valuable insights into what’s working and what’s not. By monitoring key metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversions, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your social media strategy and improve your overall performance.

It’s important to note that posting for the sake of posting without a proper strategy in place may not be effective. Your content may not be “on brand” or reach your target audience, resulting in low engagement and little to no impact on your overall goals.

Businesses need to focus on adapting to the latest trends in order to stay relevant and engage with their audiences effectively. At twelve-o-one, we understand the importance of social media success and can help guide you through the process. By allowing us to take care of the technical aspects of your social media strategy, you can focus on areas of the business you are most passionate about, such as creating new products or services. Our team of social media experts will work with you to develop a tailored strategy that meets your business’s unique needs, leveraging the latest trends, such as video content, augmented reality, social commerce, private messaging, and personalization. To learn more about our services and how we can help take your business to the next level, visit our website or contact us today to book a call. Let us help you achieve social media success in 2023 and beyond.

The post <strong>Social Media Success: Why You Need a Strategy to Boost Your Online Presence</strong> appeared first on 1201 Journal.

If you are trying to decide if you should hire a social media manager, as yourself these three questions:

1. Are you the type of business owner who prefers to focus on your passion? 
2. Do you have the time or expertise to grow your business on social media?
3. Do you want to free up your time and allocate yourself in business areas where your time can be better spent?

How Hiring a Social Media Manager Is Beneficial for Your Business 

Social media is a great way to engage with current and potential customers. However, it’s also a lot of work. Social Media Marketing is creating brand awareness and making connections to your ideal clients and driving an entry point to your business. It takes on average 6-10 touch-points before a consumer reaches a buying decision, and with the pandemic and inflation, it is not unusual for it to take longer. This is why it is imperative you are maintaining an online presence for your business to gain your customer’s attention and trust.

Why You Need a Social Media Manager

A social media manager will create a strategy for your company’s social media accounts that revolves around your business goals. They’ll also help you create branded content that aligns with these goals. When you hire a social media manager, you can expect to:

• Saving your company time
• Creating brand recognition
• Increasing traffic to the website
• Content creation
• Community building, engagement, and growing an audience
• Reporting and analytics tracking for your social media  and website growth
• Maintain an online presence
• Hashtag research to ensure you are getting the most out of your organic reach
• Keeping you up-to-date with what’s trending

When you dive into the world of social media, it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. The good news is that there are a ton of resources out there to help you get started. The bad news is that there are also a ton of resources out there to help you get started. With so much information out there, it’s easy to forget what you were even trying to do in the first place. A social media manager can help you find your footing in the world of social media. Imagine having monthly social media content created for you so you can focus on areas of your business that you are most passionate about.

Twelve-o-one is all about offering the right support to ensure that your social media presence is being managed by experts who have the knowledge and experience to create effective strategies and campaigns. We can help you to stay on top of the latest social media trends and technologies, and help you see a measurable return on investment from your social media efforts. Not sure if your business is making the social impact it should be, one phone call can help you think more clearly about what areas of your business you want to improve.

Twelve-o-one will discuss strategizing your social media management and how you can free up time to focus on other aspects of your business and see an overall increase in productivity and to nurture your goals into something greater.

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What is Branding?

Branding is the process of creating an image for your company, product, or service by using words, images, and logos to connect with customers. Essentially, branding is a marketing strategy that helps you differentiate yourself from your competitors by creating a memorable identity. In today’s business landscape, customers are flooded with marketing messages. 

Your brand is what makes your business stand out and connect with customers. A strong brand gives your business instant credibility and allows customers to trust you. It’s essential to the success of your business and the customer experience.

Why is Branding Important for Your Business?

• Create a memorable and recognizable brand that customers can connect with
• You want your brand to be a part of your customers’ lives, so they see your brand in the marketplace and online and associate it with your products and services. 
• Branding is the first step in creating a memorable and recognizable image for your business. 
• It’s your opportunity to connect with customers and set yourself apart from competitors. 
• Branding is also the most cost-effective way to create recognition for your business. 
• Logo and marketing materials design cost far less than advertising and marketing campaigns and can be used to drive traffic to your website and social media channels.

Establishing Your Company’s Identity

Define your company’s mission and values:
Before you can create a strong brand identity, you need to know what your company stands for. Take the time to define your company’s mission and values, and make sure that they align with your target audience’s needs and values.

Understand your target audience:
Knowing your target audience is essential for creating a brand identity that resonates with them. Conduct market research to understand the needs and preferences of your target audience, and use this information to inform your branding decisions.

Create a consistent visual identity:
A strong visual identity is a key component of branding. Develop a consistent look and feel for your company’s logo, colour scheme, and visual elements, and use them consistently across all of your marketing materials.

Develop a unique voice and tone:
Your brand’s voice and tone should reflect your company’s values and personality. Develop a unique voice and tone that sets you apart from your competitors and resonates with your target audience.

Be authentic:
Your brand’s identity should be authentic and true to who you are as a company. Avoid trying to be something you’re not, and instead, focus on building an identity that is true to your company’s mission and values.

Use social media and digital marketing:
Social media and digital marketing are powerful tools for building brand awareness and connecting with customers. Use them to create a strong online presence, and engage with your target audience in a meaningful way.

Driving Brand Awareness

A brand strategy is about more than just creating a logo for your company. It’s about creating a memorable image for your business and standing out from competitors. Brand awareness is the level of recognition your brand has in the marketplace. A strong branding strategy will help you reach customers. You want them to see your logo, hear your brand name and associate your products and services with your business. 

Increase customer loyalty and retention

When customers are loyal to your brand, they’re less likely to shop around for lower prices or visit the competitor down the street. A strong branding strategy will help you retain customers who would otherwise shop elsewhere. When you’re creating your brand strategy, it’s important to think about your customer’s needs and how your products and services fit into their lives. For example, if you’re starting a cleaning and home services business, you want your customers to feel as though your services are a necessity. When you put together your branding strategy, you want to think about how you can position your business as something that customers can’t live without. You want to become an essential part of people’s everyday lives, so they think of you whenever they need your services.

Strengthen your Marketing Efforts

Branding is an essential part of all marketing efforts. It’s the foundation of your marketing strategy, and it extends beyond just your logo and website. The logo, website, social media channels and marketing materials are the first ways customers will interact with your brand. Your logo and colour scheme are important parts of your branding strategy. They help customers identify your company and build brand recognition and loyalty. When choosing or redesigning your logo, it’s important to consider your target audience and what message your logo conveys. You want your logo to reflect the qualities associated with your company and be memorable. You also want to make sure your logo is scalable, meaning it can be applied to different types of media, like business cards, brochures, t-shirts and yard signs.

Strong Brands Drives Revenue

Strong branding allows you to charge higher prices for your products and services. Customers who recognize your brand will likely pay more for your products and services since they’re buying from a trusted name. 

When you’re creating your branding strategy, it’s important to consider your target market and what your company does. Focus on creating a brand that will resonate with your target market. For example, if you’re creating a branding strategy for an accounting firm, you may want to focus on reliability and trustworthiness. You want your clients to feel as though you’re an indispensable part of their lives. When your clients see your logo, hear your brand name and experience the work you do for them, they’ll associate the positive feelings with your brand. When customers see your brand and experience your products or services, they’ll connect your brand with the positive feelings they have. This will increase brand recognition and help you drive revenue.

A 14-year study by McKinsey & Company revealed that top-ranked brands outperformed the world market as measured by return to shareholders by 74%.

Specifically, having a high-performing brand helped companies:

• Overcome commoditization
• Demand a premium price
• Shorten the sales cycle
• Increase sales volume
• Attract and retain top talent
• Build authentic culture
• Improve customer experience

How a Brand Strategist can help you with your business

Are you ready to take your business to the next level and make a lasting impression on your target audience? Twelve-o-one can be the key to making that happen. With our market research, brand positioning, and marketing strategy, we can help you develop a brand identity that is not only unique but also resonates with your target audience and differentiates you from your competition.

Whether you’re launching a new business, rebranding, or facing increased competition, we can guide you through the process of creating a brand that truly represents your business and its values. Don’t settle for a generic brand, one phone call can help you think more clearly about what areas of your business you want to improve and create a truly exceptional one that will set you apart and help your business thrive.

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