Feeling at the mercy of the mysterious Instagram algorithm? You’re not alone – every brand wants to know “How do I get my posts seen by more people?”. The good news: while the algorithm does “its thing,” there are proven strategies to make it work for you, not against you. Here at Brand-io, we’ve studied the 2025 algorithm updates closely, and we’re spilling the secrets to boost your reach and engagement. Let’s hack this algorithm together! 🚀

What’s the Deal with the Algorithm? Instagram’s algorithm is basically a set of rules that decides which posts show up (and in what order) on people’s feeds, the Explore page, Reels feed, etc. In 2025, it’s smarter than ever. It looks at tons of signals – what content a user has liked, what accounts they interact with, the content format (Reel vs pic), and much morelater.comlater.com. The goal for Instagram is to keep users engaged on the app, so the algorithm favors content that it thinks people will engage with.

Top Algorithm Hacks for 2025: (These are the very tactics Brand-io uses to get our clients trending!)

• Drive Interactions (Engagement is 🔑): The algorithm heavily rewards posts that get engagement – especially quickly after postinglater.com. Likes, comments, saves, and shares are gold. The more you get, the more Instagram will boost your post to others. Tip: Encourage engagement in your captions. For example, ask questions or tell viewers “Double-tap if you agree 👍” or “Tag a friend who needs to see this!” – those prompts really worklater.com. (Instagram confirmed that comments and likes are important ranking signalslater.com.)
  
• Use Instagram’s New Features (Reels, Stories stickers, etc.): Instagram gives a little extra love to new or priority features. In 2025, Reels are still king for reach, and interactive Story stickers (polls, emoji sliders, question boxes) can boost your Stories’ ranking. Using a poll or question sticker on your first Story of the day can hook viewers to engagelater.com – the algorithm notices that and will show your Stories to more people. 🗳️
  
• Hashtags & SEO still matter: Instagram has become like a mini search engine. Using relevant hashtags and keywords can help new people discover your content. Even 5-10 well-chosen hashtags can significantly increase your reachlater.com. Also, sprinkle keywords in your captions (think what your audience might search for). For instance, Brand-io might use keywords like social media marketing, Instagram growth in our posts for SEO. This makes your content more discoverable via the Explore page and searchlater.com.
  
• Optimize for “Views”: Here’s a 2025 insider tip – Instagram’s analytics now emphasize Views over Likes. That suggests the algorithm is rewarding content that gets viewed a lot (hello Reels and videos)later.com. So focus on content that people will watch or view repeatedly. Short videos with high retention, carousel posts that encourage swipes, and compelling thumbnails can improve your view count. And guess what – more views can lead to better ranking in feedslater.com.
  
• Post Consistently and at Optimal Times: Consistency trains the algorithm (and your audience) that you’re active. You don’t need to post daily, but set a schedule (e.g. 3-4 times a week) and stick to it. Also, post when your audience is online and active. Generally, mid-mornings during weekdays are a sweet spot. For example, studies found Mondays through Thursdays around 10am–3pm tend to see high engagement on Instagramsproutsocial.com. Use your Insights to find your specific top time slots and plan content for those windows. (Brand-io Pro Tip: We use data-driven scheduling for our clients – no guesswork in timing! 📊)
  

Quality Over Quantity (Seriously): In 2025, user feeds are more competitive than ever, and users are a bit fatigued. The algorithm doesn’t just count that people engaged, but how much and how long. So one super-engaging post can outperform three mediocre ones. It’s better to post fewer, higher-quality pieces than to flood feeds. Instagram’s own team suggests knowing your niche, creating engaging content, and being consistent – then let the algorithm handle the restlater.com. In other words, content that is informative, entertaining, or inspiring will naturally get more interactions (and then more reach). So put in that effort – or let Brand-io help you craft scroll-stopping content. 😉

Don’t Forget Instagram SEO: Many people now use Instagram’s search bar like Google. In addition to hashtags, make sure your profile name and bio include keywords related to your niche. For example, if you’re a bakery, having “Bakery” or “Cupcakes” in your name/bio can help you show up when users search those terms. It’s an easy tweak for passive discoverylater.com.

Engage, Engage, Engage: Lastly, the algorithm isn’t just about how people engage with your content, but also how you engage with others. If you interact genuinely with your followers (reply to comments, like their posts, etc.), those people are more likely to see your new posts. Plus, building community is what Brand-io is all about. The algorithm is ultimately trying to serve people content from accounts they have relationships with – so build those relationships! 🤝

By mastering these tactics, you’ll be signaling the algorithm that your content is worth sharing widely. Brand-io’s clients often see exponential growth by doing just this – combining creative content with algorithmic savvy. Remember, algorithms change, but the principle stays: make content people love, and Instagram will love you.

Sources: Later Media’s algorithm tips for 2025later.comlater.com, Sprout Social on best posting timessproutsocial.com.