Despite continuous explanations and updates, many questions remain about Instagram's algorithm, especially regarding how to improve reach and impact a larger audience. In this regard, both the platform itself and its CEO, Adam Mosseri, occasionally release informative tidbits, revealing some key insights to users. What helps you reach more people on Instagram? One thing we know for sure is that Instagram is the platform for building community. And without interacting with your audience, that community doesn't exist. That's why the Creators account has shared some tips. You need to focus on authentic interactions. This way, you'll increase your reach thanks to the engagement you generate with your followers. For example, you can do this by replying to or liking comments on your Reels. And as a little trick, if you reply to comments two or three days later, they'll be more effective. Furthermore, given that the platform is increasingly focused on Reels, it's essential to maintain high-quality content. Ensure your videos have at least a 720p resolution and 30 frames per second. This is standard for any camera or smartphone from recent years; seriously, you don't need to buy an iPhone. One of the most underrated tools is Instagram's music feature. Both the platform and Adam Mosseri have repeatedly recommended including audio in posts, whether videos, stories, or carousels, but especially in the latter. Why? Because carousels have twice the chance of appearing in the feeds of your followers (and non-followers), and even more so if they're accompanied by trending audio. A photo carousel has two impacts on the feed: first, it shows the initial image, and then, if the user doesn't interact with the post, it later shows them the carousel again with the second image. Additionally, if your reel includes music, it may appear in the Reels feed. Remember: Trending Reels that include music and sounds are given significant weight when determining how to rank and recommend them to new audiences. Last but not least, analyzing your account and content statistics will help you understand who views your posts and what they enjoy most. Consequently, you'll know what type of content resonates best with your community. What hurts your reach It seems obvious, but it's worth reiterating. Sharing anything that violates the platform's recommendation guidelines, including clickbait, will negatively impact your reach. Of course, posting someone else's content as your own, or copying and reposting other people's content, is not a good idea. Once detected, the algorithm will stop recommending your content. We've mentioned this before, but don't upload posts with third-party watermarks (ahem, videos with the CapCut watermark, ahem) because Instagram might decide not to recommend them to new users. That's why we recommend using Instagram's own video editing app, Edits. Plus, if you upload your content directly from this app, Instagram will give it a little boost. You might be interested in: These are the CapCut alternatives for exporting videos without watermarks and adding subtitles Instagram is made for short videos; they've made it clear on more than one occasion that they don't want videos longer than 3 minutes. In fact, if they exceed that time limit, they won't reach new audiences. It's much more useful to focus that effort on creating different videos and dividing the content into parts. This way, you can create a "series" and generate more content. Tips for Creating Engaging Content A visual hook at the beginning of your video, a question that grabs your attention… Yes, all of that works, but what does Instagram recommend? The more people who identify with your content, the better. What you should aim for, marketer, is that the user sees your content and says, “Wow, that’s literally me!” This increases the likelihood that they’ll like it, leave a comment, save it, or share it in their stories or with their friends. Create content that invites conversation, such as asking your audience for their opinion using the platform’s tools like polls, the question box, and emoji buttons. Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to pay attention. The first three seconds of a video are crucial in content creation. That’s where the user decides whether to stay or leave. Make sure that what you want to convey is perfectly clear even without sound. Subtitles are a very useful tool, and they also make the content more accessible, so use them.