2. How does the Story Instagram algorithm work?
Instagram looks at your past activity with Stories to decide which ones to put at the top of your feed. If you often reply, tap stickers, or react to Stories from certain accounts, Instagram assumes you’ll want to see more from them and pushes those Stories higher.
Engagement is the key signal here: the more you interact, the more visible that account’s Stories become.
For example, @ribble_cycles uses Instagram poll stickers in their Stories to spark quick interactions. Polls, quizzes, and questions are simple ways to boost replies and keep your Stories showing up front and center.
These are some of the signals Instagram uses to decide which Stories show up first:
- How often you’ve watched Stories from a particular creator or account in the past few weeks.
- The regularity with which you engage or interact with a creator’s Stories.
- How often you’ve interacted with the creator (via DMs, comments, mentions, etc.)
By aligning Stories based on these personalized proxies, signals, and predictions, Instagram aspires to prioritize Stories from those you have the deepest connections with or care about the most.
Here is how you can ensure that your Instagram Stories gain the view count and engagement you want:
- Host AMAs.
- Share polls.
- Give exclusive offers.
Tip #1: Host AMAs
Hosting AMAs (“Ask Me Anything”) is a great way to boost your Story visibility. They naturally spark replies, reactions, and longer viewing time, all things Instagram’s algorithm picks up as signs of engaging content.
Posting multiple Stories throughout the day also helps keep your profile active and near the top of followers’ feeds. Stickers like polls, questions, or quizzes give your audience an easy way to interact, which the algorithm rewards with more reach.
When people send in questions or interact with your AMA, it’s another clear signal to Instagram that your content matters, helping future Stories get pushed higher in the lineup.
Tip #2: Share polls
Polls are a quick way to get people tapping on your Stories. Every vote counts as engagement, which tells Instagram your content is worth showing to more followers.
Since polls make people pause and think before answering, they also keep viewers on your Story a little longer, another plus for visibility. Instagram keeps adding new stickers and interactive tools, so using them regularly is an easy way to stay engaging without much extra effort.
Tip #3: Give exclusive offers
Sharing exclusive deals in Instagram Stories is one of the easiest ways to grab attention. Limited-time offers create urgency and push followers to act fast, which quickly boosts engagement.
When people expect more deals to come, they’ll keep checking your Stories. That consistent activity signals to Instagram that your content is worth showing higher up. Plus, flash sales and promos often get reshared, spreading your reach even further.
3. How does the Explore Page Instagram algorithm work?
Instagram’s Explore page works a lot like the feed and Stories: it looks at how people interact with content. But here, the focus is on surfacing posts that match each user’s personal interests. Likes, saves, and shares carry the most weight.
But here’s the catch: the algorithm only works in your favor if your content aligns with your niche. If you run a coffee shop, posting about trending beans or brewing methods makes sense. If you’re a fitness trainer, your strategy should stick to workout tips, nutrition advice, or wellness trends (not coffee) because that’s what will attract the right audience for your business.
To boost your chances of getting featured on Explore, use hashtags that match your niche, ride trends relevant to your industry, and create posts that directly connect with your ideal audience.
Here are three tips to get featured on the Instagram “Explore” page:
- Use relevant hashtags and keywords.
- Add location tags.
- Collaborate with others.
Tip #1: Use relevant hashtags and keywords
Using relevant hashtags and keywords is more than just a way to categorize your content; it’s about providing essential information about the post and ensuring it reaches the right audience.
By incorporating the right hashtags, your photos and videos become discoverable to a broader target audience thanks to hashtag pages. This means visibility to those who might not be your followers but share similar interests.
Instagram’s algorithm ranks content based on its relevance, and one way it gauges this is by evaluating the hashtags used in relation to users’ interests and behavior.
Instagram’s Carol Lynn mentions that using relevant, high-quality hashtags is crucial for content discovery on Instagram. Rather than adding a large number of generic hashtags, focus on those that are directly related to your content.
She also highlights that generic hashtags like “Reels” can hurt your post performance because Instagram prioritizes engagement. If your content doesn’t engage the initial audience, it won’t be recommended to more users, ultimately reducing its reach and effectiveness.
