Understanding Instagram & The Algorithm: The New Rules of Engagement

  • Why Instagram isn’t just about dances — it’s a unique content culture.
  • Instagram Algorithm
  • How the algorithm works and why you can grow even with zero followers.
  • What impacts reach: retention, RPM, qualified views
  • Growth Strategy from Scratch
  • How to start without a budget or team.
  • Simple steps for consistent organic growth.

How to Start Your Instagram Blog (Without Losing Your Mind)

Thinking about starting an Instagram blog but have no clue where to begin? Don’t worry — we’ve all been there.

This guide is here to walk you through the mess of overthinking, endless niches, and “which filter should I use?” questions.
  • Step 1: Pick a Topic That Doesn’t Bore You to Death
    No need to chase trends — pick something you actually enjoy.

    Ask yourself:
    • What do I love talking about?
    • What do my friends always ask me for advice on?
    • Could I post about this for a few months and not go crazy?

    Don't stress about the “perfect niche.” You’ll figure it out as you go — seriously
  • Step 2: See What’s Already Out There
    Before posting, do a little stalking (the productive kind):
    • Who’s doing well in your space?
    • What kind of posts do they make?
    • What’s missing that you could bring to the table?
    You're not trying to copy them — just get inspired and see what works.
  • Step 3: Set Up Your Page
    You don’t need everything to be perfect, but having a solid base helps.

    Start with:
    • A bio that says who you are and what your page is about
    • A decent profile photo (it doesn’t have to be professional)
    • A few posts that give people a reason to follow
    Bonus: some Story Highlights if you’re feeling fancy
  • Step 4: Make a Simple Game Plan
    We’ll get into the juicy stuff later — like Reels, captions, engagement tricks, and how not to burn out.

    But for now, just know this: You don’t need to be a pro editor or go viral overnight. You just need to show up, be real, and keep showing up.

    Ready? Let’s get into it
Your All-In-One Guide to Crushing It & Cashing In on Instagram
Alright, let's cut through the noise and get straight to what actually works on Instagram today. If you want to grow your account, connect with more people, build a business, or just make some extra cash, Instagram is definitely a place you need to be.

Millions of people are on it daily, and a huge chunk of them follow businesses.
  • It's 2025
    And the social media industry has become an incredibly profitable one... and yes this may mean that the influencer space is a highly saturated one, but it's also highly profitable at every level.
Your rates will depend on a few things, your size, your engagement and what you feel your time in worth.

There are online calculators that will give you a fee based only on follower and engagement metrics but I want you to also consider the value of your content, the time it takes you, the expertise you have and the products & equipment you’ve purchased to make this piece of content possible.

Now you may need to start off working with a brand on a gifting basis (this is where your payment comes in the form of gifting from the brand).

However once you've built a good relationship with them there is no reason you can't express interest in paid work.
First off, if you're still judging your success only by likes, you're missing the bigger picture.

Instagram isn't just a photo feed anymore. Engagement now means way more than just likes and comments.

Think:
  • Views (and how long people watch)
  • Shares
  • Saves
  • Taps on stickers (like polls or Q&As in Stories)
  • Direct Messages (DMs)
Feeling like your growth has stalled? You're not alone. But don't bail! You just need to shift your focus. Your attention (and your content) should be spread across:

  • Reels
  • Instagram Stories
  • Instagram LIVE
  • The Feed
The Secret Sauce: Content That Actually Connects
To get your current followers re-engaged (which helps new people find you), your content needs to hit one of these marks
  • Entertaining: Makes 'em laugh, smile, or feel good.
  • Educational: Teaches them something new or useful.
  • Controversial (use wisely!): Sparks a (respectful) debate or strong opinions.
  • Instructional: Shows them how to do something.
  • Inspirational/Motivational: Lifts them up or encourages them.
  • Humor/Relatable: "OMG, that's so me!" type stuff.
Stop the "White Noise":
  • Is your content looking like everyone else's?
  • Are you posting the same old stuff?
If it's not genuinely serving your audience with value, it's just becoming background noise. Instagram's main goal is to keep people on the platform longer.

This means they're pushing content that inspires conversation, gets shared, or gets saved. People are craving real, so ditch the overly polished, unrealistic stuff.
Before you post, ask yourself:

  1. "Is this shareable?"
  2. "Would this provide value to someone who doesn't know me?"
  3. If yes, post it! Even if it's not "perfect" or doesn't match your feed aesthetic. Quality (of value) and consistency are key.
WHAT TO DO
1. INSTAGRAM REELS: Your Organic Reach Supercharger
Accessing & Creating: Find "Reels" in your Stories camera. You can upload pre-made videos or record directly. You'll see icons to add music, adjust recording speed (for slow-mo or sped-up effects), set a hands-free timer, and choose your Reel's length (15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds).
Reels are short, vertical videos (like TikTok) that are super engaging and shareable. Instagram is heavily pushing them, so it's a prime way to get new eyeballs on your account.

And no, they're not just for dancing! Use them for quick, valuable, share-worthy content.
5 Quick Steps for Engaging Reels:

  1. Prepare: Jot down ideas/bullet points. Save audios you like. Find good lighting.
  2. Record: Film your Reel, add sound.
  3. Edit: Use the sticker, pen, or text tools. Pro Tip: Time your text to appear/disappear using the slider bars.
  4. Post: Choose an eye-catching cover image (you can select a frame or upload one). Add a related caption. Make sure "Also Share to Feed" is ON if you want it on your main grid.
  5. Maximize Views: Share your Reel to your Story and elaborate. Engage with comments and other accounts.
Reel Ideas
Reel Ideas:

  1. See what others in your niche are doing.
  2. Browse the Explore page for Reels and TikTok.
  3. Turn your old popular posts into Reels.
  • Tips for Killer Reels:
    • Hook 'em fast: Start with a question, interesting statement, or qualifying hook in the first 3 seconds.
    • Get to the point: Keep it concise unless there's a good reason for length.
    • Niche down: Provide content your ideal follower is searching for. Answer their questions (use Story Q&As for ideas!).
    • Eye-catching cover: Make people want to click! You can create simple ones in IG Stories or Canva.
    • Clear Call to Action (CTA): Tell people what to do next (e.g., "Share this with a friend," "Comment below," "DM me for more," "Follow for more tips," "Save this!").
    • Reply to comments quickly.
    • Post consistently. Imperfect and done is better than perfect and never posted.
    • Check your insights: See what topics, lengths, and CTAs perform best and do more of that.
BONUS HACK: Repurpose your Reels on YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, and TikTok!

More on that later in the guide.
Train the Instagram Algorithm to Be Your Bestie!
  • Understanding the Reel Algorithm (How it "Thinks"):
    1. You Post a Reel.
    2. Initial Push: The algorithm shows your content to about 20% of your most frequently engaged followers.
    3. User Interaction is Key
    • Users watch it once.
    • Users rewatch it. (HUGE plus!)
    • No engagement / Quick Scroll: (Not good for reach).
    • Users engage (Likes, Comments, Shares, Saves): (Algorithm loves this!).

    4. Аlgorithm's Decision:
    • Little Engagement/Views: Your Reel's reach might stall.
    • MORE Engagement/Views: The algorithm thinks, "Hey, people like this!" and pushes it out to MORE users on the Reels feed who might be interested.

    The Goal: Algorithm Becomes Your Bestie! More IG users see your content = more views & potential followers.
What Your "Bestie Algorithm" LOVES:
  • You put relevant HASHTAGS in your caption.
  • People REPLY to your STORIES.
  • You use KEYWORDS in your Instagram username & headline/name field.
  • You use the NEWEST Instagram FEATURES (they often prioritize content using new tools).
  • Your audience ENGAGES within the first hour of you posting (signals relevance).
  • You use ALL content FORMATS (Reels, single image posts, Lives, Carousels).
  • You post CONSISTENTLY.
  • You FOLLOW and ENGAGE with people in your NICHE.
  • When People Interact With
    (According to Instagram's Transparency Centre & general observations)

    They Follow You VIA Your Reel: How many people clicked "Follow" directly from your Reel?

    They Use the Audio From Your Reel: How many times did people click "Use audio" from your Reel?
Watch Time (Crucial!):

Whether they've been viewing Reels for more than 15 seconds generally. If they don't scroll past your Reel and finish watching it.

The algorithm looks at how much time users spend watching Reels overall, and how many Reels they spend less than three seconds watching (and who authored those quickly-skipped Reels).

This means you have to pour ALL your "first three seconds" energy into grabbing attention with a strong hook or super attractive visuals!
  • They RE-PLAY Your Reel at least once.
    SOLUTION: How to Make People Replay Your Reel?

    1. Create a short Reel (5-8 seconds) with a cool transition and trending audio (ideally under 5K uses).
    2. Add clear, simple text in the Reel (strong hook & great copywriting).
    3. Keep analyzing your insights! Check the "Audience Retention" – how many replays are you getting? Analyze what kind of content your audience enjoys watching multiple times.
They SHARE Your Reel (off or on Instagram).
SOLUTION: Create Shareable/Relatable Content!

  1. Tutorials, step-by-step guides, or quick, valuable tips are great for shares.
  2. Always address your audience's pain points/struggles, suggest solutions, and make relevant offers.
3 Important Reminders to Help "Train" the Algorithm:

  1. Posting Time: Aim for when your followers are most active
  2. Engage Back (and Out!): Respond to comments on your posts. Before and after posting your Reel, engage with at least 5 other accounts in your niche or that your followers engage with.
  3. Amplify on Stories: Share your new Reel to your Instagram Story immediately after posting it, with a compelling CTA to watch.
How to Make People Replay Your Reel (More Tips):
Tip #1:
Keep it Short! Aim for 5-8 seconds.
Tip #2:
Write a Long & Captivating Caption (with Engaging Emojis! ✨): When you want to emphasize some words. A long caption can make people re-play a shorter Reel because they're trying to read the interesting caption while the video loops.
Tip #3:
Strong Hook in Both Reel & Caption: Viewers need to be hooked by your Reel's visuals/text and intrigued by the caption to watch until the end and potentially re-watch.
2. INSTAGRAM STORIES: Build Deeper Connections
Over 70% of people spend more time on Stories than the feed! Stories are for showing the real, behind-the-scenes you, building trust, and turning followers into loyal fans.
The Stories Growth Formula:

  • Post captions: Most people watch with sound off. Summarize talking head videos. (You can use the built-in "Captions" sticker).
  • Post at regular intervals: Each new story bumps you to the front of their feed.
  • Be brief: Too many clips, and people swipe away, even if they love you.
  • Mix it up: Talking heads, text updates, photos, polls, quizzes – keep it interesting!
  • Make it interactive: Use stickers (polls, quizzes, sliders, Q&A) to get people tapping. This tells IG they like your stories.
  • Use Curiosity Marketing (more on this later!): Don't give everything away. Leave them wanting more so they ask questions.

3. INSTAGRAM LIVE: Convert Followers into Customers
Going Live is one of the fastest ways to get noticed. Your followers get a notification, and you pop up at the front of their Stories feed.
  • Keep it simple: Think of it as a casual chat on a topic you both find interesting. Share a few quick, valuable tips.
  • Get to the point early, then stay on to chat: The longer you're live and keeping people engaged, the more IG likes it.
  • Invite a guest: This is huge! When you co-host, their followers get notified too. Team up with creators in your niche (similar or larger following) to get new eyeballs.
4. THE IG FEED: Still Relevant
A healthy strategy includes videos and photos. Carousels and single photos can still get great reach. The best part? People are engaging with REAL content.
  • What, When & How to Post:
    • Goal = Engagement: Get people to take action (saves, shares, comments).
    • Faces work: Posts with faces (especially yours) tend to get more likes.
    • Videos often outperform photos.
    • Timing: Mornings often work well, and weekdays typically see more engagement than weekends. But test this for your own account!
    • Consistency is king: Don't let "perfect feed aesthetic" stop you from posting regularly. More posts = more growth.
    • Light & Bright: Well-lit content performs better. Vertical crops (taking up more screen) can also help.
    • Easy-to-Read Captions: Shorter is often better. If it's long, break it up with spaces.
  • Content That Gets Engagement:
    • Start Conversations: Post about controversy (again, carefully!), breaking news/pop culture, relatable humor, or even ask for help/opinions.
    • Get SHARED (Viral-Worthy): Think: "What's so valuable my ideal follower would share this?" Often falls into: breaking news, pop culture, relatable humor, calls for help/advice. Single images often get shared more than carousels or Reels.
    • Get SAVED: Saves tell IG "this is important." Create content people want to reference later: recipes, infographics, educational tips, motivational quotes. Carousels are gold for saves, especially with lots of educational value.
Supercharging Your Growth: Advanced Strategies
Run a Challenge:
Why: Grow your IG and email list (super important!). Collaborate with others.
How:

  1. Pick a topic (what can you help people with?).
  2. Set a duration (7 days or less is usually best).
  3. Plan & promote well in advance.
  4. Invite experts (not direct competitors) who add value (e.g., a nutrition coach might team up with a mindset coach, organizer, or fitness trainer for a holistic challenge). Everyone promotes, everyone grows.
Collaborations, Contests & Giveaways:
  • How:
    Team up with 5-6 accounts of similar size. Offer a valuable prize relevant to your target audience (check local rules on prize value limits).
  • Rules:
    Must include clear rules (e.g., age, location, entry requirements like following all accounts & tagging friends, start/end dates, how winners are chosen/notified). This can bring in thousands of new, targeted followers.
  • ⚠️ Important Note:
    While giveaways might seem like a quick growth hack, be very careful: they often kill long-term engagement and trust. Many participants join only for the prize and unfollow right after.

    Even worse — if you attract the wrong audience (people only interested in free stuff), the Instagram algorithm will see low engagement on future posts and deprioritize your content.

    Over time, this can lead to:
    • A bloated, unengaged audience
    • Drop in reach and saves
    • Misleading analytics
    • Difficulty converting followers into buyers
    If you still want to run a giveaway — make sure the prize is deeply relevant to your niche (not just iPhones or cash), and always prioritize quality > quantity.

Make Money with CURIOSITY MARKETING:
  • The Gist:
    Traditional, pushy sales are dead. Start conversations, serve genuinely. Don't lay out all product info; give bits and pieces that make people ask questions. Talk about the feeling or result, not just the product.
Example (Selling Shampoo):
DON'T: List product name, price, features, how to order.

DO: Share your confidence from thicker, healthier hair. Talk about how you used to feel (embarrassed by thinning hair) vs. how you feel now (excited to style it, feeling young). Then casually mention you switched shampoos and noticed amazing differences.

Outcome: People ask what you're using, instead of just Googling the product and buying elsewhere.
3 Principles of Curiosity Marketing:
  1. Be Real, Not a Copycat: Share your day, your genuine experiences. Don't adopt a fake "sales" persona.
  2. Don't Scream "I'M SELLING!": Avoid company names in your handle (like "@HerbalifeAmy"), plastering sales info in your bio, or making every post a pitch. People will run.
  3. Questions Win, Likes & Follows Wear Thin: Create valuable, niche content that inspires questions. Give some info, but not all, to pique curiosity.
Let's Wrap it up:
Reels are short, vertical videos (like TikTok) that are super engaging and shareable. Instagram is heavily pushing them, so it's a prime way to get new eyeballs on your account. And no, they're not just for dancing!

Use them for quick, valuable, share-worthy content.
Final thoughts:
Starting a successful Instagram blog isn’t about having the perfect feed — it’s about providing value, being authentic, and showing up consistently.

In 2025, Instagram is more than just a photo-sharing app. It’s a powerful platform to grow your brand, build trust, and monetize your expertise. You don’t need to go viral or be a pro editor. You just need a clear message, valuable content, and a willingness to connect.

Key takeaways:
  • Choose a topic you enjoy and can talk about endlessly — don’t force a niche you hate.
  • Study the space: learn from others, but carve out your unique voice.
  • Optimize your profile and start posting, even if it’s not perfect.
  • Use all IG formats: Reels, Stories, Lives, and Feed posts — each has its role.
  • Reels are your best shot at organic growth. Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds.
  • Stories are for trust-building and conversation. Use captions, polls, and curiosity.
  • Go Live to boost visibility and turn followers into buyers — especially with guests.
  • Focus on engagement signals IG loves: shares, saves, replies, and watch time.
  • Leverage Curiosity Marketing — hint at results, not products. Make people ask.
  • Ultimately, growth on Instagram doesn’t come from trying to be perfect. It comes from being useful, human, and consistent. Post the good stuff, talk to your audience, and let your content do the work.
Next
Previous