How to Fix the Instagram Algorithm

If your Instagram reach has plummeted and it feels like you're creating content for an empty room, you aren't imagining things. You're simply playing by the old rules while the algorithm has moved on. This guide will walk you through exactly how the modern Instagram algorithm works and give you a straightforward, actionable plan to get your content seen by the right people again.

First Things First: You Can't "Fix" the Algorithm, But You Can Master It

Let's clear the air: there isn't a secret "fix" or a magic button to make the algorithm love you. The concept of a single, all-powerful "algorithm" is outdated. Instead, Instagram uses a combination of different algorithms and ranking systems, each tailored to a specific part of the app - Reels, Feed, Stories, and the Explore page.

However, they all share one primary goal: to keep users on the platform for as long as possible by showing them content they are most likely to enjoy and interact with. This is your north star. Thinking "How can I fix the algorithm?" is the wrong frame of mind. The right question is, "How can I create content that aligns with the algorithm's goal?" When you optimize for a better user experience, the algorithm rewards you. It’s not about fighting the system, it’s about working with it.

Essentially, every piece of content you post is a test. Instagram shows it to a small group of your followers first. If they interact positively with it, Instagram shows it to a wider audience, and so on. Your job is to understand what those "positive interactions" are for each content format.

Understanding the Key Signals Instagram Values Most

The algorithm doesn’t guess. It tracks thousands of behavioral signals to determine what content is valuable. While "likes" used to be the dominant metric, they are now one of the weakest signals of content quality. The system now prioritizes actions that indicate a deeper level of interest. Understanding your engagement rate can help you gauge content quality. Here’s what matters most for each format in 2024.

For Reels: Watch Time and Re-watches Are Everything

Reels are Instagram's engine for new audience discovery. The algorithm's primary goal here is pure, unadulterated entertainment and "stickiness" - how long can a video hold someone's attention?

• The Most Important Signals: How long a viewer watches your Reel (watch time), if they watch it more than once (loops), if they share it with a friend via DM, and if they save it. Comments and likes are secondary. A viewer tapping to your profile after seeing a Reel is also a strong positive signal.
• Actionable Advice: Your first three seconds are non-negotiable. You have to give the viewer a compelling reason not to scroll. This could be a bold text hook ("Here's one mistake you’re making..."), a visual transition, or a question. Build your Reels for re-watch value. Think about short tutorials, satisfying time-lapses, unexpected twists, or relatable comedy that people want to see again. Utilizing trending audio can also significantly boost discoverability.

For Feed Posts (Photos &, Carousels): Focus on Saves and Shares

The Instagram feed is now more about nurturing your existing community than explosive reach. The goal here is to provide genuine value and spark conversation. The algorithm looks for signs that your content is useful, informative, or resonant enough for someone to revisit later.

• The Most Important Signals: Saves and Shares are your bread and butter here. A save indicates your content is so valuable someone wants to keep it. A share means it was good enough to pass along. Time spent on the post (especially swiping through a carousel) and genuine comments are also very strong signals.
• Actionable Advice: Stop posting just for the like. Create content designed to be saved. Examples include: tutorials broken down in a carousel, a quote graphic that resonates, a detailed checklist, or a "save this for later" resource. Carousels are fantastic for getting people to spend more time on your post. Use them to tell a story or teach a multi-step process.

For Stories: Interaction Is the Name of the Game

Stories are designed for relationship-building. While their reach is limited primarily to your followers, they strongly influence how often your feed posts and Reels get shown to those same people. Active engagement on your Stories signals the algorithm that a follower is highly interested in your account.

• The Most Important Signals: Any action a viewer can take. This includes polls, quizzes, sliders, sticker taps, and - most powerfully - DMs sent in reply to a story. Straight views with no interaction are a weak signal.
• Actionable Advice: Make every story interactive. Don't just post a photo, add a poll. Don't just share a thought, use the question sticker to invite responses. Consistently using interactive elements trains your audience to engage with your content. Ask questions that prompt a personal response via DM. For example, instead of “Do you like coffee?” ask “What's your go-to coffee order?”

Actionable Strategies to Send the Right Signals (Your "Fix" Plan)

Knowing the signals is one thing, consistently creating content that triggers them is another. Here’s a strategic plan to put that knowledge into action.

Strategy 1: Niche Down to Serve a Specific Audience

If you're posting about your dog one day, business tips the next, and your favorite smoothie recipe after that, you're confusing both your audience and the algorithm. The algorithm works by building an understanding of who your content is for. When it has a clear idea of your ideal viewer, it can find more people just like them.

A focused niche signals expertise and reliability. Your followers know what to expect, and the algorithm knows who to show your content to. Define 3–5 content pillars (sub-topics within your niche) and rotate through them consistently. Your bio and your last nine posts should immediately communicate what your account is about. Using relevant hashtags also helps the algorithm understand your content's topic.

Strategy 2: Create a Content Mix That Balances Reach and Community

Going all-in on one format is a mistake. Relying only on Reels might get you views, but without value-packed carousels to nurture that new audience, they won’t stick around. Diversify your content to play to the strengths of each format and send a wide range of positive signals to the algorithm.

A strong weekly content mix could look like this:

• 3 Reels: Targeted at discovery and attracting new followers with entertaining or highly shareable content.
• 2 "Value" Carousels: Designed to be saved and shared, educating your existing community and new followers.
• Daily Stories: Focused on building relationships and turning followers into a true community through daily interaction.

Strategy 3: Optimize for Consistency and Timing

Consistency isn't just about how often you post, it's about being reliable. Showing up regularly trains your followers to look for your content and tells the algorithm that you're an active and valuable creator. Burnout is real, so choose a schedule you can actually stick to - whether that’s four times a week or every single day. The rhythm is more important than the volume.

Timing your posts to coincide with when most of your audience is online maximizes your opportunity for that crucial initial engagement. Check your Instagram Insights (Professional Dashboard >, Account Insights >, Total Followers) to find your audience's most active days and hours, and schedule your content to go live then.

Strategy 4: Foster Real Community by Responding to Everything

Engagement isn't a one-way street. When a post starts to get comments, Instagram is watching closely. Responding to every single comment (especially within the first hour) literally doubles your comment count and signals that your post is fostering an active conversation. This can be one of the most powerful catalysts for getting your content pushed out to a wider audience.

This goes for DMs, too. Answering questions and having conversations in DMs builds incredible loyalty. That loyalty translates into those followers becoming your biggest advocates, actively engaging with all your content and providing the strong, early signals the algorithm loves to see.

Common Mistakes Silently Hurting Your Reach

Finally, sometimes "fixing" the algorithm is about stopping what's holding you back. Avoid these common missteps:

• Posting Ghosting: Publishing a post and then immediately closing the app is a huge missed opportunity. As mentioned above, that first hour is your golden window to engage with early commenters.
• Using Follower Trains or Engagement Pods: These inauthentic engagement tactics are easily spotted by the algorithm and can severely limit your reach. Genuine connection always wins.
• Posting Low-Quality or Watermarked Videos: Instagram has been explicit about deprioritizing video content that is visibly recycled from other platforms (like a TikTok watermark) or is low-resolution. Always upload the highest quality video possible.
• Ignoring Your Insights: Instagram Analytics gives you a free roadmap to what's working. If you're not regularly checking which posts get the most saves or which Reels have the best watch time, you're flying blind. Double down on what resonates.

Final Thoughts

The key to working with the Instagram algorithm isn't a secret hack, but a strategic shift. It’s about moving from a mindset of chasing likes to one of building community, providing value people want to save, and creating content that holds attention. When you start consistently sending the algorithm the right signals, you stop feeling like you're fighting it and start feeling like it’s finally on your side.

Keeping track of a diverse content plan, posting it at the optimal times, and replying to every comment and DM can feel like a full-time job. It’s the exact frustration we faced, which is why we built Postbase. Our visual content calendar helps us plan a smart content mix of Reels, carousels, and stories, and our unified inbox funnels all comments and messages into one place. This makes it far easier to engage quickly and consistently - sending all the right signals without turning community management into a chore.