How the Instagram Growth Algorithm Really Works

Think of Instagram like a consignment boutique.

Instagram owns the shop – they pay the rent, they keep the lights on (AKA the platform).

You provide the products – your content.

Instagram brings in the customers – the users on the app.

The better your product (your content), the more attention you get. The more attention you get, the more Instagram promotes you.

When your content consistently performs, Instagram recognizes you as a go-to “vendor.” Your posts get a front-window display spot (Explore Page, Feed priority), bringing in new foot traffic and building trust.

Instagram’s incentive? They want satisfied shoppers who keep coming back—and your content is what makes that happen.

The takeaway: Instagram is a partnership. They want your content to do well, because it keeps people on the app. Your job is to make content that gets engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves), because that signals to Instagram that it’s worth showing to more people.

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Prepare Your Profile for Growth

Before you apply these hacks, make sure your Instagram is ready to receive new followers and turn them into warm leads:

Tuesday: Optimize Your Bio

• Change your link in bio to a freebie opt-in page (→ Read: How to Create a Free Resource That Turns Browsers Into Buyers)
  
• Update bio copy to clearly state who you serve + what you help them do
  
• Example (VA for coaches): “Helping 6-figure coaches automate their business. – Grab the Client Onboarding Template”
  

Wednesday: Optimize Your Feed

• Pin 3 posts to the top of your profile:
  
  • Post 1: A blunt promo of your freebie
    
  • Post 2 + 3: Valuable posts related to your offer
    
• Example: A wellness coach could pin: “Free 3-Day Meal Plan”, “How I Rebalanced My Hormones”, “What No One Tells You About Burnout Recovery”
  

Thursday: Promote in Stories

• Share your freebie in Stories with a clear CTA
  
• Direct viewers to the two pinned posts for deeper value
  
• Example CTA: “Want the cheat sheet? Grab it via the link in bio & then read Post #2 for next steps!”
  

Friday & Beyond: Call in Leads

• Comment on ideal client posts, respond to Stories
  
• Engage with top 3 relevant hashtags
  
• Post Explore-friendly content (carousel, reels, etc.)
  
• Ask friends or peers to share your content for a reach boost
  

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17 Instagram Growth Hacks

1. Document a Process Your Leads Care About

What It Is: Think: how you create your protocols, your Q4 rebrand, copy updates, offer creation, new system you’re installing, or even reinvigorating your morning routine – shared through Lives, team takeovers, and “this or that” Story questions. This kind of consistent, interactive content gets people checking back, interacting, and bonding with you through the journey.

Example: A course creator shows how they’re rebuilding their launch funnel using sticky notes, voice notes, and AI tools on Stories over 10 days.

2. Go Heavy on Reels With Relatable Humor

What It Is: Use short, funny Reels with trending audio that tap into shared human experiences. Then run up views by:
A. Adding “watch until the end” on screen
B. Making text just 1–2 seconds too fast to read, to boost replays

Example: A biz coach uses trending audio: “When a client says, ‘I just need to pick your brain real quick’” and dramatically runs off camera.

A systems pro lip-syncs to “Am I the drama?” while acting out a designer stuck in round 84 of logo revisions… all because they never set a clear scope or onboarding process.

A service provider uses the audio: “It’s above me now” while pointing to their new boundaries, new rates, and no more Voxer on weekends.

A copywriter mouths along to a remix of “I ain’t doing it” while showing a blurry screen of someone asking for a 24-hour turnaround.

A coach uses trending audio to reenact someone asking for a payment plan on a $47 product.

3. Create a “Did They Just Lose It?” Moment

What It Is: Make a dramatic visual shift to spark curiosity and reengagement.

Example: A branding expert archives their entire feed and re-releases a curated brand relaunch – new palette, message, and freebie drop.

4. Post a Vulnerable Throwback

What It Is: Share a raw or emotional story that humanizes you and deepens audience connection. (i.e Lauryn Bosstick’s jaw surgery picture is personal, vulnerable, and different from what she normally shares).

Example: A health coach shares an old photo from their PCOS flare-up days. Caption: “This was me at my lowest. Here’s what changed.”

5. Launch a 3-Part Series on a Hot Topic

What It Is: Release a post series around one topic to generate binge-worthy engagement. Add a CTA to drop a comment if they’re liking the series, have any questions, or read each of the posts.

Example: A legal coach drops a series: “3 Contract Mistakes That Could Kill Your Next Launch” and encourages followers to read all three.

6. Use “Go to My Stories for More” as Your Caption CTA

What It Is: Create urgency and real-time energy by pointing people to Stories.

Example: A money coach posts budgeting myths and ends with: “I’m unpacking 2 more in Stories. Don’t miss #2.”

7. Start a Broadcast Channel

What It Is: Use this feature to create intimacy and ongoing access to exclusive tips. For example: Create yours around a specific topic for a season (like mine here “Create a Signature Offer”). Or, something consistent and on-brand for your entire business (like Taylor’s here “A Little Bit of Legal”).

Example: A course creator launches a channel called “Passive Income Power Plays” to drop 1 tip/day for 14 days.

8. Collaborate With Peers

What It Is: Cross-pollinate via old-school Story takeovers, a freebie swap (send each other’s opt-ins to your lists or post on socials), collab posts, or guest speaking in each other’s programs or podcasts.

Bonus tip: Have the CTA be “Follow me + DM [keyword]” for a bonus freebie tied to the training.

Example: A photographer and a brand designer swap freebies and guest on each other’s Stories.

9. Show Up in Communities + on Aligned Content from Larger Accounts

What It Is: Go where your people already hang out and contribute to the conversation.

Example: A mindset coach attends another coach’s Live and drops a valuable insight in the comments – people click to learn more.

10. Share DMs (With Permission) to Your Stories

What It Is: Social proof that you’re having real convos + delivering value. It shows you’re present and responding with insight when people reach out.

Example: A web designer shares a client DM: “Just hit 10 sales this week! Site is killing it!” + caption: “You love to see it”

11. Turn Old Content Into a Mini Scavenger Hunt

What It Is: Make your profile stickier by gamifying older posts. Update CTAs to a new freebie or follow, then add those to a Highlight. Prompt people to hunt for keywords or takeaways and DM them to win a prize (bonus resource, discount, shoutout, etc.).

Example: A strategist hides codes in 3 older carousels, then posts: “Find all 3 and DM me for a prize 👀”

12. Create a Custom Hashtag for Your Community

What It Is: Create a custom hashtag and encourage others to use it in exchange for feedback/insight: Scroll through the hashtag and DM them to say “I saw your use of the hashtag, let’s talk about XYZ!”

Example: A productivity coach uses #PowerHourWithPaige and DMs users who post using it: “Loved your share – want a free 5-min audit?”

13. Create a Close Friends Story for Exclusive Tips

What It Is: Create a Close Friends IG Story to share juiciest tips + bonus or early bird opportunities and extra funny or personal moments. Every week you add to the list and the first X amount of people to respond to a CTA will be added to close friends for the next week. Tease on Main Stories what you’re sharing on Close Friends so it becomes a sought after place that people routinely watch. (→ Read: 20 Days of IG Story + Close Friends Prompts to Warm & Woo Buyers)

Example: A launch strategist shares early bird details, client wins, and unfiltered opinions with 50 Close Friends subscribers. New viewers have to request access weekly.

14. Random Giveaway for Story Watchers

What It Is: Reward regular watchers with surprise value to show paying attention pays off! 

Example: “First person to reply to this Story with gets a 15-min audit on me.”

15. Share a “Fill in the Blank” Story Template

What It Is: Crowdsource story shares by creating engaging templates. Share a fun “fill in the blank” template to your feed or Stories for others to screenshot and reshare, or share to their stories with their answer (bingo, this year I’m welcoming in, my horoscope says, my favorite word is) w/ prize for favorite use at the end of the month.

Example: A brand coach creates “2025 is my year of ______” template. Favorite reshare gets a bonus brand audit.

16. Use Instagram’s New Features

What It Is: Show the algorithm you’re an early adopter and increase favorability. 

Example: A visibility coach hosts a LIVE on Threads strategy and posts a carousel with results after 7 days of using it.

17. Stick to the Old Standbys (Because They Still Work)

What It Is: Don’t forget foundational best practices.

• Let Stories expire for 24h before posting again for increased visibility
  
• Interact 10 minutes before/after your post
  
• Share your carousel to Stories twice: once with the cover, once with a juicy slide
  
  Example: A social media manager shares a storytelling slide from their carousel, then reshapes it as a poll slide the next day.
  

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Next Step: Convert New Followers Into Buyers

Growth is just the first step. To build real momentum, you need to turn that new visibility into sales.

The next move? Start creating content that converts.

→ Read: How to Create Content That Converts

You’ll learn:

• What to post to spark subconscious “I need this” energy
  
• How to warm your leads up to buy without over-explaining
  
• Post styles and strategies that generate sales on repeat
  

The result? A content ecosystem that not only grows your reach – but grows your revenue.

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Which growth hack are you trying first? Share it in the comments or DM me on Instagram – I’d love to see it in action.