How Do Social Media Algorithms Work? (And How Can You Beat Them?)
Social media algorithms are complex computer programs that are used to personalize the content that users see on their feeds. The specific details of how these algorithms work can vary from platform to platform, but they generally use a combination of machine learning, natural language processing, and other techniques to determine what content to show to each user.
Here is a general overview of how social media algorithms work:
Collecting data: Social media algorithms collect data on user behavior, such as likes, shares, comments, and clicks, as well as demographic information, such as age and location.
Identifying patterns: The algorithms use this data to identify patterns in user behavior and preferences, such as the types of content that a user is most likely to engage with.
Personalizing the feed: The algorithms use this information to personalize the content that is shown to each user, by prioritizing the posts that are most likely to be relevant and interesting to them.
Continuously learning: The algorithms are designed to continuously learn and adapt based on new data, such as changes in user behavior or preferences.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: The algorithms now also use AI and machine learning to understand the context of the post, recognizing images and videos and using natural language processing to understand the post.
It's important to note that these algorithms also take into account other factors, such as the recency of the post, the popularity of the post, and the relationship between the user and the person who posted the content.
The ultimate goal of these algorithms is to provide users with a personalized, engaging experience that keeps them coming back to the platform.
How can brands "beat" the algorithms?
While toppling the algorithm with every post might ultimately prove impossible, there are several strategies that brands can use to beat social media algorithms and achieve higher growth on social media platforms:
Create high-quality, engaging content: Social media algorithms prioritize content that is engaging and relevant to users. Brands should focus on creating high-quality, visually-appealing content that is likely to be shared and engaged with by their audience.
Use video content: Video content tends to perform well on social media platforms and can help brands to reach a larger audience and increase engagement.
Use hashtags and keywords: Brands can use relevant hashtags and keywords to increase the visibility of their posts and to reach a larger audience.
Engage with your audience: Social media algorithms favor content from accounts that are actively engaging with their audience. Brands should respond to comments and messages, and engage in conversations with their followers to increase engagement and reach.
Collaborate with influencers: Brands can collaborate with influencers in their industry to reach a larger audience and to increase the chances of their content being shared and engaged with.
Use paid promotion: Brands can use paid promotion options, such as sponsored posts or ads, to reach a larger audience and to increase visibility for their content.
Invest in AI and Machine Learning: Brands can invest in AI and machine learning technologies to better understand the content, audience and the platform to make their strategy more data-driven, and to optimize the content for maximum engagement.
Analyze data and optimize: Brands should regularly analyze data and metrics, such as engagement and reach, to understand the performance of their content and campaigns, and to optimize their strategies.
By implementing these strategies, brands can increase the visibility and engagement of their content, and ultimately achieve higher growth on social media platforms. While some may argue that this doesn't truly constitute beating the robots, it should at least give you a fighting chance.