Social Media Algorithms: How to Stay Ahead of the Game In 2024

As an active social media creator, you may have noticed some low-effort posts going viral while your quality content falls flat. 

This isn’t to say that each viral piece is low quality, nor does it indicate you should opt for subpar content. 

The truth is that social media algorithms behind the scenes decide what gets seen and what doesn’t. 

If you understand how it works, you can tailor your strategy to get your quality content seen. Below, we help you crack the social media algorithm code and outpace your competitors. 

What Is an Algorithm in Social Media? 

An algorithm in social media refers to a set of rules and calculations that platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok use to decide what content appears on your screen. 

Say you love cute cat videos and often engage with them by liking, sharing, or commenting. The algorithm will pick up on this behavior and make sure you see more of those cat videos. 

Put simply, it curates your feed based on your preferences. This way, you never miss out on what you love most and end up spending more time on social media. 

You get to see your favorite stuff, and the platform gets higher user engagement - a win-win for everyone involved. 

How Do Social Media Algorithms Work? 

So, how do social media algorithms decide what shows up on someone’s feed? The truth is it differs from platform to platform. Here’s an overview of popular social media platforms and their algorithm preferences. 

Facebook

With over 2.8 million active users, Facebook is one of the largest social media channels. Yet, organic reach has become increasingly challenging for businesses. 

Even carefully crafted posts might not get seen by your target audience unless you understand how the algorithm works. 

So, what’s the social media algorithm definition for Facebook? Here are some key factors to consider. 

• Facebook values personal connections. According to Statistica, 30.1% of content views by US users came from posts published by their friends. This implies your brand’s posts need to feel personal to compete. 
• The algorithm heavily favors content from people you interact with regularly. If you like, comment on, or message someone’s profile more frequently, their posts will likely appear more often. As a marketer, you need to build genuine interactions with your audience to win over the algorithm. 
• If you frequently view a particular type of content, the algorithm shows you more of it. This means you need to know your audience’s content preferences. 
• Social media algorithm prioritizes posts that spark conversations and elicit strong reactions. The more people interact with your posts, the more the algorithm expands its reach.

Bonus Tips

• Engage your audience by asking open-ended questions. It could be a simple “What’s your favorite marketing tip?” or a more in-depth discussion starter. Questions often encourage comments and the algorithm loves it. You can also create a poll for quick participation. 

• Facebook Live videos are prioritized in the feed because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to see behind-the-scenes videos from their favorite brands? Live videos generate a lot of real-time interaction. If you aren’t comfortable doing a live video, opt for some other form of video content. 
• Analyze when your audience is most active on Facebook and schedule your posts accordingly. 
• Consider engaging in group discussions to establish yourself as an authority in your niche. It’ll also give you more organic reach. 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has over 310 million active monthly users. The platform has evolved far beyond its roots as a traditional job-search platform. Today, it’s a growing hub for content creation, personal branding, and networking. 

As more professionals flood the platform with content, standing out has become an uphill battle. 

Here’s how LinkedIn algorithm social media works. 

• One of the key factors LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes is engagement. The more you engage and comment on other people’s posts, the more visibility your posts get. Showing up on other people’s posts is by far the best way to get yourself seen. 
• The LinkedIn algorithm favors posts with images, including selfies. While you cannot post selfies as a brand, perhaps sharing graphics and behind-the-scene images of your team can spark engagement. Here’s a recent viral post from a company. If you notice, the brand has relatively less engagement on other posts compared to this one. Reason? It features a behind-the-scenes celebration of the brand.

• LinkedIn also prioritizes active creators who consistently share valuable content. Regular posting signals that you’re a committed member, which the algorithm rewards.

Bonus Tips

• People remember stories more than facts and figures. Let’s face it - the growing use of AI has gotten people to crave more human-like content. So, make sure you share your brand story and personal experiences to make your posts engaging. This advice comes from none other than the top branding voice on LinkedIn - Jasmin Alic.

• Engage regularly but thoughtfully. You don’t need to comment on everyone’s posts, but only those in your industry. It will help you grow your visibility in the right area. 
• Make sure you keep a consistent posting schedule so your audience know what to expect. The best way to go about it is to test different timings and determine the hours that work best for you.  
• Memes offer a fantastic way to inject some humor. While you might assume they’re better left for platforms like Facebook and Instagram, believe us when we say it: posting memes on LinkedIn offers an excellent way to stand out. People there seek some humor amidst dry, monotonous, and repetitive professional posts. Here’s an example from Writers Write. The post with a meme has far more reactions than other posts by the same company. 

X

Twitter, now rebranded as X, has undergone massive changes in the past few years. It is now a vibrant space for news, opinions, and multimedia content. This makes it an essential tool for marketers and businesses alike. 

The platform mostly thrives on timely, concise content. It’s best for sharing:

• Images
• GIFs
• Quick, real-time posts about current events
• Polls and questions to engage your audience
• Short, thought-provoking insights on trending topics. 

Here’s how X’s algorithm works. 

• X prioritizes posts from the last 24 hours with the highest engagement from individuals you follow.
• It boosts posts with comments and retweets. 
• It favors content posted within minutes (prefers real-time updates, that is)

Bonus Tips

• Always use relevant and trending hashtags. Tweets with hashtags get twice as much engagement as those without them. Besides, never use more than three hashtags per post, and keep them short. 
• Retweet content from industry leaders. This will help you build relationships and increase visibility. 
• Pin important tweets on the top of your profile to let visitors see it first. 
• Consider sharing images, GIFs, and videos in your tweets. They’re more likely to draw in an audience than text-only posts. Vimeo, an AI-powered video platform, mostly shares such content, and people love it!

Instagram

Instagram often outshines Facebook when it comes to engagement, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to achieve. You need to understand its social media algorithm to create captivating content. 

• Generally, posts with the highest number of likes are prioritized since they signal popular, engaging content. 
• Posts that a user typically engages with are more likely to appear in their feed. This means you need to have a strong understanding of your audience's preferences. 
• Posts shared within the first few minutes of a user logging in are preferred. Instagram wants to ensure that users see fresh content. 
• Instagram often shows high-engagement posts to users (from accounts they may not follow) to help them discover new content. 
• Instagram also favors consumers’ and brands' content equally. So, everyone gets a fair chance at visibility. 

Bonus Tips

• Instagram reels are trending. Every day, people spend hours scrolling engaging reels. You can create reels relevant to your industry. However, keep them short and use trending audio to increase their visibility. 
• If you aim to share longer content, opt for IGTV. Consider sharing tutorials and interviews that take a deep dive into topics relevant to your audience. 
• You can’t be on Instagram and miss out on influencer collaborations. It is hands down the most popular and reliable way to drive the much-needed engagement on your posts. 

Karen X Cheng’s Take On Social Media Algorithm

Karen X Cheng is a popular YouTuber. In her video titled “The Artist vs the Algorithm,” she depicts the struggle of content creators against social media algorithms. 

She believes that algorithms don’t always reward genuine efforts. Instead, it often favors what people pay attention to. And let’s be real - what catches your attention doesn’t necessarily determine its quality. 

The Youtuber ironically compares the scenario with a real-life example where she asks the audience to imagine a world that worked similarly.

“Say you’re driving, and you see a car crash. You stop and pay attention to it. Suddenly, the world assumes you like car crashes because you paid attention to one and starts bombarding you with more crashes.” 

The artist empathizes with creators who take hours to craft a piece, but the social media algorithm doesn’t reward it. She shares a few mental defenses to protect herself from the unpleasant feeling of a flopped post and encourages her audience to do the same. 

Karen mentions that in the race to please the algorithm, one must not lose one's original voice. She adds, “If you create content based on the fear of losing followers, you may end up losing yourself.” 

So, while it's important to consider the audience and social media algorithm preferences, it’s also essential not to lose your voice as a brand while doing so.

Karen also mentions that as an active creator, one must seek respect, not attention, because the former lasts longer. After all, the goal is not just to be seen, but to be remembered and valued. Being genuine always outshines the fleeting glow of viral success. 

Finally, she encourages people to put more effort into fewer things, “Low effort content often gets millions of views but is eventually forgotten. Great work isn’t.”

Conclusion

The idea of going viral sounds intriguing, but it is often unfulfilling. As a brand, you should have your unique voice and create content that resonates deeply with your target audience. 

A smaller, engaged audience that truly values your content is far more valuable than a massive crowd who merely skims your posts. Staying true to your brand’s identity means building a loyal following that appreciates your unique perspective. 

This guide discussed algorithm definition social media and shared tips to boost visibility on popular social media platforms. 

As you seek to tweak your social media strategy for increased reach, remember - authenticity over virality, quality over quantity, and connection over mere exposure. 

FAQs

How Do You Keep Up With Social Media Algorithm?

You need to stay in the loop by following social media blogs and joining industry groups to keep up with the social media algorithm. However, what works for someone may not work for you. So, make sure you try out new things with your posts. Also, consider chatting with social media pros for help. 

How to Beat the Social Media Algorithm?

Social media algorithm works based on audience preferences. So, consider creating engaging content that your followers will love. The more they will engage with your posts, the more visibility you’ll get. Make sure you pay attention to what works and tweak your strategy accordingly.

How Are Algorithms Used In Social Media? 

Algorithms determine what you see on your feed based on what you engage with. They also show you the most relevant content to keep you hooked and coming back for more.