Cracking the Code: How to Use Social Media Algorithms to Your Advantage as a Content Creator

Information for this blog post was obtained from Hootsuite, HubSpot, and Social Media Examiner.

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Have you ever wondered why some posts on Instagram or TikTok get tons of likes and views while others don't? That's because of something called an algorithm. Algorithms are used on different platforms to help decide what people see while scrolling.

Suppose you're a marketer who wants to grow your following or become a social media pro. In that case, it's super helpful to understand how these algorithms work. In this post, you'll learn how the major platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and X, use algorithms and how to take advantage of them to get the best results for each post.

What Are Social Media Algorithms?

Algorithms are rules or instructions that tell social media platforms what to show people. Instead of showing everything in the order posted, these platforms pick what they think each person will like best. They do this by looking at what you watch, like, and share.

You don't need to be a computer expert to understand how to use algorithms to your advantage. Just a few simple tips can help you boost traffic.

Instagram: Showing What People Care About

Instagram looks at six things to decide what to show: how interested people are in a post, how recent it is, your relationship with the person posting, how often you use Instagram, how many people you follow, and how long you stay on the app.

According to Social Media Examiner, posts that get quick likes, comments, and shares are higher in people's feeds. The more they interact with your brand on Instagram, the more their brand will continue to appear. Therefore, the hardest part is getting the initial interaction. From there, Instagram will help with the rest.

Tip for Creators: Use Stories, Reels, and things like polls or question boxes to get people to interact with you. The more they do, the more Instagram will show them your posts.

Facebook: Focus on Conversations

Facebook's algorithm likes posts that lead to honest conversations. It wants to show content that gets comments and reactions, especially from friends and family. HubSpot says Facebook shows more posts people talk about and share. The blog post also discusses how innovative the Facebook algorithm is in filtering posts for people to see. This algorithm can make it harder for marketers to reach new prospects.

Tip for Creators: Ask questions in your captions. Share something that people will want to respond to. Posting videos on Facebook (instead of linking from YouTube) can also help your post improve.

Twitter (X): What's New and What's Popular

X cares a lot about how new your post is, but it also shows posts based on how many people like them. HubSpot says X looks at how often you interact with others, what media is in the post, and how many people like or repost it.

Tip for Creators: Tweet often. Use popular hashtags and talk about trending topics. The more you join the conversation, the more people will see your tweets.

TikTok: Letting New Creators Shine

TikTok is great for new creators. Its algorithm is made to help people find the latest videos from accounts they don't follow. Hootsuite explains that TikTok looks at how long people watch your video, how many people like and comment on it, and even what sounds or hashtags you use. Since TikTok's algorithm is structured the way it is, marketers must take full advantage of the social media platform. TikTok is also a very popular app that currently allows you to reach many prospects through one app.

Tip for Creators: Make short videos that are fun and interesting right from the start. Use trending sounds and hashtags to help people find your content.

How to Win With Algorithms on Any Platform

Even though every social media platform is different, some tips work everywhere:

1. Post Often

Try to post on a schedule you can stick with. Whether once a day or three times a week, regular posting helps keep you visible. There are AI tools that can help you schedule posts.

2. Get People to Engage

It's not just about how many followers you have. If the people who follow you like, share, and comment on your posts, that tells the algorithm your content is worth showing to more people.

3. Use Platform Tools

Each app has its own tools, like Instagram Reels or TikTok effects. These tools are made to keep people on the app longer, so the algorithm likes it when you use them. Know your social media app of choice.

4. Write Good Captions and Use Hashtags

What you write matters! Use simple, clear captions and hashtags that match your content. On TikTok, this helps the algorithm show your video to the right people. However, this also applies to all your other social media apps.

5. Talk to Your Audience

Reply to comments and talk to people who like your posts. This makes your account more active and helps more people see your posts. If your audience feels heard, they are more likely to continue to be engaged.

Conclusion

Social media algorithms don't have to be confusing. Once you know how they work, you can use them to help your content reach more people. Whether you're posting on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok, small changes in what you do can make a big difference. Also, using the app's most popular forms of content consumption will maximize your reach—for example, reels and stories for Instagram.

As a content creator, this knowledge can give you a considerable head start on the competition. Keep learning, keep posting, and most of all, have fun with it!

Disclaimer: No AI was injured in the production of this content. AI (ChatGPT) was used as a tool to supplement, enhance, and make suggestions in writing this blog post.

References

HubSpot (2023). How Social Media Algorithms Work on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-algorithm-works-facebook-twitter-instagram

Hootsuite (2023). The 2023 Guide to Social Media Algorithms. https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-algorithm/

OpenAI. (2025, April 19). Cracking the code: How to use social media algorithms to your advantage as a content creator. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com

Social Media Examiner (2023). How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2023. https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-the-instagram-algorithm-works-in-2023/