How to Put Your Posts into the Trending Section of Instagram
It’s easier to reach the trending section of Instagram’s app than it is on any other social media platform. That is because, on Instagram, every hashtag has its own “top nine” of trending posts that appear at the top of the content feed.
When you reach the trending zone for a hashtag, more people see the post. This is a great way to access a larger audience and gain new followers. Keep reading to learn how.
How Trending Works on Instagram
The trending algorithm for Instagram is simple. If your post gets more likes and comments, it is more likely to reach the top nine.
Every post competes to trend on each hashtag that it uses. You can include up to 30 hashtags and most brands routinely use at least a dozen per post. This gives you many chances to reach the trending area on a variety of hashtags.
The more traffic and engagement your post receives, the more likely it is to be included in the top nine. Recent posts are prioritized over old ones, and it’s possible for posts to stay in trending for many days.
Identify Your Competitive Level
You want to try and reach the top nine on hashtags that are suitable for your current level of popularity. Technically any page can reach the top nine if they pick a small enough hashtag to aim for.
The only trending posts that are useful are ones that actually get more traffic. Compete to trend on hashtags that get more than zero, but less than fifty, posts per day. Even a tiny page can compete on these hashtags.
If you have a large audience you can aim to trend on the more competitive hashtags. Your big goal can be to trend on a major hashtag like #fashion or #motivation. Start small if it helps. Try to succeed on less competitive hashtags and then work your way up.
How to Make Your Posts Trend
You need to use every tool at your disposal to help your posts reach the top nine. The first step is to simply include a lot of hashtags on each post. By using between 10 and 20 hashtags, you automatically send your post out to more people.
Go to other users on these hashtags and like or comment on their posts. Do not spam them. Just be nice and leave a relevant compliment. This will get some people to come back and like your posts too.
Try different variations on the same idea as you post. Sometimes a little trial and error leads to a big success.
Cross-promotion can be useful on important posts. Ask your Facebook fans and other social media followers to go to Instagram and give your post a like. Any support you can get will help you reach the top nine.
Aim High
Be ambitious with your hashtags since there is no penalty for failure. You can always hedge your bets by using some small ones and some big ones.
If you apply these techniques to a lot of different hashtags, you will find certain communities where you fit in. Over time these tactics create a feedback loop of success. Apply them for a few months and your posts can reach the top nine on a regular basis.