Instagram algorithm change you NEED to know about!!

Hey there, small business owners! Have you seen the latest Instagram updates that have dropped over the last few weeks? It feels like just yesterday that I did our 6-month roundup of the latest features (which you can check outhttps://www.immortalmonkey.co.uk/blog ). Instagram has dropped some bombs recently, and I couldn't wait to share them with you along with some ideas on how you can use these new updates to help you create an amazing Instagram strategy.

The Big News: SHARES

First up, I'm going straight in with a huge update that Adam Mosseri announced today himself. I had heard whispers about it yesterday and had actually created a reel I was going to share today you can watch it help https://www.instagram.com/p/C8-EvwcMB9J/

**SHARES** are what Instagram is using as one of the main metrics to measure if your content should be shared with a wider audience, meaning more reach for your posts if they think it's worthy. So, from the mouth of Mosseri himself, go create more 'sharable' content if you want to long-term grow your reach and audience.

How to Use This Update in Your Strategy

There are loads of ways to leverage this update, but let me share a couple with you:

1. **Think about the content that YOU like to share**: It's usually useful or funny. Think memes for your mates or recipes for your fitness-obsessed bestie. Create content that provides value or entertainment, making it irresistible to share.
2. **Give a strong call to action (CTA)**: Actually TELL people to share and make sure the content is good enough to make them want to do that. A simple "Share this with a friend who needs to see this!" can go a long way.

New Feature: Share Count on Posts

Now, this takes me to my next new feature, which again works hand in hand with the announcement that Instagram wants you to create more sharable content.

Have you seen the latest new layout on your feed? Below the post, you will now see that alongside the number of likes and comments, you can now also see the number of shares a post has. I personally think that Instagram has rolled this out at the same time as the new feature to really push the fact that they want people to use the platform not just to consume content but to share it too.

Being able to see the number of shares on a post will automatically show you if followers have found this post useful and worth sharing. An easy way to create more sharable content is to check out what is working for people in the same niche as you. When you find content that has been shared a lot, think about how you can create a similar style of post. And most importantly, don’t forget to give a CTA!

Suggested Collaboration: A Game Changer

And the final update that I have spotted and wanted to share is suggested collaboration. This is a HUGE game-changer for small businesses that want to work with content creators but don’t have a huge budget and find it hard to navigate Instagram.

This week, I spotted that there is now a dedicated tab inside your settings under tools, listed as **COLLABORATION**. Once you go into the collaboration menu, you can select if you are open to collaborating. It's simply a toggle you switch on and off. Once you switch this on, you will then show as someone who is open to collaborating.

Underneath this toggle, you will see suggested accounts that Instagram has given you for collaboration partners. You can see from the images below what this looks like both in the collaborator feed and on your own profile.

So, there you have it, some of the most amazing updates that I just couldn’t wait to share with you. These updates can really make a huge impact on your Instagram if used correctly! I've already lined up two collaborations, and I only discovered this feature last night!

Let's Connect!

Tag me in your Instagram stories and let me know what you think of the new features and if you have them! AND a straight-up CTA…go check out my latest reel and share it with your biz bestie so they can know all about the latest updates too! https://www.instagram.com/p/C8-EvwcMB9J/