A simple guide to ranking highly with social media algorithms

By Tall Zebra Designs Ltd

24 Feb 2022

algorithm.png

Social channels such as Instagram and Facebook earn their income through businesses paying to run ads on their channels. This means, they make it their main objective to keep users on the app for as long as possible, so you are more likely to see one. How? Well, they created social media algorithms that rank the most relevant, engaging content and boost it to the top of the feed.

We have researched some simple ways to rank highly with social media algorithms 

Create sharable and savable content

Likes and comments used to be the best way for a post to perform well on social media, now, not so much. The focus is now on shares and saves. The algorithm knows if you take the time to share or save a post then the content must be worthwhile or engaging. Savable content is particularly favoured as it means you are likely to re-open the app to read it on one or multiple occasions.

It is still worthwhile to encourage engagement on your posts by asking questions in your caption, however, you will rank higher if people are tagging others in the comments section of your post and sharing to their stories too. To achieve this you will need to create informative or humous content or graphics. Competitions and giveaways really encourage these types of interactions, providing you stipulate clear instructions in your caption.

Tagging others and your location

Quick wins. By tagging other businesses and accounts in your posts, it helps to grow your network. If people open up your post and see another account tagged, they are likely to click on the other account, extending the amount of time they are on the app, hence why the algorithm favours tags.

Secondly, social media algorithms love authentic content, when you tag a location, it helps to legitimise your post. It also helps pull you up in location-based searches.

Use the right hashtags 

Hashtags index your post and add it to a category. As it currently stands, using 7 hashtags is the most effective.

Jumping on hashtag trends is a great way to encourage new followers however to gain relevant and loyal followers you will need to research the best hashtags in your field.

Once you’ve done your hashtag research you can keep using them over again, just make sure you are checking every couple of months for any newer, more relevant hashtags.

Don’t use filler posts 

Filler posts are really damaging for your engagement and will compromise the success of your real posts with social media algorithms. On days where you have no informative or quality content to share, it is better to just not post at all.

Look back through your old posts and take a look at the ones which had the widest reach, not engagement but reach. Take a note of the time of the week and time of the day and use this to your advantage to make sure you’re posting your best content at this time.

Video content

To step it up a notch and really boost your profile and following, you need to invest time and potentially money into videos. Currently, videos are the best way to rank highly with social media algorithms and people too! This is always changing of course and this week’s trend could be next week’s faux pas. However, creating professional videos is tricky and time-consuming, they are not suited to every business but you would be surprised at what people like to watch. Just one successful video on your channel could have a very positive impact.

Latest news

1

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

2

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

3

Family business relocates in Blackburn Tristar relocation

Family business relocates in Blackburn

16 Sep 2025

4

Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2026 open for applications Taste Lancashire Producers awards

Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2026 open for applications

15 Sep 2025

5

Stuart Buckley appointed head of sales and account management at Netcentrix Stuart Buckley

Stuart Buckley appointed head of sales and account management at Netcentrix

15 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Breakfast Networking Event
business workshop photo.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

Business Breakfast Networking Event

Media Factory, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin