Instagram has recently shared some best practices that users can follow to maximize their reach and followers. Everyone wants to have the most exposure and reach to their account but they need to follow Instagram’s guidelines to get that. A lot of users wonder what kind of factors are limiting their distribution on Instagram. As there are some practices that can maximize your reach, there are some practices that can limit it too.
One of the biggest mistakes users make is having a third-party watermark on their reel. Having a third-party watermark on a reel can limit its reach and can impact engagement on Instagram. Another point is posting content you didn't make. Most users tend to repost original content through their own accounts but it doesn't get the right kind of reach. This is because Instagram tends to recommend only the original content to users and ignore the posts users have reposted. It is best to have your own original content on Instagram and using tools like Collab and Remix to make the content more original.
Audiences also love reels which are within 30-90 seconds so try to make videos within 90 seconds time frame as they are enough to keep the viewer's interest and get more engagements. Instagram also filters out users’ accounts out of their recommendation systems if they violate Instagram’s recommendation guidelines.
There are also some other things that you should never post as they can also affect reach and engagements. Any content about suicide, self-harm and violence can limit your reach, plus "content that discusses... eating disorders, as well as content that depicts or trivialises themes around death or depression" is a big no no. If you have shared any content from a non-recommendable account, it can also mess up with your reach. Content that promotes cigarettes, tobacco and other regulated products can also filter or demote your content.
All in all "focus on increasing authentic engagement with your community". Instagram will downrank content if they determine it is engagement bait.
On the other hand if your aim is to get more follower Instagram also has some tips for you.
As per IG, "Consistently sharing feed posts or carousels helps you engage with your audience, which can boost the distribution of your content."
A post from IGforBusiness explains that, "Engagements such as likes and comments are used as signals when determining how your content will be distributed to people who don't follow you. Creating engaging content and interacting with your followers in the comments can help you get more reach overall."
To create more engaging content on Instagram, focus on relatability and humor to encourage shares, and craft posts that spark comments, DMs, or story reshares. Use a strong hook within the first five seconds of reels to capture attention early, and regularly check your insights to identify which posts drive the most engagement so you can refine your strategy.
According to Instagram, posting frequency can also be another important factor in follower growth, as creators with the highest net follower gains typically share 10 or more reels per month. Many grow even further by exceeding that number. However, Instagram emphasizes that content creation is a marathon, not a sprint, sustained growth should never come at the cost of your well-being.
In the end, Instagram suggests that. "It's important to experiment with different approaches to find what works best for you. If you find that making a reel takes up too much time, but carousels are much more manageable, then do what is most sustainable. The trick is consistency, whatever that looks like to you!"
Image: DIW-Aigen
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One of the biggest mistakes users make is having a third-party watermark on their reel. Having a third-party watermark on a reel can limit its reach and can impact engagement on Instagram. Another point is posting content you didn't make. Most users tend to repost original content through their own accounts but it doesn't get the right kind of reach. This is because Instagram tends to recommend only the original content to users and ignore the posts users have reposted. It is best to have your own original content on Instagram and using tools like Collab and Remix to make the content more original.
Audiences also love reels which are within 30-90 seconds so try to make videos within 90 seconds time frame as they are enough to keep the viewer's interest and get more engagements. Instagram also filters out users’ accounts out of their recommendation systems if they violate Instagram’s recommendation guidelines.
There are also some other things that you should never post as they can also affect reach and engagements. Any content about suicide, self-harm and violence can limit your reach, plus "content that discusses... eating disorders, as well as content that depicts or trivialises themes around death or depression" is a big no no. If you have shared any content from a non-recommendable account, it can also mess up with your reach. Content that promotes cigarettes, tobacco and other regulated products can also filter or demote your content.
All in all "focus on increasing authentic engagement with your community". Instagram will downrank content if they determine it is engagement bait.
On the other hand if your aim is to get more follower Instagram also has some tips for you.
As per IG, "Consistently sharing feed posts or carousels helps you engage with your audience, which can boost the distribution of your content."
A post from IGforBusiness explains that, "Engagements such as likes and comments are used as signals when determining how your content will be distributed to people who don't follow you. Creating engaging content and interacting with your followers in the comments can help you get more reach overall."
To create more engaging content on Instagram, focus on relatability and humor to encourage shares, and craft posts that spark comments, DMs, or story reshares. Use a strong hook within the first five seconds of reels to capture attention early, and regularly check your insights to identify which posts drive the most engagement so you can refine your strategy.
According to Instagram, posting frequency can also be another important factor in follower growth, as creators with the highest net follower gains typically share 10 or more reels per month. Many grow even further by exceeding that number. However, Instagram emphasizes that content creation is a marathon, not a sprint, sustained growth should never come at the cost of your well-being.
In the end, Instagram suggests that. "It's important to experiment with different approaches to find what works best for you. If you find that making a reel takes up too much time, but carousels are much more manageable, then do what is most sustainable. The trick is consistency, whatever that looks like to you!"
Read next: Top Five Free VPNs in 2025 Offer Mixed Performance and Limited Features
