CONSCIOUS RUNNING

Instagram 100 days 100 post challenge: running content.

As 2023 was one of my most productive years, I began a YouTube channel, launched a blog, gained substantial followers, experimented extensively with content, and delved into Instagram to decipher its patterns, aiming to crack today’s social media landscape.

Here are some takeaways from my observations after completing the 100 days 100 post challenge:

Algorithm: There was a significant shift after TikTok entered the market. It brought the Fibonacci Appreciative Algorithm, meaning content is distributed in clusters of 3, 5, 8, 13 viewers, and so forth. Your content progresses to the next cluster only if it garners more view time. To achieve virality, your content must accumulate more view time, and creators should have over 100 pieces of content. The purpose of this algorithm is to make the platform profitable, treating it as a marketplace where virality isn’t free. It compels creators to keep producing content, placing the platform at the apex of the pyramid. The algorithm also personalizes the experience and segregates users based on preferences, education, and demographics. The comments I see may not be visible to you, and the content I engage with may also differ.

There are four ways to crack the algorithm:

1. Your content must offer tremendous value (entertaining, viewable, likable) to garner more views and achieve virality.
2. Widely shared content, like viral videos of accidents or Bhupendar Joggi.
3. Utilizing Instagram ads services.
4. The “one post away” phenomenon—suddenly, after years of posting, one post goes viral.

Tips from my experience:

• Remove relatives and old friends and start fresh. Initially, your content reaches your followers, relatives, and old friends, who may not appreciate your niche but rather keep an eye on you. Begin anew; don’t add them.
• Aim for at least 100 posts for the algorithm to take you seriously and promote your content. Posting twice a week keeps the algorithm engaged.
• Impact of 100-day challenge: Before this challenge, I had 1500 followers, which doubled after 100 posts. This is significant considering the smaller audience in the running niche in India. The first 60 posts didn’t perform exceptionally well, but after 80 posts, results were astonishing. A couple of posts crossing 1 lakh views can generate 200-500 followers within 48 hours.
• Algorithm likes Reels have much higher weightage than pictures, so post your Reels frequently. Add variety with different types of content.
• Once you start getting traction, then comb your profile and archive/delete your non-performing posts and keep doing that.

Fluctuating followers: I term this a “stalling time.” Some social media “vultures” follow you, you follow back, and then they unfollow after a few days. The word “follower” may inflate egos in today’s free world; it implies superiority. Perhaps the term should be changed to “appreciators” or something trivial like “pulo” (I have 3000 pulo on Instagram sounds less fascist). Take a breather before following back.

This challenge can be intense but stay committed. Don’t obsess over quality; just keep posting. Once you gain traction, repost appreciated content because repetition aids memory.

Treat Instagram as unlimited cloud space for your media, a diary, an album. Subscriptions to cloud services cost Rs. 800 to Rs. 1200 and offer limited space. Keep posting and try this challenge. Hopefully, it adds more “pulo” to your account! 🙂