The Instagram Algorithm Changed Again?! - The CEO Teacher Podcast

Summary

The CEO Teacher Podcast: Episode Summary - "The Instagram Algorithm Changed Again?!"

Host: Kayse Morris (@kaysemorris)
Episode Title: The Instagram Algorithm Changed Again?!
Release Date: January 29, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The CEO Teacher Podcast, host Kayse Morris delves deep into the recent changes in Instagram's algorithm and what these mean for educators looking to amplify their online presence. As the landscape of social media continues to evolve, Kayse provides actionable insights to help teacher entrepreneurs navigate these shifts effectively.

Understanding the Instagram Algorithm Changes

Timestamp [00:00 - 02:12]

Kayse begins by addressing the frustration many educators feel after the tumultuous changes in social media platforms, specifically the banning of TikTok in the United States. With TikTok now inaccessible via the App Store, she reassures her audience that Instagram remains a viable and lucrative platform for teacher entrepreneurs.

Key Points:

Reels Extension: Instagram has increased the maximum recording time for Reels from the previous 60-90 seconds to a full three minutes (02:12).
Profile Redesign: The traditional square grid is being phased out in favor of a more vertical, TikTok-like interface, signaling a shift towards longer, more immersive content formats.
Reels Trials: Instagram is experimenting with a feature that allows creators to test new content with non-followers before presenting it to their existing audience.
Edits App Launch: Soon, Instagram will introduce an Edits app, comparable to TikTok's CapCut or InShot, enhancing content creation capabilities.

Kayse emphasizes that despite these changes, Instagram continues to be a robust platform for generating income, often outpacing TikTok in revenue generation for creators.

Framework Number 32: The CEO Teacher Social Media Strategy

Timestamp [02:12 - 10:00]

Central to the episode is Framework Number 32, a comprehensive strategy within the CEO Teacher membership program designed to adapt to algorithm changes seamlessly. This framework is built around five core components:

Connection: Building authentic relationships with your audience.
Showing Up: Consistently appearing on your audience’s feed with valuable content.
Sharing About Your Brand: Communicating your unique value proposition.
Creating Content: Developing engaging and shareable material.
Optimizing Content: Enhancing your posts for maximum reach and engagement.

Kayse explains that successful social media strategies must integrate these components to foster community, drive awareness, and ultimately convert followers into customers.

Creating and Sharing Engaging Content

Timestamp [04:30 - 07:45]

Creating content that resonates is pivotal. Kayse discusses the transition of the "save" button to the "share" button as the new metric for success on Instagram. She states:

"The share button, which is the airplane on Instagram, is the new save button. It still is, but the save button used to be the most important thing. But now sharing it on your stories or having other people share it is the most important thing." (04:50)

Strategies for Effective Content Creation:

Relatability: Craft posts that your audience can identify with.
Educational Value: Provide actionable tips and insights that help teachers in their professional lives.
Humor: Incorporate elements of humor to make content more engaging and shareable.

Kayse emphasizes the importance of tailoring content to encourage sharing, thereby increasing reach and fostering a sense of community among educators.

Optimizing Content for Maximum Engagement

Timestamp [07:50 - 10:00]

Optimization is the "secret sauce" that transforms good content into great content. Kayse outlines several optimization techniques specific to Instagram:

Use of Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords to enhance visibility in search.
Captions: Develop lengthy and specific captions that not only describe the content but also encourage interaction.
Visual Appeal: Ensure that visuals are high-quality and aligned with the vertical trend.
Human Connection: Feature your face and personality to create a deeper connection with your audience.

She reiterates the importance of time watched as a critical metric:

"The most important factor that always has been and always will be is time watched. Whether it's on YouTube or Instagram or TikTok, that is the most important thing for two types of reach, connected and unconnected." (09:30)

Maximizing time watched by keeping audiences engaged for longer durations directly influences content distribution and visibility.

Tips and Tricks for Increasing Engagement

Timestamp [10:05 - 14:00]

To further assist teacher entrepreneurs, Kayse shares practical tips to enhance engagement on Instagram:

Hooks Within the First Three Seconds: Capture attention immediately to prevent users from scrolling past.
- Example: "Hey, I have three tips on how you can better manage your classroom. Stick around." (11:15)
Encourage Interaction: Design content that invites comments, shares, and likes.
Use Captions Effectively: Detailed captions improve accessibility and provide context, making content more engaging.
Create Open Loops: Leave questions or thoughts unresolved to prompt audience interaction and continued engagement.
- Kayse explains, “You gotta create open loops. Meaning you don't want to close loops... leave room in a video for your audience to wonder, to answer you, to interact with your content.” (13:00)
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: Rather than posting frequently, focus on delivering high-value content a few times a week.

Kayse reinforces that these strategies not only boost engagement but also help in building a loyal and active community around your teacher business.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp [14:05 - End]

As the episode draws to a close, Kayse encourages listeners to implement the discussed strategies to glow up their social media influence in 2025. She emphasizes that regardless of where educators are in their Instagram journey—whether starting fresh or scaling an existing account—the principles of connection, consistency, and optimization are universally applicable.

Final Quote:

"Remember your best is yet to come and I'll see you soon." (End)

Kayse leaves her audience with a sense of empowerment, assuring them that with the right strategies, they can turn their teaching passion into a thriving online business.

Additional Resources

Free Guide: Kayse offers a free guide to help teachers start or expand their online businesses. It can be downloaded from kaysemorris.com/start.
Social Media: Follow Kayse Morris on Instagram at @kaysemorris and join the CEO Teacher community for ongoing support and resources.

Join the Movement:
The CEO Teacher® community comprises over 3,000 educational enthusiasts dedicated to transforming teaching expertise into sustainable online ventures. Explore ten proven success pathways or forge your own path with the provided frameworks by visiting kaysemorris.com.

Remember: The landscape of social media is ever-changing, but with the right strategies and mindset, educators can not only adapt but thrive in their online endeavors.

Transcript

A (0:00)

Hello CEO teachers. Welcome back to the show.

B (0:03)

Yes.

A (0:03)

Yes, yes. Instagram's algorithm has changed once again. And if you're like me and decided to delete TikTok the day it was banned in the United States and you have been unable to get back on it because it's no longer in the App Store, have no fear. We have all the tips and tricks that you're going to need to make sure that your 2025 year on Instagram is the best that it can be. So stick around. You don't want to miss it.

B (0:33)

Calling all current or former teachers. I want you to grab your favorite highlighter and get ready to dig in. You know all those lesson plans that are on your desk or in the depths of your computer? They are full of gold and we are about to use them to take the guesswork out of turning your teaching skills, resources and other things into a profitable online business. Whether you have no idea where to.

A (0:56)

Start, zero tech skills, or a serious.

B (0:58)

Allergy to market marketing itself, you're in the right place. Let's face it, you're ready to make 2025 a whole lot sweeter than its younger sibling. And I've got just the thing. Get your hands on the free guide to start or expand your online teacher business in 2025 by going to caseymorris.com start that's K-A-Y-S E M O R-R-I S.com start inside you'll find my best tips, strategies, shortcuts, mindset shifts, and hard won lessons for turning your teaching into income, flexibility and influence both within and beyond the four walls of your classroom. Strategies like turning your lesson plans into a thriving teacher business without adding hours to your already hectic work week. The difference between teacher businesses that make consistent sales and those that result in crickets. Hint yes, there's more to your success than just creating a resource. And I'll show you exactly what's missing. All while helping more students. Because that's really what matters most. Am I right? You've already got what it takes to build a successful teacher business. You don't need all the answers, you just need to put one foot in front of the other. Come download this guide by going to Casey morris.com start and I'll see you.

A (2:12)

On the other side. Eric Quelman once said, social media is not a fad. It's a fundamental shift in the way that we communicate. And Tim O'Reilly said, Social media is not about the technology, it's about the message. And that's really what today's show is all about is that even though we are so unsure of what's going to happen to TikTok in the future, of what's going to happen to social media in the future, we always go back to framework number 32 inside of our membership, which we call the CEO Teacher Social media Strategy. I know you can't see the image of it, but it's a. It's a beautiful circular image that kind of talks about the five main components of social media. It is connection, showing up, sharing about your brand, creating content and optimizing content. And in order to achieve those five things perfectly, you also have to take into consideration that your social media is actually also for bringing in awareness where you can reach your ideal customers, a community of people that develop authentic relationships. There's gotta be some sort of area of hype where you can get your community excited and invested, and then eventually, essentially, social media should lead to sales of some sort, where you turn your followers into customers. I can't tell you how many TikTokers I've talked to. That said, I actually have always made more money off of Instagram, even though I get paid through the creator account or whatever you want to call it on TikTok. So putting your efforts and your attention into Instagram for 2025 is still what we consider a best case scenario. Unless you've sworn off social media completely, then you probably have heard that Instagra is used for all the different reasons like business relaxation, checking on latest trends, growing your brand and all that stuff. But if you were affected by the recent TikTok issues, you may be wondering, how can I transition to Instagram to make sure it has a really good impact on your business? Because honestly, if you're listening to the show, that's what you're into anyways. And while all those thoughts are swirling, I do want to be honest, Instagram just recently changed their algorithm again and people have big feelings about it and the way that their feeds are beginning to look. So if you haven't updated the app recently, like in the last week or so, and you haven't been able to keep up really with what's going on, there's a few different main things. First is that now you're allowed to record up to three minutes on reels. That's everyone. So it was just to a few select people, but now everyone can record up to three minutes, where originally it was like 60 to 90 seconds. Also, they have updated the way that your profile looks forever. Instagram was notoriously known for a square grid. Now it looks more like TikTok and is starting to become vertical. I predict that it'll even be even more vertical. They're just testing it out a little bit smaller right now until they boost it up a little bit bigger. Now, Reels trials are a way to allow creators to test out new content with non followers to see if people like it before they show it to their actual followers. And then the Edits app is coming soon. And this is kind of like the cap cut that was of TikTok or I like to use Inshot. But Edits Apple for TikTok is coming soon. You know, I'm all about actionable steps. So I want to break down for you exactly what I meant by that framework I shared at the beginning of the show. Framework number 32, inside of our membership and the main components of our CEO Teacher Social media strategy are available for you to use continuously, no matter what, every time an algorithm changes, because it just works and it has worked for us for the last decade no matter what happens with any social media platform. So the main components of the things that I mentioned before involve things like connecting, creating, showing up, and optimizing your content. Now, one of the most important things that you'll ever do on Instagram is to make personal connections, of course, with people and to build a community. So you're going to need to be able to reach ideal customers and bring awareness to your content and your offers. You're essentially here to make connections with human beings and then use it to sell things for your business. Now, when it comes to creating, the share button is the new save button. So create posts that people want to share with their friends and group chats. So this means that you're going to want to create posts that are relatable, that are helpful, maybe teach people something, and if you can, make them funny, because this helps develop authentic relationships with people and it creates a community. So I want to repeat that the share button, which is the airplane on Instagram, is the new save button, which used to be the little bookmark. It still is, but the save button used to be the most important thing. But now sharing it on your stories or having other people share it is the most important thing. Of course you gotta show up. So I want you to create a planned strategy to show up. Don't just show up and think, okay, I'm gonna post every day, I'm gonna look up a trending audio, I'm gonna use a point of view hook. And that's your strategy. No, you need a really true strategy that resonates with your audience. You need a strategy that's going to get your community excited and invested and it's going to hype up your content and offers. For me, I was posting like twice a day and I am going to pull back a little bit and really focus on putting something out there a couple times a week that is of a very high value. And it's not just me working out, it's a little bit more than that. And then you got to optimize. And that's with everything. That's the secret sauce. That's the Willy Wonka's golden ticket. That's the great and powerful Oz. If you don't optimize what you post and you're just putting something up that is an image or a reel and you are putting a quick caption and finding the trending audio, it's never going to work. Now, optimizing is a little different on Instagram, of course, than it is for things like teachers, pay teachers, or your blog where you utilize search engine optimization to make sure that everything is available to be searched. But here is where, when you optimize on social media, it looks a little different. Now, keywords are still very important, but if you're sharing things that are real human connections, things that allow people to see real human transformations, like, hey, how can you save teachers time? How can you help teachers change the way that they teach? How can you support teachers with classroom management or turn your followers into customers, or showcase the transformation that your content specifically provides. Now, Kasey, all of this sounds good, but man, it's a lot to think about. Create, connect, show up, optimize. So there are two main ideas for growing or starting your Instagram account as a business creator. They are connected reach and then recommendations or unconnected reach. Connected reach is specifically the accounts that you follow that are similar to yours. And then unconnected reach are accounts that don't follow you yet. But Instagram's trying to find your people and send them your way. And the way that they do this is through average watch time, how long people are sticking around and watching your videos. So the longer the reel, the better the likes per reach. So however many people they send it out to, are people liking the content. This helps Instagram share your content with more people who have similar interest. So think about who you're following and then think about the people that you're trying to reach. If they are watching your content, if they are liking your content. And then we love this. This Is the new thing sends per reach. So are they sending this to people that are also connected to your world or have similar interest as you? So try to make content that people would send to a friend, but that friend is a teacher. If you're a teacher, right, try to create something that's maybe a little sideways, a little spicy point of view in the world of education. Teachers are saying everything that's on their mind right now. And I am loving it. Remember that your unique teaching skills, your magic or whatever is how you do something different than someone else. And that in itself is super special. And someone might say, oh, I never thought of it that way. And then also remember continuously to think about the transformation you could provide to another teacher. Because if one teacher is feeling it, chances are they know at least another teacher that's going to be feeling it. And chances are that that means your reach is going to get higher. But the most important factor that always has been and always will be is time watched. Whether it's on YouTube or Instagram or TikTok, that is the most important thing for two types of reach, connected and unconnected. So here's some tips and tricks on how to get people to watch your videos longer. First is create content that keeps users on your video to interact or share with others. Meaning have them comment or share your video. Hook your audience in the first three seconds and keep them watching the content for longer. Here's an example. Hey, I have three tips on how you can better manage your classroom. Stick around. The last one is the most important. Use captions to make your content more accessible for people. So think about what's in your video and write a specific caption, a lengthy caption to help people identify it. Yes, I hate to say it, but your face matters. Human connection helps people connect. And then one of my favorite tips and tricks we talk about as a team continuously is that you gotta create open loops. Meaning you don't want to close loops. You don't want to be so serious about what you teach and how you do it. And you're the only way that it closes loops for people where there's no interpretation. So leave room in a video for your audience to wonder, to answer you, to interact with your content, to ask questions, to share something thought provoking, where they're like, oh, let me ask her about this, or ask him about this. So no matter where you are in your growing season of Instagram, now is such an important time for teachers. So whether you're thinking about growing a primary account, a high school account, a college account or you're just looking to start a social media plan as you're working full time coming out with us on Instagram. You can follow me, Asey Morris or at the CEO Teacher and we're going to be sharing some of these rules and content that works to show you how you can truly glow up your social media influence in 2025. Thanks so much for listening to today's show. As always, remember your best is yet to come and I'll see you soon.