Every platform's algorithm has one job — keep people on the platform longer. That means every algorithm rewards the same core behaviors: content that gets watched all the way through, saved, shared, commented on, and clicked back to the profile. The "hacks" are just making content people actually want to consume.
Each platform has its own culture, language, and audience expectation. The message stays the same. The delivery changes completely. Content that works on LinkedIn would flop on TikTok. Content built for TikTok looks out of place on Pinterest. Learn the culture first — then create for it.
Instagram's algorithm in 2024–2025 heavily prioritizes Reels reach and carousel saves. The key signals are: how long someone watches your Reel (completion rate is king), whether they share it to their Story or DM it to someone, and whether they save it to come back to later. Comments with more than 4 words signal deeper engagement than single emoji reactions. The explore page is driven by accounts similar to yours that already engage with you — so community engagement is a growth multiplier, not just a vanity metric.
TikTok is the most powerful discovery engine in social media. Its algorithm is primarily interest-based, not follower-based — meaning a brand new account with zero followers can reach millions if the content is right. The single most important metric is completion rate. If people watch your video all the way through — or rewatch it — TikTok pushes it to more people. The first 2–3 seconds are everything. If you don't hook them immediately they scroll and your video dies. Comments that spark conversation and videos that get shared off-platform signal high value to the algorithm.
Facebook's organic reach for business pages has been declining for years — but it's not dead. The algorithm prioritizes meaningful interactions: comments, shares, and reactions beyond just "likes." Native video gets the highest organic push. Groups are where Facebook's real organic reach lives right now — a well-placed post in a relevant local group can outperform a page post by 10x. Posts that generate conversation (especially back-and-forth comment threads) get pushed significantly further. Facebook also remains the best platform for local business discovery through its search and recommendation features.
YouTube is a search engine first and a social platform second. The two biggest signals are click-through rate (does your thumbnail + title make people click?) and watch time (how long do people stay?). YouTube Shorts has its own algorithm that's closer to TikTok — completion rate and replays are king. For long-form content, the first 30 seconds determine everything — if people click away early, YouTube stops pushing the video. Subscribers matter less than you think — non-subscribers discovering content through search and recommendations drives most growth.
X's algorithm under its current ownership prioritizes engagement velocity — how quickly a post gets reactions after publishing. Replies, retweets, and quote tweets signal more value than likes alone. Replies to big accounts in your niche are often the fastest growth lever — showing up in the replies of someone with 100k followers puts you in front of their entire audience. Threads that get bookmarked (saved) are pushed significantly. The platform rewards consistency and personality over production quality.
LinkedIn's algorithm is currently one of the most generous for organic reach among all platforms. The key signals are comments in the first hour (especially long, thoughtful ones), dwell time (how long people spend reading), and shares. Personal profiles consistently outperform company pages — which is why Denton posting as himself will outreach a DAP company page post every time. The "Golden Hour" is real on LinkedIn — engagement in the first 60–90 minutes after posting determines how far it gets pushed. Schedule posts when you can be online to respond immediately.
Pinterest is fundamentally different from every other platform — it's a visual search engine, not a social network. The algorithm is driven by search relevance, not recency. A pin you post today can get significant traffic 2 years from now if it's well optimized. The key signals are click-through rate (does the image make people click?), saves (do people add it to their boards?), and domain quality (does your website have good content?). Consistent pinning over time compounds — the platform rewards accounts that pin regularly more than accounts that post in bursts.
Run this worksheet for every new client during Week 1 of the 30-Day Kickstart. It turns their Core Drivers into a full content plan — platforms, content map, repurpose strategy, and weekly rhythm — in one sitting. Fill it out in Notion for each client and reference it every Monday when planning the week.