Instagram Post Crafter Skill

Algorithm Signals (December 2025)

Per Adam Mosseri (January 2025), the three key ranking factors:

Signal	Weight	Notes
Watch time	#1	How long people watch (Reels)
Likes	High	More important for followers
Sends/Shares	High	Most important for reaching new audiences

Additional signals: saves, comments, completion rate, originality.

Format Selection Matrix

Goal: Maximum REACH → Reels
  - 30.81% average reach vs 14.45% for carousels
  - 10x viral potential for small accounts (<5K followers)

Goal: Maximum ENGAGEMENT → Carousels
  - 10% engagement rate vs 6% for Reels
  - Best for saves, comments, conversions
  - "Second chance" feature: IG shows slide 2 if slide 1 didn't get engagement

Goal: Quick post → Single image
  - Lowest reach and engagement
  - Use sparingly

Optimal strategy: Reels for growth, carousels for nurturing existing audience.

Reels: The 3-Second Rule

First 3 seconds determine everything. Reels with 50%+ retention get 3x more distribution.

Hook Formulas

Pattern Interrupt:
- Start mid-action (not "Today I'm going to show you...")
- Bold text overlay with surprising claim
- Direct question to viewer

Proven hooks:
- "Esto es lo que nadie te dice sobre [topic]..."
- "El error más común en [topic]..."
- "[Number] segundos para entender [concept]"
- "POV: Acabas de descubrir [thing]"
- Start with the result, then show the process

Reels Best Practices

• Length: 15-30 seconds sweet spot
• Loop: Design for seamless replay (boosts watch time)
• Audio: Trending or original (no other platform watermarks)
• Captions: Required for accessibility and silent viewing
• Post frequency: 3-5 Reels/week

Trial Reels (Test Feature)

Test content with non-followers before showing to your audience:

1. Create Reel normally
2. Toggle "Trial" mode before posting
3. Wait 24 hours for metrics
4. If it performs well, auto-publishes to followers after 72 hours

Best for: A/B testing hooks, new formats, product launches.

Carousels: The Engagement Engine

Structure

Slide 1: HOOK (stops the scroll)
  - Eye-catching visual
  - Punchy headline or question
  - "Swipe" indicator subtle but present

Slides 2-9: VALUE
  - One idea per slide
  - Consistent design system
  - Build narrative or list

Slide 10: CTA
  - Save this post
  - Follow for more
  - Link in bio

Best Practices

• Slides: 5-10 optimal (10 slides = highest engagement)
• Size: 1080x1350 (portrait takes more screen space)
• Swipe prompts: Arrows, "Swipe →", end mid-sentence
• Consistency: Same fonts, colors, visual style throughout
• Post frequency: 2-3 carousels/week

Data Visualization Carousels

For tacosdedatos specifically:

Structure for educational carousels:
1. Hook: Bold claim or surprising stat
2. Context: Why this matters
3-8. Data points with visualizations
9. Key takeaway
10. CTA: Save + Follow @tacosdedatos

Design tips:
- One chart/viz per slide
- Large, readable labels (mobile-first)
- Cite data sources for credibility
- Minimal text — let the viz speak

Hashtag Strategy (2025 Reality)

Hashtags no longer drive reach (per Adam Mosseri). They now function like SEO keywords.

Best practice:

• 3-5 highly relevant hashtags only
• Mix niche + broader tags
• Place in caption (not comments — that's outdated)
• Focus effort on content quality instead

Example for tacosdedatos:

#DataScience #VisualizaciónDeDatos #Python #DatosAbiertos #DataViz

Posting Schedule

Optimal Times (2025 Data)

Day	Best Times
Monday	3-9 PM
Tuesday	5-8 AM, 3-7 PM
Wednesday	5 PM
Thursday	4-5 PM
Friday	4 PM
Saturday	11 AM, 5 PM
Sunday	12-3 PM

Times in audience's local timezone (Mexico City for tacosdedatos)

Weekly Cadence

Minimum viable:
- 3-5 feed posts/week (mix of Reels + carousels)
- Stories daily

Growth mode:
- 3-5 Reels/week
- 2-3 carousels/week
- Stories multiple times/day

Spanish-Language Patterns

LATAM Considerations

• Mexican Spanish slang over neutral Spanish
• Authenticity > polish (de-influencer trend)
• UGC-style performs well
• Consider cultural moments (Día de Muertos, etc.)

Caption Templates

Educational post:

[Bold statement or question]

[2-3 lines explaining the concept]

Esto es lo más importante:
→ [Point 1]
→ [Point 2]
→ [Point 3]

Guarda este post para cuando lo necesites 📌

#DataScience #Python #VisualizaciónDeDatos

Reel caption:

[Hook that complements video, not repeats it]

¿Te ha pasado? Cuéntame en los comentarios 👇

Sígueme para más contenido de datos en español.

Content Ideas for Data/Tech

Type	Format	Example
Tutorial	Carousel or Reel	"Cómo hacer [X] en pandas"
Transformation	Carousel	Before/after data viz
Quick tip	Reel (<30s)	"Un truco de Python"
Infographic	Carousel	Stats about [topic]
Behind-the-scenes	Reel	"Cómo hago mis visualizaciones"
Tool review	Carousel	"[Tool] en 10 slides"

Output Format

When crafting Instagram posts:

## Instagram Post: [Topic]

### Format
Reel / Carousel / Single Image

### Content

**Hook (Slide 1 / First 3 seconds):**
[Content]

**Body:**
[Slide-by-slide or full caption]

**CTA:**
[Call to action]

### Specs
- **Dimensions**: [e.g., 1080x1350]
- **Slides/Length**: [Number or duration]
- **Audio**: [For Reels]
- **Hashtags**: [3-5 tags]
- **Posting time**: [Suggested]

### Assets Needed
- [ ] [Description of visual assets]

References

For algorithm research, source links, and detailed tactics, see references/REFERENCES.md.