Course Curriculum

Instagram Marketing: Viral Algorithms Plus Instagram Ads

10sections
42lectures
3h 14mtotal

What you’ll learn

  • Understand Instagram's viral algorithms

  • Learn how to use posts, reels, videos, and other Instagram features

  • Run Instagram ads

  • Combine smart posting strategies with ads for virality

  • Grow your brand or business on Instagram without spending a lot of time

  • Have a professional approach to your Instagram marketing

  • Best video styles and formats for most effective Instagram marketing

  • WORLD-CLASS student support: I answer 99% of student questions within 24 hours

  • PERSONALIZED HELP from the instructor: Join OFFICE HOURS Zoom call with the instructor and students to ask questions directly

01

Introduction and welcome

1 lecture • 2min

  • Introduction and welcome to this Instagram marketing course!

    Explore how this Instagram marketing course structures content for beginners and slightly more advanced marketers. Learn to leverage reels, carousels, algorithms, and ads to grow with organic promotion.

    2:05
02

Branding and profile bio

2 lectures • 9min

  • How to write your Instagram bio

    Learn to craft an amazing Instagram bio within 150 characters by stating your niche, value, and a clear call to action. Emphasize keywords like singer and songwriter for SEO.

    7:17

  • How to organize the links in your Instagram profile page

    Organize your Instagram profile links with discipline by focusing on a primary destination (YouTube, Spotify) and using common good practices to avoid follower confusion.

    2:10
03

Instagram algorithms

11 lectures • 40min

  • Different possible posts on Instagram

    Explore the types of Instagram posts—from regular photo/video posts to stories, live, and shop tags—and follow the hierarchy to build a lasting content base before transient formats.

    3:51

  • How the feed algorithm works and tips to take advantage of it

    Explore how Instagram's feed ranking works and how to leverage it, with an introductory overview of the feed, stories, explore, and reels algorithms from authoritative source Adam Mosseri.

    1:36

  • Instagram Feed algorithm

    Explore how the Instagram feed algorithm personalizes your home base by mixing content from followed accounts with recommendations and ads, using recency, engagement signals, and post popularity to rank items.

    6:19

  • New update to the Instagram algorithm

    Instagram now prioritizes shares, with the sends-to-reach ratio as a ranking factor, guiding creators to craft more shareable content and encourage sharing across networks such as YouTube and TikTok.

    2:49

  • Instagram Stories algorithm

    Explore how the Instagram stories algorithm ranks highly for engaged followers by delivering entertaining, eye catching stories, building relationships, and prioritizing those most connected to you.

    2:45

  • Strategies to use stories in Instagram

    Pin your best, high-value instagram stories at the top of your profile to attract new followers, re-engage existing ones, and build trust with warm, engaging content.

    5:32

  • Instagram Discover algorithm

    Discover how the Instagram explore algorithm ranks content using post information and engagement, and plan posts to maximize engagement and re-engagement with new audiences.

    3:09

  • Explore and discover algorithm and how to go trending

    Explore how Instagram's explore algorithm surfaces content based on user interest and engagement speed. Boost your chances to go trending with fast engagement and ads.

    4:22

  • Instagram Reels algorithm

    Explore how the instagram reels algorithm surfaces entertaining, valuable content to help users discover new ideas, driven by activity, interactions, reel details, and popularity.

    2:53

  • Reels

    Create catchy reels with a strong hook from the start and a looping ending to boost engagement, as Instagram promotes high-quality, well-planned videos that perform well on metrics.

    2:04

  • How to make viral reels from viral-real-audio

    4:14
04

Raising quality of your reels

1 lecture • 6min

  • Editing tips to increase quality, engagement, and virality of Instagram posts

    6:17
05

Carousel posts

1 lecture • 3min

  • Carousel posts, when and how to use them for most engagement

    Learn how Instagram carousel posts boost engagement by telling a multi-image story, when to use them over single posts, and how to create a ten-item carousel.

    3:18
06

Captions

1 lecture • 2min

  • Tips for best use of Instagram captions

    Optimize Instagram captions for stories and reels by placing text on top, avoiding the bottom third, keeping it readable and short, and using a strong opening.

    2:03
07

Building your influencer list

1 lecture • 2min

  • Whom you should follow and network with

    Build your list of power brokers: influencers, bloggers, podcasters, peers, to learn from and potentially promote you. Engage thoughtfully by commenting, sharing, and thanking your engaged fans to build relationships.

    2:25
08

Hiring agencies and freelancers to help you grow - is it worth the effort?

2 lectures • 9min

  • Case study of hiring influencers for Instagram marketing

    Explore how hashtags attract marketer outreach and influencer offers on Instagram. Understand how fake followers create social proof and compare influencer promotions with Instagram ads.

    6:24

  • Enabling insights

    Enable insights to access analytics on posts and audience engagement, see who viewed your profile, and compare performance to grow your Instagram presence.

    2:49
09

Creating viral posts

8 lectures • 43min

  • Example of a viral post style in a unique niche

    Showcase how a niche drum expert crafts a viral, catchy Instagram post with a reveal at the end, teaching a focused audience through drawing notes as drums play.

    3:43

  • How I edit the reels to be more viral

    Master rapid, high-retention edits for short videos under 60s across YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok using quick cuts, pattern interrupts under 10s, and value-driven starts with ScreenFlow.

    6:24

  • 10 viral and always popular Instagram Reel ideas

    Discover ten viral reel ideas for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube shorts, including top five listicles, behind-the-scenes content, and day-in-the-life formats to boost engagement.

    7:58

  • How to find trends that are popular now

    Discover how to find trending now by spotting trending themes and audio in your feed, then reuse or adapt them for your niche across platforms.

    3:38

  • How the social media algorithms work, and what makes some content viral

    Discover how social media algorithms reward retention and evoke emotional, sometimes polarizing content to drive virality, while balancing ethics and tasteful engagement.

    8:00

  • Finding unlimited emotional words and hooks for a video

    Explore crafting video hooks with AI or by hand, using emotionally charged words and imagery to boost clicks and engagement; apply sales copywriting and show don’t tell for viral reach.

    8:29

  • Response videos for virality

    Create response videos to boost virality by commenting on well-known industry figures, using their clips and names to reach broader audiences. Plan briefly, script key points, and deliver clear commentary.

    3:02

  • Listicals for virality

    Explore how listicles boost retention and virality in short videos using top five formats. Sprinkle in top lists occasionally to sustain engagement on Instagram marketing.

    2:09
10

Instagram Ads

14 lectures • 1hr 17min

  • Introduction to Instagram ads

    Learn to set up Instagram ads using the same tools as Facebook, connecting a Facebook page to your Instagram account. Focus on growing engagement and followers before selling.

    1:44

  • What is the Facebook Business Manager and why you should use it

    Clarify the difference between the business suite and business manager, explain the Meta rebrand, and show how to use the suite for ads, pages, and automations with business.facebook.com.

    4:55

  • Customizing your Facebook Business Suite dashboard

    customize your meta business suite dashboard by selecting up to ten tools, focusing on ads, the ad manager, and audience, then save to see how it appears to your audience.

    2:02

  • Starting to use and explore your Facebook Business Suite and pages

    Explore the meta business suite to manage pages, create a business account, verify email, switch between pages, and prepare to create ads.

    3:38

  • Setting up your Facebook ad account and connecting it to a page

    Create a new ad account or claim an existing one and link it to your page. Configure currency, timezone, and PayPal payment, then open Ads Manager to start running ads.

    5:42

  • Our ad strategy, and setting up our first ad - part 1

    Learn to set up Facebook ads to build a warm audience from your page, then run a campaign with ad sets, ads, and A/B testing.

    8:38

  • Creating an ad campaign part 2, starting to create our ad set

    Continue building your Instagram ad campaign by configuring the ad set: name it, set budget, choose a conversion (video views, engagement, page like, or messaging), and consider cost per result.

    7:59

  • Creating an ad campaign 3, finishing the ad set and targeting

    Use Facebook's AI-powered Advantage Plus audience to refine targeting, test age bands from 20 to 65+, apply Leonard Cohen and poetry interests, and set manual placements on Facebook.

    5:31

  • Campaign setup part 4 - finishing up the ad creative

    Create the ad from your page, craft the primary text and headline, upload the video with a thumbnail, and preview before publishing to explore ad set and campaign options.

    4:34

  • Creating your Facebook Pixel (now called data set), and connecting to website

    Set up a music pixel as a data set, link it to your ad account, and configure custom conversions and audiences in the events manager for retargeting warm visitors.

    14:29

  • Setting up Facebook custom audiences

    Navigate ads manager to create custom audiences for retargeting using sources such as website pixel, customer lists, catalogs, events, and page audiences. Plan for future lookalike audiences to expand reach.

    6:38

  • Connecting your Instagram account to also run Instagram ads through Facebook ads

    Link your Instagram account to your Facebook ads so you can run Instagram ads from Ads Manager, using professional accounts and cross-platform retargeting across Instagram and Facebook.

    4:09

  • Ad creation and optimization checklist to stay on track

    Discover a process for profitable Instagram ads, including setting up Facebook page, Meta Suite, connecting ad account and pixel, creating custom conversions, building audiences with retargeting, A/B testing, and lookalikes.

    3:45

  • Creative strategy for custom audiences

    Develop a precise custom audience of buyers by hand-picking existing students or clients and inviting them to visit a page, ensuring your Facebook ads target the right people who will convert.

    2:56