If you’re tired of struggling to gain a following on crowded social media platforms, then Lemon8 might just be the answer you’re looking for. This relatively new app has been making waves with its unique aesthetic feed and engaging content, quickly gaining popularity and even earning a spot in the Top 10 charts in the United States. In this blog post, we’ll delve into how Lemon8’s algorithm works and share some tips and tricks to help you make the most of it to grow your following.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to understand how Lemon8’s algorithm operates. According to The New York Times, Lemon8, being owned by ByteDance, the same company that owns TikTok, utilizes a similar algorithm for its content recommendation. This means that your feed and “For You” page on Lemon8 are personalized based on the posts you engage with. Understanding this can be advantageous in building your following on the app.
While there isn’t much available information about the specific algorithm ByteDance uses for Lemon8, I’ve gathered some observations through my experience using the app and studying other popular platforms like TikTok which uses the same algorithm.
Now, let’s dive into some tips and tricks to make the most of Lemon8’s algorithm:
1. Engage with relevant content
The more you engage with posts that are relevant to your interests and niche, the higher the chances of Lemon8’s algorithm showing your content to others who share similar interests. Follow, Like, comment, and share posts that resonate with your content.
Since Lemon8 and TikTok’s algorithm are similar, we know that Lemon8 is very personalized. Although you might not be able to get your posts on everyone’s For You page, it is important to be on a few peoples For You pages who will actually engage with your content. Let the algorithm know who will your content by engaging with similar content
2. Use keywords and hashtags to target a small niche
Maximize your chances of success on Lemon8 by avoiding competition and targeting a small, specific group of people
Do keyword research by exploring different hashtags. Find a niche hashtag with around 10k to 100k views. Create content that aligns with that hashtag and use it as a keyword throughout your post, including the title, caption, and description.
3. Edit photos directly on the Lemon8 app
Edit your photos directly on the Lemon8 app. Lemon8 prioritizes content that utilizes its own editing features, and I’ve clearly noticed a significant difference in engagement between posts that were edited on the app versus off the app. It seems that Lemon8 shows posts that were edited on the app to more people.
4. Try not to reuse content from other social media apps
Steer clear of reusing content from other social media apps directly onto Lemon8. I’ve noticed that reposting TikTok videos or Pinterest posts without any changes often results in unsuccessful Lemon8 posts.
Lemon8’s algorithm somehow knows that it is reused content and tends to stop showing those posts to others.
5. Focus on posting more photos than videos
This platform favors photos over videos. Although you are welcome to post video content, remember that it might not perform as well as the photo content.
6. Make sure your content falls into one of the created categories in Lemon8
When you open the app, you’ll see categories such as fashion, beauty, food, wellness, travel, and more listed at the top. Make sure your content aligns with one of these categories, as it will increase the likelihood of your content showing up on the For You page. Don’t worry, these categories are broad and can accommodate many unique niches.
Now that you’ve got the algorithm down, it’s important to also optimize your posts:
1. Have an aesthetic cover image with minimal stickers
Have an aesthetic cover image that perfectly describes what the post is about
Make sure to have an engaging title that will make users click on it!
Avoid generic titles like “White pants” and instead, show that you’re solving a problem or offering value through your title.
2. Make your post captions descriptive and structured
Avoid repeating text that is already on your cover photo within your caption.
Keep the captions structured and avoid long chunky paragraphs. Try to use bullet points if you can! The goal here is to make it easily readable.
Add a call to action – Ask your viewers to like, comment, or save your post. You can even pose a question that encourages engagement in the comments.
3. Follow Lemon8’s suggested sizing ratio of 3:4 for your posts
This ensures that your content is optimized for the app’s display. It will also ensure that Lemon8 pushes out your posts
