This is in response to a post I write a little while ago on how to promote on Instagram.

For those who are completely new to IG – they have a setting in “Settings and Privacy” called Account Status (it’s right down the bottom).

BEFORE posting anything to IG (and my other post goes into what to post) you need to check you have a Green Tick on “What can be recommended”

If this setting is orange, your account is near useless. The key to success on Instagram is to make engaging content they will push to people who do not follow you. If you are orange, your content will only be shown to current followers and you will not grow or market yourself to anyone new.

I get asked a LOT what to do if it is orange. Here is what I do. There is no rule book here – this is based on trial and error over a year of using IG as my main source of paid subscribers.

Firstly – if Orange, check if it shows you what the issue is (if not wait 24 hours and check again or play around with some of the actions I am telling you about to see if it goes back green – you should see it green within 1-2 hours of taking any individual action so I suggest trying one thing at a time)

If it tells you the issue it will likely be – 1 or more pieces of content flagged or an indication that your bio is problematic.

If it is content. Check are the items listed blatantly breaking community guidelines? If so – delete the worst one. Check back for green later. THE ONLY exception to this first point is if that content is going viral and converting to subs for you (and viral will be different for everyone – I would say viral is in the 100,000’s of views) – if the flagged media is viral APPEAL first (it will give you an option). It will take around 24-hours but it’s worth doing first as if you win the appeal the viral can then continue.

Also check your profile at this point – even though it may SAY it’s your content sometimes its not. Try deleting the worst or most recently posted media item and check your bio.

Try changing your link (or remove it temporarily – you can make a story with it as a hidden link and make a highlight saying “more here” or something like that). Make sure your bio doesn’t have arrow emojis and/or text saying stuff like click here for more ( emoji pointing down)

Check you have no “naughty emojis” in your bio – chilli/eggplant/cat etc.

Check your profile pic does not have a lot of cleavage.

Check your account name and bio have no suggestive words – eg. Sexy / naughty / spicy etc.

Fix all these and check again for green tick after an hour or so.

If it is still orange go and remove any other "iffy" flagged media – one at a time checking. If it is old media that never did well and it’s not a great representation of you just delete it.

If it’s good try everything else first and delete as a last resort or if its truly SFW appeal.

You will know yourself what is SFW and what is not. If there is close up tits or ass or too much skin or lingerie for too long in a reel you’re on the edge and likely you will need to remove that content.

Do not start by deleting everything. Do one thing at a time and check all the elements. What they state is the issue is NOT always what you have to change to go back to green.

If you delete your link and it goes back green try putting it back a few hours later. Play around with thinks. I have found I can reinstate my link pretty quickly and remain green until an other action triggers a flag.

Bigger older account as less likely to be impacted but it will still happen if you push the boundaries with your content.

I’ve probably forgotten to cover a few things so let me know in the comments if any extra questions or ideas and I will try to help.

Getting this RIGHT is essential to promoting on Instagram.

DO NOT GIVE UP on an account that is flagged as you can turn them around.

If you have had a lot of media actually taken down by IG (more than a couple of media items) – you may be shadowbanned and in this case you have to wait it out – but if they have not actually taken your content down you can fix the recommendation status yourself.