Understanding Xiaohongshu’s Algorithm: How to Get Your Content Seen by Millions

Posted on November 4, 2025 | By AdXingmei Insights Team

You’ve spent weeks creating the perfect Xiaohongshu post: stunning photos, a detailed review, and niche hashtags. You hit "publish"—and crickets.

Why? Because on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book/RED), great content alone isn’t enough. You need to understand the platform’s algorithm—the hidden rules that decide which posts get seen… and which get buried.

RED’s algorithm isn’t a mystery. It’s designed to reward one thing: content that users find useful. Crack that, and your posts will reach millions.

This guide breaks down how the algorithm works, and how to optimize your content to trigger its "visibility boost."

How Xiaohongshu’s Algorithm Works: The "3-Phase Test"

Unlike Instagram or Facebook, RED’s algorithm doesn’t rely heavily on "who you follow." Instead, it tests every new post in three phases to see if it’s worth promoting:

Phase 1: The "Cold Start" (0–1,000 views)

When you post, RED shows it to a small "test group" (100–500 users) who match your content’s niche (e.g., "skincare enthusiasts" or "luxury travelers").

The algorithm tracks 4 key metrics here:

• Click-through rate (CTR): Do users open your post when it appears in their feed?
• Completion rate: Do they scroll to the end of your text/video?
• Interaction rate: Do they like, comment, or save?
• Share rate: Do they send it to friends?

If your post scores well, it moves to Phase 2.

Phase 2: The "Mid-Tier Boost" (1,000–100,000 views)

RED expands your post’s reach to 5,000–50,000 users—still in your niche, but with broader interests.

Now, the algorithm focuses on depth of interaction. A comment like "Where can I buy this?" is better than "Nice!" because it shows high intent.

Posts that keep users on the platform longer (e.g., through detailed guides) get priority here.

Phase 3: The "Viral Pool" (100,000+ views)

Only 1–2% of posts reach this phase. RED pushes them to "explore pages" and even non-niche users, as they’ve proven to appeal broadly.

At this stage, the algorithm looks at long-term engagement: Does the post keep getting interactions days (or weeks) after publishing?

5 Ways to Trick the Algorithm into Promoting Your Posts

1. Nail Your "First 3 Seconds" to Boost CTR

Users scroll fast—your cover image and title must stop them. Use:

• Cover images with text overlays (e.g., "I Tried 10 Sunscreens—This One Won").
• Titles that ask questions or promise value (e.g., "How to Fix Dry Hair in 5 Minutes").

2. Write "Scroll-Worthy" Text to Improve Completion Rate

RED users love details. Structure your text with:

• Short paragraphs (2–3 lines max).
• Bullet points or emojis to break up text (e.g., "✅ Pros: Long-lasting; ❌ Cons: A bit pricey").
• A clear "takeaway" in the last line (e.g., "Overall, I’d repurchase—worth every yuan!").

3. Encourage "Meaningful Comments" (Not Just Likes)

Ask questions in your post to spark comments: "Have you tried this? What did you think?" or "What’s your go-to sunscreen?"

Reply to every comment—the algorithm rewards posts with active discussions.

4. Use "Searchable Hashtags" to Expand Reach

Mix 3 types of hashtags:

• 1–2 broad hashtags (#SkincareTips, #TravelInspiration).
• 3–5 niche hashtags (#SensitiveSkinCare, #FamilyFriendlyResorts).
• 1 brand-specific hashtag (#YourBrandName).

Avoid overused hashtags like #OOTD (too competitive).

5. Post at "High-Engagement Times"

RED users are most active:

• Weekdays: 7–9 AM (morning commute), 12–1 PM (lunch break), 8–11 PM (evening scroll).
• Weekends: 10 AM–12 PM, 7–11 PM.

Test posting at different times—use RED’s backend to see when your audience is online.