Have you ever posted content on other social platforms and wondered why it didn’t perform as well on RED? The secret lies in the algorithm, which prioritizes quality, originality, and authenticity in both content and interaction. When someone chooses to “follow” your account on RED, it’s seen as a genuine vote of confidence—not just a click, but the beginning of a meaningful connection. Shares and comments act as visibility boosters: the more people engage with your post, the more the system sees it as worthy of being shown to new users. Saves also play a key role, indicating long-term interest in your content. Lastly, while “likes” have less weight, they still contribute positively to a post’s overall engagement profile.

RED also evaluates how much each account behaves like a real user through a metric known as the Sincerity Score. Browsing, commenting, replying promptly, and interacting with other posts all raise this score, improving your overall organic reach. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

• Consistency: Post regularly, maintaining a coherent theme and visual style.
• Video-first: Prioritize 30–60 second mini tutorials or unboxings, ideal for increasing watch time and shares.
• Hashtags and Keywords: Use 5–8 relevant tags and integrate keywords naturally into your text—avoid overuse to prevent appearing spammy.
• Avoid Violations: Certain Chinese terms like 钱 (money), 死 (death), or 爽 (pleasure) may be flagged as sensitive.
• Live Interaction: Livestreams build instant trust—use them for launches or special promotions.

‍

When you first publish on XiaoHongShu, your account enters what’s known as the “sandbox phase”: an observation period that can last from a few weeks to several months, during which the algorithm closely evaluates all your content. If you consistently post authentic, creative, and high-quality content, the platform will reward your efforts by boosting the visibility of your posts (also called notes). On the other hand, overly promotional content risks being suppressed and staying hidden from the broader user base. This makes it essential to carefully plan your first few posts—define a clear strategy and focus on originality to align with RED’s user-generated ethos.

But how does the algorithm measure the quality of a post? The core indicators are engagement rates—likes, comments, shares, saves, and follows—which are seen as true markers of value. According to RED’s CEM Score formula, each “like” or save earns 1 point, each comment and share earns 4 points, and every new follower adds a full 8 points. The total score is your CEM score: the higher it is, the more the algorithm deems your post valuable and promotes it, both in relevant search results and directly on users’ home feeds.

With smart planning of your initial content and continuous tracking of your CEM Score, you can turn the sandbox phase into the perfect springboard to grow your visibility and build real loyalty on RED.