RankMySocialMedia runs two genuinely different kinds of ranking, and understanding the difference matters — mixing them up is the fastest way to misjudge how visibility actually works here.
Sponsored rankings — Rankings
Every category × location combination has its own leaderboard where creators bid for a sponsored position. Higher bids win higher spots, and periods run on a fixed weekly cycle — Monday through Sunday — after which positions reset and bidding opens again. This is a paid visibility channel, and it's always clearly labelled as sponsored.
Organic rankings — Top Creators
Separately, Top Creators ranks every public profile in each category by Social Score, with real follower growth over the past 7 days breaking ties. This can't be bought — it's driven entirely by your connected accounts' real numbers. It exists specifically so that genuine growth is visible on its own, independent of who's bidding.
Why keep them separate
If sponsored and organic rankings were blended, spending would quietly become the only way to look credible, and genuine growth would get buried under budget. Keeping them separate and clearly labelled means a brand looking at Top Creators is seeing real traction, and a brand looking at Rankings knows exactly what they're looking at: paid placement.
What this means for you
You don't have to choose one path. Build your Social Score for free by keeping your profile complete and your accounts connected and growing — and use sponsored bidding when you want a guaranteed top spot in a specific category and location for a specific week, independent of where your organic growth currently stands.