How to Increase Engagement on Instagram for Long-Term Growth

Low Instagram user engagement is one of the biggest fears (and frustrations) that content creators experience. Despite putting in all that hard work, a post that hardly makes a ripple is disheartening. 

Why are people not commenting, sharing, and saving your beautiful landscape shot or funny meme? Is it a you problem, or a them problem? Frankly, it’s pretty much both, but you have the power to change it. 

Knowing how to increase engagement on Instagram is a trick of the trade everyone must nail to grow organically. Instagram isn’t impossible; engagement comes once you know how to attract it with a solid Instagram strategy.
If you increase Instagram engagement, brilliant things follow, like brand awareness and more followers, but you must earn it first. We will guide you through all the proven techniques to keep likes, comments, and shares coming.

How to Get More Engagement on Instagram with Posts

If you’re running an Instagram business account, knowing how to increase engagement is a must. This is the key to reaching new customers and keeping existing ones interested in what you’re doing. 

A low engagement rate on Instagram is caused by many common mistakes, some of which you’re likely doing daily. Are you using all of Instagram’s features? Instagram carousels are a great tool for expanding ideas and keeping users engaged. You should also take advantage of Instagram Insights to learn more about your followers’ account performance and engagement trends.

Encourage Engagement for Instagram Users With Interaction

The term ‘engagement’ on social media simply refers to communication, and it’s common knowledge that it’s a two-way street. So, to increase your engagement rate on Instagram, you have to open the channel and encourage it. 

How to boost Instagram engagement through interaction:

1. Ask a simple open-ended question: You can do this in your post caption or comments to initiate a conversation with your followers and potential ones. Instagram users are more likely to respond when motivated to think or are part of a discussion that interests them. This is a great way to keep a conversation going, foster a community, and appear on other posts.
   
2. Reply to all comments: You must take advantage of real-time engagements you receive via a particular post on Instagram. The sooner you reply to comments, the better chance the commenter will see and engage with the response. Having more activity in your comments section allows your post to rank higher on other people’s feeds.
   
3. Tag people on your posts: You can earn content likes from the followers of the people you tag, who may also start following you. Tag people you know personally, as well as followers who engage with your Instagram content frequently. If you have exchanged a friendly direct message (DM) with your most active followers, ask before tagging them. 

4. Optimize your posts: Optimize your Instagram carousels and posts for the Instagram algorithm to make them visible to as many people as possible. Use relevant hashtags and post on Instagram at peak times when your target audience has free time to scroll. 

These steps create a safe, exciting space for followers and soon-to-be followers. Encouraging interaction shows you genuinely care about input and fuels an active community that naturally grows over time. 

Use Personality to Boost Engagement on Instagram Posts

Your personality sets you apart from others, so despite the temptation to ‘fit in,’ do not squash it! Being your authentic self attracts other like-minded people and even those who do not yet appreciate a refreshingly individualistic account.

You must still be mindful of what you say on public platforms and be accessible to others. However, striking the balance will form a loyal following excited to engage with you. So, put yourself out there and be confident in your Instagram activity. 

How to put yourself out there and embrace your personality to increase Instagram engagement:

1. Engage with similar brands: Follow brands that resonate with you by commenting, sharing, and saving their content. They may be competition, but this doesn’t mean you should ignore them. In fact, you can learn a lot of valuable insights about your target audience and relevant trends from similar brands. Make sure you’re engaging with brands and their followers in a friendly way without overtly promoting yourself.
   
2. Engage with your most active followers: Like and comment on their profiles to stay in touch and maintain that mutual connection. This will also keep you at the forefront of their minds.
   
3. Engage with other content: Before and after you post, engage with other content to increase the chance of a higher relevant score. The Instagram algorithm determines a post’s relevance based on how much engagement it gets within the first hour.
   
4. Go live: Give your audience something interesting to watch, such as a giveaway or a behind-the-scenes sneak peek. Announce you’ll go live to build up excitement and tag others if possible. 

You are fully capable of capturing others’ interest simply by being real and putting yourself out there. Most people struggle to know how to do it, but with the steps just mentioned, nothing is stopping you now!

How to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Interesting Posts 

Posts need to be high-quality so that people stop and interact with them. It’s even better if they share it with others. Refrain from posting whatever is trending. Instead, take time to craft posts with your target audience in mind. 

How to increase Instagram engagement using interesting content:  

1. Write catchy captions: Get your audience interested enough to pause scrolling through their feed. That first line is crucial and must immediately capture people’s attention. Your caption can make them curious, smile, or be inspired – enough to elicit a reaction, e.g., commenting, sharing, and saving. Give them something to think about and discuss, and always add a call to action (CTA) to your captions!
   
2. Ensure content resonates: Memes, user-generated content (UGC), and other content published by prominent profiles encourage engagement on your account. You don’t always need original content to increase your Instagram follower engagement. Sharing relevant content from well-known pages is an effective way to keep your page current and interesting. Only share a trending post that’s relevant to your industry. You can also get inspiration from a trending meme and create a similar one for your brand. Always credit the original creator when sharing UGC by tagging them if possible.
   
3. Create insightful content: Shareable content, such as quotes and graphics, offers a quick way to engage with others and leave an impression. Monitor the content that receives the highest engagement, whether yours or somebody else’s. Don’t forget the brand image in terms of font, color, and tone of voice. 

Carry out these steps all while considering the target audience and your content will be interesting and engaging!

How to Increase Engagement on Instagram Stories

Knowing how to increase engagement on Instagram Stories is critical to your business growth. With more than 500 million people using Instagram Stories daily, this widely popular feature is full of opportunities.

Instagram Stories naturally have a low-key feeling compared to Instagram carousels, posts, and reels. This works in your favor in various ways; followers feel connected, and you can experiment creatively with less risk. 

By understanding and embracing the power of Instagram Stories, your whole account experiences higher engagement and growth. 

How to boost Instagram engagement with Stories:

• Create polls to encourage participation with Poll or Quiz Stickers. 

• Use the DM Me Sticker when promoting an event, promo, or contest for feedback.

• Use Gift Card Stickers and Shopping Stickers to encourage people to support you.

• Tag your business with Location Stickers to make it easy to find.

• Optimize your story for relevance with the right Instagram Hashtag Stickers.

• Add a Music Sticker to enhance the story-viewing experience. 

• Use Question Stickers so followers can get to know you better. 

• Add a clickable link to your story to make the Instagram content more explorable.

Post on Instagram Stories about once a day, as this engages people without spamming them and promoting an unfollow. Combine optimal timing with these elements, and your Stories will never land on deaf ears again. 

How to Boost Engagement on Instagram Using Reels

Short-form content, particularly in the form of videos, is a huge trend in 2024. Pioneered by apps such as TikTok, it’s clear that this method is effective for keeping people tuned in. They are captivating and easy to share, two ingredients perfect for boosting engagement on Instagram. 

So, how do you do it? There are a few things to consider when creating reels that will improve your engagement rate on Instagram. 

How to use reels to increase Instagram engagement:

1. Create engaging content: Reels should be quick and snappy to keep viewers interested. They should also cover topics relevant to your target audience and your niche.
   
2. Harness trends: Often, sounds, dances, and challenges will trend across social media and are a great way to put yourself on the map.
   
3. Encourage action: Use CTAs in the form of asking questions or inviting them to like or share the reel.
   
4. Collaborate: Create reels with others in your industry or community to combine followers and reach a new audience.
   
5. Be consistent: Post on Instagram reels regularly to keep your page current and up-to-date with trends. When it comes down to it, quality is always better than quantity!

Have fun making reels and schedule them in advance to ensure you keep on top of your agenda. Also, be sure to optimize the reels with relevant Instagram hashtags and descriptions. 

How to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Influencers

We’ve mentioned user-generated content, but this is just the start regarding the power of collaboration for higher engagement. Working with other users with a big platform is an amazing opportunity to expand reach. Choosing the right influencer to partner with is crucial for your social media reputation, so take time with this decision. 

As a frequent Instagram user, you’re likely familiar with influencers with millions of followers and big brands to their names. In 2024 and beyond, influencers have a lot of power over what followers (and non-followers) believe and, of course, buy. 

Influencers have an image that garners trust from followers, making them ideal for brands looking to increase engagement on Instagram. You can either ask them to talk about your product, host giveaways, or invite them to collaborate on a post. As long as both parties are on board, get as creative as you want! 

We also want to introduce to you micro-influencers. These users have around 200k to 500k followers and are a bit niche yet have a very loyal fanbase. They may not reach as many people as influencers with millions of followers, but there are plenty of advantages, including: 

• Resonating content: People like micro-influencers for their relatable, down-to-earth content. Harnessing this is ideal for tapping into emotion and making your brand feel genuine. In fact, you can get higher engagement rates this way compared to larger, less personal influencers.

• Future opportunities: Building lasting relationships with micro-influencers is much easier compared to the bigger ones. Investing in this partnership early on in both of your careers is key to bringing long-term benefits in the future. 

• Affordable Price: Partnering with big influencers isn’t cheap, so opting for a micro-influencer is definitely the next best thing. You still get amazing results, but for a cheaper price – what’s not to love? 

Increase Instagram Engagement for Long Lasting Success

It’s one thing to boost engagement momentarily, but if you can maintain this level, your page will grow organically and open doors to brilliant things! 

Brand deals, business awareness, and collaboration opportunities are just some benefits that Instagram can bring. Therefore, putting in the time to boost engagement is a huge payoff and pretty easy once you know how!

Effectively uncover how to increase engagement on Instagram when you team up with a reliable growth company like Path Social. Get interested followers who deliver quality engagement with Path Social’s proprietary AI targeting technology and in-house team of social media experts. Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today!

How to Increase Engagement on Instagram: FAQs

Instagram has a lot of moving parts so it’s common to feel out of place when you’re first starting. Let’s cover some frequently asked questions about how to increase your Instagram engagement.

H3: When are the best times to post to increase Instagram engagement?

First off, you need to think about your target audience, including their location and when they are most active. For example, a follower in New York who works 9-5 will use Instagram at a different time compared to a teenager in Ireland. 

On weekdays and weekends, lunchtime is said to be optimal for posting. To help decide the best times to post on Instagram, look into Instagram Insights to spot patterns.  

How to boost engagement on Instagram by finding a target audience?

Your Instagram strategy begins with knowing who you are and what you want to bring to the table. If you’ve gotten this far, you likely already have a reason for starting, so the next step is research. 

Look into competitors within your industry to see what they’re posting and how Instagram users engage with it. Is there something competitors are missing that you see a demand for? Experiment initially to see what Instagram content resonates with your audience and use them to guide decisions moving forward. 

How to use user-generated content to boost Instagram engagement?

User-generated content (UGC) is effective at building trust with your audience. It comes across as authentic and provides you with fresh content and new followers. When followers use your service or product, encourage them to post Instagram carousels or Instagram Stories about their experience.

How do you get 100k views on Instagram reels?

Getting 100k views on reels does wonders for your engagement rate on Instagram. 

The secret is to keep it short and sweet. As attention spans shrink, it’s ever more important to grab the attention of the viewer within the first few seconds. It’s very easy to continue scrolling, so keeping them on your reel is a huge success. 

Research current trends relevant to your industry so your content resonates with the right people at the right time. Embrace sounds, topics, and challenges that prove popular with competitors and add your own unique twist. 

You must also remember to optimize your Instagram reels with accurate hashtags and descriptions. Include a CTA to encourage interaction, and be sure to reply to reactions and comments to keep the ball rolling. 

How do you boost the Instagram algorithm? 

The Instagram algorithm is a fickle beast unless you know how it works. Put simply, you need to ensure it doesn’t forget about you. This includes fostering engagement by being active in the following ways: 

• Post-user-generated content, as this involves tagging multiple people and brands. 

• Comment on other Instagram user’s and brands’ posts. 

• Reply to comments as soon as possible. 

• Use stickers on stories to drive traffic.

Work with creators and micro-influences to get on Instagram’s algorithm’s good side as they resonate with most target audiences. If possible, you can pay for Instagram advertising.