Why Am I Getting Less Likes on Instagram?

With over a billion active users on Instagram, still not getting enough likes can be frustrating. With millions of clicks, views, and likes up for grabs, many users face the same challenge in capturing steady engagement. Right now, you might be one of the many Instagram users wondering, ‘Why am I getting less likes on Instagram?’ 

You would think there’d be enough for everyone to get their fair share. Just posting content into the stream of online chatter should be enough to make your social media successful. That’s not always the reality, thanks to a variety of factors.

On Instagram, every little interaction matters to your platform. Why are likes so important? They indicate that your followers resonate with the content, which is a pivotal factor in your account’s growth.

If you’re in a bit of a dry spell when it comes to social media, don’t stress! Our guide will help unravel the mystery of Instagram engagement for you. It’ll help you figure out the low likes on Instagram and provide helpful, actionable tips to pump up those numbers.

How Do I See My Likes on Instagram?

Likes are similar to a report card for your posts. The more likes you get, the more users are seeing your engaging content. They are also connecting with your brand and getting to know you as a creator. This can then translate into buying your products, practising your methods, and believing what you put out into the world. With this in mind, you may want to know ‘How can I see my likes on Instagram?’

The number of likes on a post reflects engagement, showing how strongly the content resonates with followers. If you’re an Instagram influencer, likes can be a strong indicator of credibility and marketing potential. 

Getting likes on Instagram can help attract potential brand collaborations with your profile. The same as individuals on the platform, businesses leverage Instagram likes to measure content effectiveness and audience interest.

Instagram allows users to see how many likes they get on posts. So how do I find my likes on Instagram? Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Open Instagram: Log in to your Instagram account using the mobile app.
2. Navigate to Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will take you to your profile page.
3. Select the Post: Choose the specific post for which you want to see the likes. Tap on the post to open it.
4. View Likes: Underneath the post, you should see the total number of likes displayed. Tap on the number of likes (it will appear as “others” if you view someone else’s post). Here, a list will appear showing the usernames of people who have liked your post.

Why Am I Not Getting Likes on Instagram?

Several factors contribute to decreased likes on your Instagram content, often impacting engagement. Engagement through likes on Instagram posts is important for many users, providing valuable feedback to gauge their impact and reach. 

Understanding the reasons behind getting less likes on Instagram can help you to refine your content strategy and build traction. Now you know how to see your likes on IG, let’s focus on what might be limiting them.

Below are some key factors that could be contributing to you getting fewer likes on Instagram posts:

Posting at the Wrong Times

Your audience needs to be actively using the platform when you post your content. This provides the best chance of them seeing and interacting with it. Poor post timing may cause lower engagement levels, depending on your posting schedule and how it aligns with your audience. 

If your Instagram profile is targeting the entire U.S. as its audience, the range of time zones will affect when people are on the app. For example, are your existing followers stay-at-home parents? They are likely be using the app early in the morning or late at night when their children are asleep. 

If you’re targeting college students with less demanding schedules, they will be online for many hours during the day. Meet your audience where they are and post at times when they’re most likely to see your latest content..

To determine your audience’s active hours, consider using social platform analytics tools. These tools provide insights into your followers’ peak activity times on Instagram. Understanding these patterns helps optimize your posting schedule for maximum engagement rates.

Beyond timing, these tools offer additional insights. They reveal when your audience engages the most and which posts resonate best. This data tells you what content works and what needs to be rethought, an effective way to grow your platform.

With solid feedback on engagement, you are better positioned to give your audience what they want. Using a social analytics tool can aid in crafting content that captivates your followers.

Instagram Shadow Ban

If you’re struggling with IG likes not showing, your posts might be lacking attention due to a phenomenon called shadowbanning. Instagram uses this tactic to limit a user’s post reach to decrease visibility. Users may only be able to see your profile if they search and go directly to your Instagram page.

Your account may be subject to a shadowban for various reasons, some of which include:

• Being excessively active on the platform – constantly liking and unliking posts or repeatedly following and unfollowing accounts.
• Using automated tools for liking or commenting on others’ posts.
• Employing broken or banned hashtags.
• Violating Instagram’s community rules and standards for a safe online environment.

If you suspect a shadowban, ensure you are maintaining compliance with Instagram’s terms of service. Any violations of these guidelines can trigger a shadowban. You should also steer clear of automated tools for likes/comments, as these also breach Instagram’s rules for use.

Another crucial step to take is to refine your use of hashtags. Focus on quality over quantity, and choose relevant hashtags for each post you share. For example, if you travel to Italy you can use hashtags for each city or location you visit. Avoid the more generic tags like #travel #italy #europe.

If these social media best practices don’t resolve the issue, consider reducing your posting frequency. Instagram will see constant, 24-hour-a-day content generation as suspicious – aim for a few times a day at most. This will maintain your account’s activity level without overwhelming or violating community standards.

Bots and Fake Accounts

Instagram periodically purges bots and fake accounts, which may explain why you are getting less likes on Instagram posts. Bot accounts have a reputation for generating fake engagement by indiscriminately liking numerous posts. It’s what they’re designed to do, but it’s unhelpful for genuine Instagram users trying to connect with real audiences.

Instagram will remove these accounts on mass, which may explain a sudden drop in your follower count and engagement. Seeing less spammy comments on your posts could also be a sign. If you experience Instagram likes not showing due to losing fake followers, rest assured it’s for the best!

The silver lining is that this drop has nothing to do with your content quality. It’s a widespread issue impacting all Instagram accounts. It’s a positive sign that Instagram is purging spammers, ensuring that every like you receive comes from a genuine person. With less fake accounts on the platform, the more authentic engagement you are able to generate for your Instagram profile.

Low Following Number

While it’s thrilling to have quality posts that skyrockets with likes, it doesn’t guarantee a repeat performance every time. Previous high engagement might have resulted from catching a trend or nailing your hashtag game. Consistently high numbers of likes and comments are more attainable with more followers.

Accounts consistently gaining large numbers of likes often have a huge following. Logically, you should focus on expanding your follower base. By increasing visibility and follower count, you will tap into a larger audience and have access to more likes.

If you want to gain followers in the short term, purchase inexpensive IG likes. It is one of the best ways to get followers. These likes can give your profile a visibility boost, helping its growth. However, the long-term strategy involves a regular posting schedule, valuable content, and creating engagement to steadily build your following.

Lack of Engagement

Likes are not the be-all and end-all when it comes to boosting your Instagram engagement stats. Responding to comments on posts is crucial because, just as likes are, the Instagram algorithm factors comments into engagement rates. Besides engaging with followers on your profile, there are other avenues to foster genuine connections. 

If you’ve been tagged in a post, or your friends have posted recently, you can easily engage. Comment something on the relevant piece of content – perhaps a few words of encouragement, congratulations, or answering a question.

Strategic engagement across various fronts can significantly enhance your visibility. Likewise, never underestimate the value of your existing followers. By encouraging their participation, you can create a stronger bond and transform them into loyal fans. If you’ve got all these bases covered, however, it’s worth investigating what else might be causing your downturn in likes.

Not Posting Regularly

Consistency is key on most social media platforms, and the likes of Instagram are no exception. You will notice better results if you post regularly. If your Instagram has been on the back burner lately, it’s common to notice a decline in your likes. 

Understanding how the Instagram algorithm changes is a bit of a mystery to the majority of users. We do know, however, that it favors consistent and regular posting schedules. Accounts that don’t update frequently may become sidelined, losing visibility and getting less likes due to a lack of viewers.

Your followers are more likely to stay invested and engage with a steady stream of content. When they know you’ll be providing a regular update, recipe series, or ongoing project they can look forward to it. This makes them more inclined to connect with you. 

Building a narrative or story within your posts can take it up a notch. It fosters a personal connection and engages your audience on a deeper level.

Why Am I Getting Views but No Likes on Instagram?

Are you noticing that some of your posts rake in large numbers of views but fall short in likes? It can be disheartening to know you’ve achieved visibility with hundreds or maybe thousands of viewers. And now, the next obstacle is getting them to actually like, comment, or share the post.

Turns out, there are few answers to this piece of the Instagram puzzle. If you’re still wondering, “Why is my Instagram engagement so low?” keep reading to learn some of the reasons this may be happening.

Choosing the Wrong Hashtags

Hashtags on Instagram are instrumental in expanding your post’s visibility. However, using incorrect or irrelevant popular hashtags can adversely affect engagement. Overused or generic hashtags like #instadaily or #Instagood might attract views but not necessarily likes. Millions of posts use these hashtags, making it difficult for your content to stand out.

You can focus on niche-specific hashtags that will make it easy for Instagram users to find what you’re posting about. Are you building a vintage fashion blog platform? Find tags like #vintagefashionblogger #vinstagestyle #vintageclothes that fewer people use but are still highly relevant to your content. 

Using specific hashtags can increase exposure by attracting more users who are already searching for these tags. Greater exposure to these more specific searches means you’re more likely to connect with interested users. 

Not Creating Relevant Content

Irrelevant or out-of-sync content with your audience’s interests can lead to views without engagement. Research your audience thoroughly – what is trending in your niche of content? Who are the specific demographics are you trying to engage with? Which similar creators are getting more likes on Instagram?

Your followers expect certain content based on what initially attracted them to your Instagram page. If your content drifts towards new genres or loses its original theme completely, followers may lose interest. They will hesitate to engage if they no longer relate to or enjoy what you’re posting. 

Understanding your audience’s preferences is crucial to getting more likes. Learn what resonates with them and mould your social media to deliver content that matches those expectations. 

Content Isn’t Engaging

The most successful content on Instagram is the stuff that causes a response or a reaction from viewers. Does it spark a strong emotion, tap into a discussion about current events, or capture a remarkable action? If yes, it has a great chance of thriving on Instagram. 

If you aren’t creating content that fulfils most of these qualities, viewers may not be lining up to engage. While it’s not possible to guarantee anything will be successful on social media, engagement-worthy content usually has these features:

• Visual Appeal: Striking visuals, high-quality images, or creative graphics immediately capture attention.
• Compelling Captions: Captions that tell a story, ask questions, or share interesting facts can prompt engagement.
• Call-to-Action (CTA): Encouraging your audience to engage through specific actions like liking, commenting, or tagging friends can significantly boost interaction.

10 Top Audience Engagement Strategies for Instagram Influencers and Businesses

You may be starting out with 100 followers, or be a titan of the influencer world. At all stages of success, getting more likes on your Instagram posts is essential to continued growth. Individuals and businesses are constantly working on engagement strategies to sustain their online presence.

These audience engagement strategies offer proven, effective ways to boost audience engagement rates on Instagram:

1. Copy top-performing posts: Analyze your most successful posts—the star performers—and replicate their style or theme. This strategy helps determine what resonates best with your audience.
2. Post carousels: Carousels share multiple images or videos in one post. Use them to tell a story, share tips, or showcase different content aspects.
3. Use Instagram Stories: Stories can generate engagement and feedback. Use polls, questions, quizzes, or interactive stickers to encourage audience participation. 
4. Go live: Live sessions foster real-time interaction. Host Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes moments, product launches, or collaborations, encouraging audience participation while you stream.
5. Create more short-form video content: Leverage the popularity of video content. Short, engaging video content, such as tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or quick tips, often captivate audiences.
6. Collab with others: Don’t shy away from collaborating with other creators or brands. This feature expands your reach and introduces your content to new audiences.
7. Make images stand out: Create visually appealing images that catch the eye. Use high-quality photos, vibrant colors, or a consistent aesthetic to stand out.
8. Write captions that drive engagement: Craft compelling captions that prompt responses. Prompt interaction by asking questions, sharing personal anecdotes, or encouraging users to share their thoughts.
9. Experiment with different reel features: Reels offer diverse tools like filters, effects, and audio. Experimenting with these features can help create more engaging content.
10. Host fun giveaways: Organize contests or giveaways to incentivize engagement. Encourage likes, comments, and shares as part of the entry requirements.

Grow Your Instagram Following With Path Social

Seeing low numbers of likes may be disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world for your Instagram page. There are a host of reasons, which we’ve discussed, that could play a part in the like count. 

Perhaps your content strategy needs tweaks, or you’re not reaching the right audience at the right moments. Path Social can support you through the leverage of our in-house platform of influencers and proprietary AI targeting algorithm. 

The key to addressing the problem, whatever it may be, is taking action sooner rather than later.  You now have a few answers to the conundrum of ‘Why am I getting less likes on Instagram?’ It’s time to move onto building a thriving, genuine Instagram community! 

Path Social provides access to decades of expertise within the social media world. We work with you to develop a robust, versatile growth strategy. Cultivate your Instagram account onwards and upwards with our effective and proven social media growth service. 

Path Social can help source organic, engaged followers who enjoy your content and will stick around to see it perform. Start growing your Instagram presence today!

FAQs: Why Am I Getting Less Likes on Instagram?

Instagram has a pretty fickle algorithm. Users can be left perplexed as to why they are seeing a sudden drop in likes or engagement. Let’s run through a few frequently asked questions about how to get a lot of likes on Instagram.

What content can I make to get more likes on Instagram?

You can increase your likes by creating more visually appealing and high-quality content. Instagram seeks out content that will resonate with your audience. Share quality posts with a storytelling aspect that will drive a human response. You can share personal experiences, behind-the-scenes looks, or user-generated content. Engaging with your audience can also take the form of asking questions. Prompt a discussion in the comments, or simply respond to their comments on your posts. Don’t