15 ways to increase engaement on Instagram Flashcards
Lean into Reels
If you’ve been paying any attention to Instagram at all this year, you know that Reels are the platform’s current favorite child. Reels are the easiest way to get your content in front of an audience that extends well beyond your current follower list.
We’ll talk about specific Reels features to make your short videos more compelling in the next tip. But if they seem overwhelming, just start small. Reels don’t have to be complicated to make an impact.
Experiment with different Reels features
Posting just about any kind of Reel has the potential to up your Instagram engagement, but for the maximum bump you need to increase watch time. That means you need to hook viewers in the first three seconds of the Reel and keep them interested throughout.
Some key Reels features to experiment with are:
Transitions: These quick cuts from one scene to the next allow you to create dynamic motion.
Timed text: Call out specific words or phrases or just label individual moments in your Reel.
Trending audio: Using trending audio in your Reel can hugely increase your exposure.
Voiceover: This works particularly well if you’re explaining or describing something, like a process or a recipe.
Templates: Starting with a Reels template makes it super-easy to sync your photo and video clips with an audio track.
Focus on Instagram SEO
For a long time, getting your content seen was all about understanding the algorithm. We’re not going to tell you to ignore the Instagram algorithm. But we are going to tell you to put some energy into Instagram search optimization (SEO) as well.
Instagram SEO is all about getting your content seen when people search using keywords on Instagram. People who find your content through SEO are an ideal audience to increase engagement since they are specifically searching for what you provide!
To get the best search rankings, you’ll need to understand what kinds of words and phrases people use to look for content like yours. On that note…
Get to know your audience
It’s hard to make great content if you don’t know who you’re making it for.
The demographics of your target audience will help define the type of content you post, your brand voice, and even what days and times to publish. You can track this information down through Instagram analytics.
For example, AllBirds knows their audience is particularly interested in the brand’s sustainability initiatives. Sustainability is their USP(unique selling proposition). So, while they do post pretty pictures of their shoes and clothing, they also dedicate a lot of space in their grid to talking up their environmental focus.
Allbirds example:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkyUQDdpoww/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
Another great way to learn what your audience wants from your Instagram content is to ask them. The polls and question stickers in Stories allow you to get real-time feedback (and bonus engagement!) from your loyal fans.
Post consistently and at strategic times
The more you post, the more opportunities your followers have to engage. Commit to a consistent posting schedule to keep your feed fresh and your followers intrigued.
As we just mentioned, posting at the right times is key, too. If you post when your audience is asleep, you’re not going to see much early engagement.
Be authentic and interactive
Being honest and relatable is better than being perfectly polished on Instagram, especially on Stories and Reels. Introduce your audience to the real people and experiences behind your brand.
Example:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClkXnnFpK8F/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
Stories in particular provide an excellent opportunity to connect directly with your audience through interactive features like questions, polls, and countdowns. This chance for followers to talk directly to you creates genuine two-way communication – aka engagement.
Example:
https://blog.hootsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/instagram-engagement-6.png
No wonder 58% of users say they’ve become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in Stories.
Asking a question in feed posts can also inspire interactivity and engagement. You’ll be surprised how keen your followers are to engage when you simply ask.
Make your images stand out
- Make your images stand out
You might have noticed that Instagram is a visual medium. And while you don’t need to be (or have) a professional photographer to thrive on the platform, creating images that stand out is important.
To get engagement on main feed images, you need something that stops thumbs in their tracks and encourages followers to stick around long enough to like, comment, or share.
There are plenty of tools you can use to give your feed posts a little oomph. They also help you make your Instagram look consistent, so followers recognize your content and pause to see what you have to say.
Example:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClZC2xDMjud/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
You might also want to experiment with adding music to feed posts. It’s unclear yet how this new feature will affect engagement overall, but some simple testing should help you see how your own audience responds.
Post carousels
Once you’ve gotten the hang of creating eye-catching images, try posting a few with carousels.
Carousels are Instagram posts with multiple images – and they are a great way to build engagement.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmeIcHuWjW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
Write strong captions
Instagram captions can be up to 2,200 characters long. While short and sweet can sometimes be the best choice, don’t be afraid to take up space when you’ve got a good story to tell. No matter the length, good captions add context and showcase your brand’s personality.
For examples of exceptional longer-form storytelling with Instagram captions, you can always count on National Geographic.
Example:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CljoA0Rg4IG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
Create informative content that inspires saves
Fact-based content like infographics and resource material can be useful for followers to save in their Collections. This is a powerful form of engagement because it means users will return to your content again and again, and may share it with their own followers too.
Add a “Save this post” call-to-action to a carousel post with tips, a how-to guide or a recipe video to encourage saves.
Go live
Instagram Live video is a great way to connect directly to users, share news and build engagement.
29.5% of all internet users between 16 and 64 watch a livestream each week. Your audience is there — give ’em what they want!
With Live video, you can answer questions live, welcome viewers by name and generally welcome your audience into your world in an intimate, engaging way.
Share user-generated content
Social media is a conversation, not a broadcast. One way to engage with fans is to repost or share audience content. If someone tags your tequila brand in a post about a wild Margarita Monday, share that post in your story.
They’ll feel thrilled you were listening, and other followers may be compelled to tag you in their content.
If you want to share user-generated content in your main feed, make sure you get permission from the original creator, and be sure to give them credit. Using a branded hashtag is a useful way to collect UGC, but the hashtag alone does not imply permission to repost.
Answer comments and DMs
When the comments start flying in, it’s only polite to respond. Joining the conversation makes your followers feel seen, heard, and excited to chat with you again. Ignore them and they’re likely to ignore you right back in the future.
Reach beyond your own account to engage with others in your niche as well. Comment on relevant posts within your industry, like posts from your top fans, and just otherwise look for ways to be a good Instagram citizen. When you share the engagement love, it comes back to you in spades.
Get experimental
The only way to find out what works best for sparking engagement with your brand is to test, measure and tweak.
The beauty of social media is that it’s made for experimentation. If something works, you know pretty quickly; if it’s a flop, lesson learned with little risk.
So get creative… just keep a close eye on your engagement metrics to see the impact of your grand ideas. Dig into our guide to social media A/B testing.
Create topical content
If there’s already a buzz around a current event or holiday, look for opportunities to join the conversation with topical content of your own.
If there’s a trending hashtag or trending audio involved, you’ve got an instant hook.
You don’t want all your content to be of-the-moment – evergreen content is also important for filling out your grid. But if you’ve got a hot take on a current meme or trend, put it together and get it out there fast while the subject is still getting attention.
Looking for inspiration? Instagram posts a trending Reels report every week on their @creators account.
Example:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClUazS9P6Au/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
