7 Ways to Improve Your Instagram Engagement

Instagram is a visually driven platform that rewards aesthetically pleasing content. However, glossy perfection is falling out of style as users gravitate towards authenticity and diversity.

Contests are a powerful tool to drive engagement. This can be as simple as asking followers to tag a friend in the comments of a post, or as elaborate as an influencer giveaway.

1. Create Engaging Posts

The best way to engage followers on Instagram is to create content they want to interact with. That’s why it’s important to make your posts as eye-catching and interesting as possible. Posts with captions that ask a question, are humorous or share valuable information often see the highest levels of engagement.

Instagram’s algorithm rewards aesthetically pleasing posts and so does its Stories feature. Using Instagram Stories to highlight your product or service with a Questions Sticker can increase engagement as well as drive traffic to your website or blog.

Social media users crave authenticity and like to follow creators they can connect with. A great way to do this is by creating Reels that answer burning questions about your brand, such as how-to videos or behind-the-scenes processes.

2. Use Relevant Hashtags

Hashtags are keywords or phrases preceded by the pound sign (#). They are used to categorize content on Instagram, making it easier for other users to find related posts.

Using relevant hashtags can help your posts show up in search results on Instagram, increasing their visibility and engagement. It’s important to have a well-crafted hashtag strategy that includes both trending and niche hashtags.

Hashtags can be added to Instagram posts as captions or in the first comment on a post. Adding them as the latter can look neater and allow you to schedule hashtags ahead of time with apps like Later. Instagram also allows you to follow hashtags, which may help your posts appear in other users’ feeds when they use the hashtag you’ve followed.

3. Create a Story

Stories are a powerful new way to engage with followers. Use them to highlight your brand’s best work, and tell a spellbinding story that will keep your audience captivated.

You can add a range of stickers to Instagram Stories, including polls and mentions. For example, Living Stone Construction used a poll sticker to ask their followers if they liked the renovation work they did.

You can also use Stories to demonstrate your product in action. For example, if you sell software, you can record a video showing how to log in and navigate the different features. You can even create a Story carousel to give people a more thorough demonstration. Use this feature to highlight testimonials from happy customers as well.

4. Get Your Audience to Create Content for You

The Instagram algorithm rewards posts that get engagement by promoting them to a wider audience. The more engaged your followers are, the more likely your content will make it to the Explore Page and be recommended to other users.

Consider implementing user-generated content (UGC) in your Instagram strategy by encouraging your followers to create content about your products or services. This kind of content reflects positively on your brand and is an effective way to promote your products or services without seeming too promotional.

Getting firsthand feedback from your audience is a great way to understand their interests and needs. Listen to your followers through comments and direct messages, and adjust your content to meet their needs. This will help you build trust and loyalty with your audience.

5. Try Instagram Live

Instagram Live videos are a great way to engage with your followers in real time. Whether you’re answering questions from your audience or doing a live product demo, live video can feel more authentic and connect with your audience in ways that pre-recorded content doesn’t.

Using the Questions sticker in Stories to collate your audience’s questions for the Live video or use the Countdown sticker in your Stories to tell your followers that you’re going Live at a certain time are both great strategies for boosting engagement on your Instagram Live videos. You can also go Live with a co-host to reach a wider audience.

Instagram’s algorithm takes engagement into account when determining how high your posts and Stories will rank in the feed. Increasing your Instagram engagement rate will help ensure that you tick all of the algorithm boxes and grow your following organically.

6. Use Carousel Posts

A carousel post allows you to showcase up to 10 different images and videos in one post. It’s a great way to share a product or service, as well as to highlight an event or experience.

Step-by-step tutorials are a great use for carousels, as they’re both informative and save-worthy (which counts for a lot when it comes to Instagram engagement rates). Hair stylists often create before and after posts featuring their clients’ hair transformations, while personal trainers do the same with weight loss journeys.

To create a carousel, open Hopper HQ and select your photos and videos. Apply filters to maintain consistency and add a caption. You can also tag people, add a location and choose hashtags. You can either choose to post your carousel right away or schedule it for later.

7. Use Content Creators

The top Instagram content creators know how to use a wide variety of creative tools to capture stunning images and video. They also understand the importance of quality visuals and thoughtful captions. Many of them also have extensive experience in working with influencers and other creatives to develop engaging content.

Using user-generated content is one of the best ways to engage your audience and build brand loyalty. It can also help you reduce marketing costs. One example is Starbucks’ #RedCupContest, which has generated over 37,000 submissions.

To find Instagram content creators that are a good fit for your brand, start by following their accounts and liking their posts. Then, reach out to them with a short message explaining who you are and why you think they’d be a good fit.

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