7 Tips For Growing Your Instagram Engagement

Instagram is a visually driven platform that rewards aesthetically pleasing content. While glossy filters and perfectly positioned avocado toasts are falling out of style, it is still important to have a consistent editing style.

According to Instagram’s algorithm, stories with high engagement get prioritized in users’ feeds. Likewise, reposts of your content can drive engagement as well.

1. Post Regularly

For many brands, establishing a consistent Instagram presence can be challenging. This is because it can be difficult to determine the ideal posting frequency that balances visibility with audience engagement and aligns with brand identity.

Ultimately, the best way to find your Instagram sweet spot is to experiment. While it’s important to maintain a consistent cadence, you should also be flexible enough to change your strategy based on the results of your experiments.

Posting too frequently can overwhelm your followers and turn your valuable content into unwelcome spam. On the other hand, posting too sparingly can result in your posts missing your target audience entirely. To maximize the effectiveness of your posts, use scheduling tools to identify optimal posting times for your specific audience.

2. Build a Strong Community

Creating a strong community on Instagram can help you grow your following and boost engagement. According to a recent Sprout study, when followers feel connected to a brand, they are more likely to recommend it to a friend and buy from it. This is why it’s important to prioritize engagement, and post quality content that your followers will enjoy.

Consider introducing yourself to your audience, sharing educational content that is helpful to them, or reposting user-generated content (UGC). This type of content is appreciated by the Instagram algorithm and can help you develop a sense of community among your followers.

Using IGTV and launching Instagram Guides can also be great ways to build community. With IGTV, you can share longer videos and channels like TikTok with ease, and Guides are a great way to highlight your product and make it more accessible for your customers.

3. Create a Unique Hashtag

The right hashtags are a key component of growing your Instagram engagement. They act like keywords in search engines, connecting your content to a targeted audience.

Hashtags can be broad or specific. For example, if you are a restaurant, try using #restaurantweek to share your new dishes with a targeted audience. Alternatively, you can create unique hashtags to highlight specific events that your business is participating in.

To find the best hashtags, look at what your followers and competitors are using. Also, consider using tools like Sprout’s Hashtag Finder to find a list of relevant hashtags for your brand. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post, so make sure you’re finding the best ones for your content.

4. Use Carousel Posts

Carousels are a great way to share a series of photos or videos with your followers. They can be used to tell a story, showcase products or services, or to promote special offers.

To create a carousel post, simply add multiple pictures or videos to a single Instagram post. Then, swipe left to view each slide. Be sure to include text directly on your post encouraging your viewers to swipe. Studies show that doing so can increase engagement.

Instagram carousels can be an excellent way to communicate value with your audience. For example, you can use them to share a quick tutorial or list of tips. This can help your audience save time and be more effective. You can also use them to share a behind-the-scenes look at your business.

5. Encourage Followers to Tag Others

Tagging other users on Instagram is a great way to increase visibility and foster genuine connections with your community. When someone is tagged in your content, they’ll receive a notification and their name will appear in the “Tagged in” section of their profile.

Use hashtags to encourage people to tag you in their posts, and consider partnering with brands that share a similar audience to host collaborative events or giveaways. Remember that tagging can be perceived as spammy, so use it sparingly and only in context. Likewise, be sure to only mention people who have given you permission. Proper mentions demonstrate professionalism and contribute to a vibrant community. They’re also an excellent way to increase discoverability by directing people to your photos and videos.

6. Encourage Followers to Comment

When followers comment on your posts, they signal to Instagram that your content is worth showing to other users. This is a great way to increase engagement and foster community.

Encourage commenting by including a call to action in your captions. Questions are a good option, but you can also try unfinished sentences or "fill in the blank" prompts.

Organizing contests is another effective way to boost engagement on Instagram. Contests can take the form of giveaways, challenges, or other interactive activities.

If you don't want to hold a formal contest, you can still encourage comments on your Instagram feed by using poll stickers in Stories. Examples of this include would-you-rathers, favorites, and other quizzes. In addition to encouraging commenting, you can also use this feature to collect data and gain insights about your audience.

7. Use Stories

As more and more users are turning to stories, leveraging this content type can help you achieve organic growth on Instagram. While stories only last 24 hours, they can reach far more people than posts on the feed and can have a much higher completion rate.

Create engaging content by adding stickers, drawing, or emojis to your videos or photos in Stories. You can also add text, polls, or even conduct a Q&A with your followers.

You can also analyze engagement on your Stories by swiping up on the circular icon that appears at the bottom of an open Story. This will display a full list of actions your audience took, including profiles viewed, accounts reached, impressions, and more. Then, you can make adjustments based on your results. Also you can buy Instagram accounts in bulk for social media marketing from Bulk Accounts Buy.