The goal of Instagram engagement is to connect with your target audience. It’s also the most important metric that can shape your success on the platform. The more users like, follow, save and share, the better the likelihood of users discovering your business.
The most important engagement metrics are likes, comments, and shares, but you should also track link clicks, mentions, DMs, hashtag usage, and Stories sticker interactions.
If you’re wondering how to increase engagement on Instagram, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our top tips for improving your Instagram engagement rate.
Post Carousels
Carousels, the Instagram posts with multiple images, are proven to build engagement. They achieve an average engagement rate of 1.92% compared to 1.74% for single photos. In addition, Instagram re-serves these posts to followers who didn’t engage the first time, giving them another chance to engage.
Use carousels to post before and after photos, showcase your product in detail, share a tutorial or step-by-step process, or a roundup. Most importantly, make the first image eye-catching and add a CTA on the final slide.
Use the Interactive Features on Stories
Instagram Stories offer numerous interactive stickers like questions, polls, and quizzes that you can use to boost engagement. For example, you can get great feedback using polls. You can ask them simple questions like what they enjoy seeing on your account and what they would like to see more of. Then, you can use this feedback to curate a winning strategy for maximum engagement.
Moreover, you can use the “Ask Me Anything” question to entice followers to ask you questions and get to know you better. Or, use the “Add Your Sticker” feature to start a viral challenge with your audience and beyond.
Post Video Content
Did you know that posts with video get 38% more engagement than images? Luckily, there are many easy video options with various lengths and formats. Instagram Stories’ video option and Reels are perfect for informal, chatty interactions where you can let your personality shine.
Conversely, consider going live when making important announcements or revealing new products or services. Finally, you can use a prerecorded IGTV video for more strategized content.
Share Relatable Memes
Memes are funny, creative, and above all, relatable. With the right meme, you can make your followers feel seen and heard. In return, they will be liking, commenting, and sharing your post. Ideally, you should create a meme yourself but there’s also the option to source on-brand UGC. Just don’t forget to credit the original creator.
Start a Conversation
Giving people the chance to have a meaningful conversation with you is crucial to boosting the engagement rate. You can spark a conversation by including questions or CTAs in your posts to encourage comments. It’s equally important to talk back. Make sure to respond to comments and DMs regularly, showing that you’re thankful for their support.
Create Appealing Graphics
As Instagram is a visual medium, creating appealing posts that stand out from the crowd is very important. Repurposed tweets, graphics, and quotes are great for driving engagement. People love such content as it’s short, eye-catching, witty, and relatable.
Make sure to think of your target audience when creating these posts and what would be engaging for them. Additionally, make the posts aesthetically appealing while staying on brand.
Share UGC
The key to a robust Instagram engagement rate is to treat the platform as a place for conversation. Make sure to listen and engage with followers when they reach out. One of the best ways to do that is to repost or share user-generated content.
If someone mentions your brand in Stories or posts, make sure to post it on your story too. Your followers will be excited that you are listening and might entice other followers to start giving you a shoutout. Also, you can source UGC by starting a hashtag trend, partnering up with influencers, or sharing testimonials.
Be Consistent
Consistent posting will gain you favor with the Instagram algorithm, helping you get your content in front of a wider audience. Also, the more you post, the more opportunities your followers have to engage. Play around with posting times to see when is your audience most active and then commit to a consistent schedule to keep your feed fresh.
Conclusion
If you want to boost your Instagram engagement rate, it’s crucial to analyze your content to see what’s working and what can be improved. Calculate the engagement rate for each post over a month and take notes on which of them have performed best. Then, adapt your content accordingly.
Remember, there’s no shortcut for achieving quality engagement. You have to put in the effort to create high-quality posts, encourage conversation, and connect with your followers meaningfully.
