Engagement is a key metric on Instagram. Engagement is more important than how many followers you may have.
Instagram’s algorithm will value your content if it receives a high engagement rate. This means that you get more likes and comments, as well as shares and saves.
Your account will grow as a result of more exposure to your posts.
Here are five actionable tips for increasing your Instagram engagement:
Tip #1: Post Consistently
Instagram rewards consistency. You need to be consistent if you want your audience to stay engaged.
It doesn’t have to be every day. But you should set up a posting schedule your audience will expect.
Analyze your Instagram Insights and see when your followers are the most active. You can then determine when to post. Stick to the schedule.
Make sure you are distributing your content at the best times, whether it is three times per week or every day.
Bonus tip: Schedule your posts using tools such as Later or Hootsuite in advance so that you don’t miss a single day.
Use Interactive Stories
Instagram Stories are a great way to interact with your audience. Use interactive features such as polls, questions boxes and quizzes in order to engage your audience.
Here are some examples of interactive stories:
- Polls : You can ask your audience their opinion. If you are a fashion influencer you could ask your audience to vote for their favorite outfit.
- Questions : Use the “Ask Me Anything” sticker to start a discussion with your audience. Answering questions directly in your story increases engagement.
- Quizzes : Use quizzes as a way to test the knowledge of your audience about your niche. This is a great way to get your audience interested in your content and educate them.
Stories are more informal than feed posts. Feel free to be casual and spontaneous. You can connect more deeply with your audience.
Tip #3: Engage Your Audience
You need to interact with your audience if you want them to be interested in you. This is a two-way road. It’s important to respond to each and every comment.
If someone makes a thoughtful statement, don’t just say “thanks” but ask them a question that will keep the conversation moving.
What else can you do?
- Comment Your Followers: Posts Don’t Wait for People to Engage with You : Reach out to Them First. You can show that you are interested in the content of their posts by leaving thoughtful comments.
- Like DMs and Reply: Use your DMs as a hub for conversation. Responding to DMs increases trust and your chances of gaining loyal followers.
Engagement leads to more engagement. More engagement is more likely to happen if you engage your followers.
Tip #4: Create content that is worth saving
Instagram counts “saves”, as part of engagement, now. The algorithm will take into account the fact that a save indicates your content is worth revisiting later.
How can you create content people will want to save?
- Infographics : Educational content in a visual format that offers value is highly savable.
- Inspiration : Content that inspires, whether it is motivational quotes or stunning photography, is often saved to be viewed later.
- Lists are a popular way to save lists. Think of checklists, step by step guides or top-10 lists.
Tip #5: Collaborate with Others
Collaborations can be a great way to increase your audience. You can reach a new audience by collaborating with other brands or creators.
Here are some ideas for collaboration:
- Shoutouts : Team up with someone from your niche to get a shoutout. Both of your audiences will be introduced to each other.
- Giveaways : Create a collaboration to promote a prize in front of both audiences.
- Instagram Lives : Talk live with another creator about a topic of interest to both your audiences. This real-time engagement boosts engagement, and you’ll gain new followers.
Working together can help you grow faster and maintain your engagement.
