Even great content can be lost to the masses without engagement from the audience. It is important to have a comprehensive Instagram strategy in place and also vital to gain loyal Instagram followers. It isn’t enough to just come up with outstanding content ideas. To truly impact the algorithm (and followers) you must also execute strategies to improve your followers’ engagement and post interactions.

This article was created to assist you in doing just that. Here’s all you need to know about Instagram engagement, engagement rates, and top strategies to increase Instagram interactions.

WHAT IS INSTAGRAM ENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT RATES?

Let’s start by defining Instagram engagement and Instagram engagement rates.

Simply stated, Instagram engagement refers to the number of interactions you see on your account. Likes and comments are included, but saves, shares, DMs, sticker interactions on stories, link clicks, swipe ups, video views, profile visits, and more are also included.

Engagement rate is the metric that measures how much your Instagram followers engage with your material. It also has a significant impact on the Instagram algorithm. Your Instagram engagement rate is calculated by dividing the amount of likes and comments you receive for each post by the number of followers you have.

Engagement rates are critical to track because they show how often your audience engages with your content and it compels you to concentrate on important data rather than less meaningful metrics like the number of followers you have. It is a way to show how active your followers are with the content you are posting.

WHY IS ENGAGEMENT ON INSTAGRAM IMPORTANT?

Let’s take a quick look at why engagement on Instagram is important in the first place.

If it doesn’t stand out yet, the ideal metric to track for your Instagram business account is engagement rate. Engagement rate can quickly show you which content is resonating with your target audience.

Your engagement will skyrocket if your audience thinks your Instagram posts are entertaining, funny, and/or useful. On the flipside, prepare to see those numbers plummet if your content isn’t hitting the mark with your audience. It’s as simple as that.

When you have a high level of engagement, it suggests your material is performing successfully. This is an opportunity to learn more about your content and followers so that you can strive to repeat this level of engagement with new posts or campaigns.

10 STRATEGIES TO INCREASE INSTAGRAM ENGAGEMENT

We know that engagement rates make a difference to the overall impact of the Instagram marketing strategy. So, how do you increase and maintain your level of engagement? Here are 10 strategies that can help you take your Instagram marketing campaign to the next level and increase engagement with your audience.

1. Try Different Content Types

Instagram’s single image posts are just the start of what a brand can create for their audience. To keep followers interested, highly engaging Instagram accounts provide a range of content forms. 

Your audience may lose interest if you keep posting only one form of content. When it comes to Instagram marketing, don’t be scared to test things out. Experiment with different types of content to find what works best and which formats produce the most engagement.

Try some of these ideas:

• Single picture Instagram feed postings, carousel posts, videos, IGTV, Instagram Reels, and Story formats are all available.
• Post memes, quotes, user-generated content, infographics, and videos to see what you can come up with.
• Experimenting with Instagram captions is also a good idea. Longer captions capture your Instagram audience’s attention for additional time. Instagram interprets the amount of time spent on your post as an indication of how interesting it is.
• Experiment with several video formats—in-feed, IGTV, Instagram Stories, and Reels—to see what works best for you.
• Keep an eye on what’s trendy and popular on Instagram, and try to replicate it for your profile.

You don’t have to attempt all of these suggestions, but we recommend trying a few to see how they affect your engagement rates. Frequently analyze your Instagram content to find the most popular posts, stories, reels, and so on. Pay close attention to what works and generate more of it.

2. Post At The Right Time

Part of the focus for your Instagram posts will be to reach as many people as possible without overwhelming them with constant content.

If you’re serious about improving your Instagram engagement rate, you’ll need to know two things:

• When should you post?
• How frequently should you post?

The ideal time to post on Instagram during the weekdays is about lunchtime. You will also see more success when posting in the evenings, most people avoid scrolling Instagram feeds during working hours.

The most engagement with Instagram posts is Wednesday, while Sunday had the lowest follower engagement rates. Posting one to three times per day on Instagram creates the right balance between keeping your audience interested and bombarding them with content.

3. Create Saveable and Shareable Content

Instagram views shares and saves as key engagement indicators. These analytics show the algorithm that your content is making an impression on your followers.

Consider how to make your content easier to share and/or save. 

Quotes, pictures, and repurposed tweets are all over Instagram, and they’re great for getting people to interact. Instagram users enjoy sharing quotes on their stories, especially if they’re both moving and inspirational.

Instagram carousels let you share up to ten photos, videos, or text graphics with your followers in a single post. Carousels provide some kind of value to the follower that can encourage them to save and share, whether it’s offering instructional content or promoting a social cause.

4. Use Interactive Instagram Stories 

Instagram Stories are another great strategy to interact and engage with your audience on a more personal level. Instagram Stories’ built-in stickers, emojis, and polls make interaction much easier.

As an illustration:

• Using the Q&A sticker, hold an AMA (Ask Me Anything).
• Trying to make a decision? Take advantage of the polling option.
• With the Quiz sticker, make a multiple-choice test.
• The Countdown sticker can be used to create a launch for a product.
• Ask your Instagram fans to send you DMs to get feedback.
• To promote website visitors, include links in your Stories.

All of these actions are simple to do and attract audience participation without requiring much work on their part.

5. Choose Relevant Hashtags

Choosing the right hashtags for your Instagram posts might mean the difference between your post being featured at the top of the feed or disappearing completely.

If you choose hashtags that are too broad your post will be competing with millions of others. Instead, choose the perfect hashtag to engage with your targeted fans by combining popular and industry-specific hashtags.

An effective Instagram marketing approach frequently includes using a branded hashtag. A general branded hashtag is the best place to begin. It should be brief, memorable, and contain some part of your company’s name. 

A branded hashtag provides the following advantages: 

• Content is easier to find 
• Drives users to your profile
• Builds a community around your brand
• Helps organize content

Research each hashtag for the best results. Analyze the content and the number of likes on the hashtag’s most popular posts—if yours is similar, you’ve found a winner.

6. Create A Variety of Video Content

It’s time to accept that video is here to stay on Instagram. Now is a great time to start developing video content for your Instagram marketing strategy.

Instagram users are obsessed with videos, and they’re making, watching, and sharing it in greater numbers than ever before. Increasing the amount of video content you post on Instagram will positively affect engagement rates.

With so many Instagram apps to help you streamline your video content creation, there’s no reason to not include it as part of your marketing efforts. As previously stated, experiment with which video formats are the most effective for your target audience.

7. Have a Contest or Giveaway

People love to get free stuff and are enticed by the opportunity to win something. Holding contests or giveaways allows your brand to capitalize on those experiences.

You’ve already built a following that is interested in your content. Now, choose a prize that they’ll enjoy and promote it in exchange for Instagram engagement. You could even use a poll to find out what type of prize they desire most!

8. Highlight User-Generated Content

Actively inviting and encouraging user-generated content is a terrific strategy to boost your account’s Instagram engagement rates. When you share user-generated posts and tag them, they’re more inclined to share it with their following.

Coming up with new ideas and developing new content can be time-consuming for a brand. You can make this easier by devoting time to soliciting and promoting user-generated Instagram content. Allow your audience to generate content for you, and then share it on your account to increase engagement.

9. Post Captions with CTAs

CTAs (calls to action) have stood the test of time. Including a call to action, or better yet, a direct question, in your caption is a surefire method to increase Instagram engagement. 

You can be as inventive as you want with your questions. You can seek advice, product recommendations, or ask about the type of posts they like the most.

Encourage your audience to click the link in your Instagram bio as another CTA for engagement.

10. Collab with Micro-Influencers

Instagram influencer marketing has grown in popularity, allowing marketers to collaborate with industry leaders and reach a larger audience. Working with an Instagram influencer can help you reach new audiences and increase engagement through their loyal followers.

Influencers are viewed as independent of brands so associating your business with them can give your content validity and authenticity.

Micro-Influencers already experience higher engagement rates with their audience so aligning them with your brand will also make you the benefactor for increased interactions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Your Instagram profile is similar to your business – it’s a dynamic entity that’s always expanding and evolving while creating deeper connections with its followers.

You can optimize your Instagram account’s potential by following these 10 Instagram engagement strategies. So, regardless of how the platform changes, you can keep those likes, shares, and comments flowing.