Let’s engage!
Instagram engagement can sometimes be elusive, but there are steps you can take to give your content a fighting chance.
Whether embracing trends or repurposing content, Instagram is a flexible platform that offers so much potential for super-high engagement.
More than just counting your likes, Instagram engagement encompasses many different factors, and your goal should be to find a good balance between different types of engagement.
Let’s look at how you can discover that variation with nine easy ways to boost Instagram engagement in 2024.
TL;DR: What to know now
1. Embrace Instagram Carousels
There’s a reason we put carousels at the top of this list. Yes, Reels are popular, and you shouldn’t ignore them if you want to boost Instagram engagement. However, carousels are going to be the feature in 2024.
If you’re looking for serious engagement levels, look no further than carousel posts. Allowing users to share up to 10 pictures or videos in one post, Instagram carousel posts directly prompt users to spend more time with your posts. Why? Well, there is simply more content to engage with.
Whether educational, entertaining or purely to drive sales, carousel posts offer users more flexibility and creative control than a single image or video post.
Hot tip: carousels are an excellent bang-for-your-buck option if you’re thinking about paid advertising on Instagram.
2. Yes, hashtags are still relevant
Want to increase your Instagram engagement? Well, a big part of that is expanding your reach, and hashtags are the best tool in your Instagram arsenal for increasing reach.
However, just because you can post up to 30 hashtags on your post doesn’t mean you should choose any old hashtags and expect them to send your post to the social media moon. The hashtags you choose must be relevant to your content and business. There’s no point in people discovering your content through the hashtags #shoes if you sell hats, right?
Hot tip: we love using tools like Daily Purposes to find unique hashtags.
3. Don’t neglect your captions
Yes, Instagram is all about visuals. Good visuals are nothing without a solid caption to back them up. If you have a lousy script, you’re not going to make a good film.
Your captions can be short or long, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Keep a solid call to action in mind, and experiment with different styles. Your captions don’t have to be identical and stick to a formula. Have fun, engage and mix things up from time to time.
Need some help with your captions? Check out our Guide to Creating Epic Captions
A great social media caption can make or break your content. If you want people to start engaging with your brand online, pay attention to your captions.
Captions may feel like a bit of an afterthought, but they’re actually incredibly useful for adding context, driving sales, and engaging with your audience.
IMPORTANT: The link to download your file will be sent directly to the email address provided at checkout. If you do not receive it, please check your spam. If you have any issues please email us at hello@smperth.com
4. Don’t sleep on Instagram ads
Thanks to Meta Ads Manager, Instagram’s advertising platform is a powerful tool for reaching a wider audience. Create visually appealing and targeted ads to showcase your products or services. Use Instagram’s analytics to understand your audience better and refine your ad strategy for optimal Instagram engagement.
5. Reels offer great Instagram engagement
Reels are an incredible way to boost Instagram engagement. We all know that. Not only are they the most popular feature, but they’re highly shareable and a great way to reach new followers.
In Instagram’s words, Reels are “easily discoverable across Instagram”. Because Reels are short and a simple swipe up is all it takes to move on to another Reel, the chances of someone stumbling across your content are high.
Whether you’re jumping on trends, telling your brand’s story, or educating your audience, Reels offers so much flexibility to get your message across.
6. Collaborate With Other Users
Collaborating with other users is a great way to reach a wider audience and increase Instagram engagement. Partner with influencers or brands in your niche to create co-branded content or promotions. This allows you to tap into their audience and gain new followers and customers.
Download our guide and wash those fake followers right outta your account.
7. Try out Instagram Live
Instagram Live is a real-time video format that allows you to connect with your followers in a more personal way. You can use Instagram Live to host Q&A sessions, share behind-the-scenes content, or showcase new products or services. This not only increases Instagram engagement but also helps to build trust and loyalty with your audience.
8. Post when your followers are most active
Posting at the correct times is crucial for ensuring your content reaches your followers when they’re most active. If you have a Business or Creator account, use Instagram Insights to track when your followers are most active and schedule your posts accordingly. This will help to increase visibility and engagement for your content.
If you spend most of your time inside Meta Business Suite, you can use the Planner to find ideal times to post.
Analyse your efforts as a digital marketer and understand the areas in which you need to improve.
Enjoyed this article? Enter your email below for social media tips & tricks delivered to your inbox every Monday morning.
