How to generate engagement or increase your Instagram engagement rate, is a question you’d often be asking yourself if you’re a social media manager or content creator!
It’s 2023 and it does not get any trickier to manage social media! With algorithms, tips, and tricks changing every second we need to be on top of our game! So here we are making it easy for you to amp up your engagement rates 🙌🙌.
If you have an online business, you absolutely must have an Instagram Business account. With over a billion people using Instagram every month, it is a platform with serious potential for a great ROI.
Well, that’s the easy part! But to reap the rewards, you don’t just need an audience, you require the audience to interact with your content leading to an increased engagement. You need:
- Comments
- Shares
- Likes
- Saves
- DMs, all of this, and much more will prove your content to be working amidst your audience.
It is important to note that engagement only has value when it is genuine, coming from real people who REALLY care and not ‘bots’.
Hence, in this blog, you’re not going to find any tips regarding buying likes or getting into engagement groups. The fact is – all this just does not work. We have tried and tested the same.
The reality is that there is no shortcut to success in getting quality engagement. You get out of social media what you put in. So go that extra mile and create that great post that initiates conversations and genuinely connects with your followers. The benefits are sure to follow.
What is the Instagram Engagement Rate?
Instagram engagement rate is a term (completely unofficial) that indicates how engaged and active your audience is, with the content you push out. The concept of calculating it is deceptively simple, which you will find out once you actually start the process.
As the term is official, there is no single formula that’s used by everyone. All business profiles choose to do this differently. The most commonly used formula is:
Engagement Rate = (Like + Comments)/Followers x 100
This essentially expresses the percentage of followers that have taken action with your posts. Sound simple, right?
It gets complicated when you realize that your likes and comments are coming from non-followers as well. For this reason, a lot of social media managers like to replace ‘followers’ with ‘impressions’ in the formula.
What makes this more complicated is the fact that Instagram also has platforms like Stories which don’t really get liked or commented on.
To make things simple for yourself, choose one basic formula, and stick with this as a profile growth metric, for consistency. At the end of the day, you should be looking to increase the likes and comments on your posts.
Tips to Increase Your Instagram Engagement
In today’s competitive social media world, boosting your Instagram engagement rate is crucial for reaching and connecting with your audience effectively. These carefully curated tips will help you do just this!
1. Creating saveable/shareable content can increase your Instagram engagement rate
In 2023, SAVE is the new measure of engagement! Create quality content that will resonate with your audience, a reference material that they would like to save on Instagram in their Collections to go back to when required.
Look at simplifying – Trending topics, highlighting news, or complex graphs to create simple ‘Saveable-Content’ for your audience to save and refer back to.
Lists also work great on Instagram, especially with the carousel format. For example, if you follow a mental health/wellness-related page and come across a carousel post with the main image that went something like, “5 things to do when you’re overwhelmed by anxiety,” wouldn’t you want to save that post for later?
Another example of this would be a post on a finance page, about low-risk investments that have been performing well, or about hidden crypto gems with strong potential. These are topics that appeal to most people (it’s a matter of growing your money, so why wouldn’t it) and a lot of them will be tempted to save the post for later.
Do not forget to add a call to action to your Instagram posts and stories stating – Save This Post. This is a great way to keep the engagement up and for managing social media.
To get daily insights on creating saveable content, follow us on our social media handles, and regularly visit our website!
2. Go Live 🎬🎤: Engage Your Audience on Instagram
Instagram Live may be one of the best ways to use [raw and real] video content to drive engagement rate on Instagram (and to increase your follower count!). All your followers want to see the real you! Instagram Live is an entirely unedited video stream for your followers to tune in and engage in the form of questions and comments in real-time. They also have the option to share your Instagram Live with their set of followers to join – so a lot more options to increase your engagement! Look for the best Instagram posting time and initiate your Live Session.
Be rest assured that you can explore endless opportunities on Instagram Live; long-form videos may not be completely dead after all!
3. Share user-generated content for a higher Instagram engagement rate
Before we begin on this point – we would like to tell you that you do not have to treat your Instagram account as a one-way street. Social media is a conversation and not a broadcast. Make sure you are listening to your audience and interacting with them when they reach out to you!
One of the ways to increase engagement on your social media content is to repost on IG or share your audience content – deep dive into maintaining and growing user-generated content. Your followers can be your content creators too! For example, if someone tags your brand in a post, share that in your story! The consumer is also going to have a feel-good factor. They will feel thrilled that you are listening, and other followers may be compelled to start tagging you in their own posts for fame, or a moment in the spotlight.
A US-based lifestyle brand called TJ Maxx used this brilliantly on their own profile. They asked their followers to arrange for a cool Spring look for themselves only from TJ Maxx’s own products, using $50. Instagram Stories of people taking this #Maxx50Challenge were featured on the brand’s own Instagram handle. As is very evident in their highlights section, this little campaign was very successful!
This sole campaign, which cost nothing to implement, served the following purposes:
- Increased spending at TJ Maxx
- Increased the account’s engagement and interactions
- Pushed the point, and the brand’s USP, that their products are very inexpensive.
4. Dwell in creating content that drives your audience to engage
Creating quality content on Instagram ultimately results in an increased engagement rate, irrespective of whether it’s in a post, Story, or the new Instagram Reels format.
Try doing content once a week where you are urging your audience to interact such as tagging your best friend to win this hamper or do regular stories utilizing the inbuilt features such as Polls, Quiz, and Ask Me Questions – this urges your audience to interact and engage. It is also hard to overstate how important it is to get the timing of your post right. To know what the best time is, to post on Instagram for your handle, read this piece!
And once your audience has interacted – acknowledge the same and take an active part in conversations, make your audience feel seen and heard, and also a lot more excited to chat with you again in the near future.
5. Use appropriate hashtags to increase Instagram reach
While more reach may not positively affect your engagement rates, it definitely affects the raw engagement figures for your handle. Optimal use of hashtags is essential if you want to increase your posts’ organic reach. When you use a hashtag, your post shows up in the Recents section of that hashtag on the Explore page. This exponentially increases the visibility of your posts, and you may reach a higher percentage of your target audience.
Discovering the best-performing hashtags is a matter of clicks only now. This is possible with our free Instagram hashtag generator. Don’t forget to check it out!
Only use hashtags related to your posts, and don’t stick with the same hashtags for every post if you want to avoid getting shadowbanned!
6. Create Reels to bring people to your account
Ever used Instagram Reels? How many Reels that you scrolled past were created by profiles that you actually followed on Instagram?
Even 20% is too big an answer for this question. And this is what makes Reels such a promising platform for creators. This platform wants to show your content to people who are unaware of you.
If you’ve been living under a rock and are unaware of what Instagram Reels is, it’s essentially a content format that lets you create short-form videos. It’s a lot like TikTok (edit: it’s a blatant but awesome TikTok ripoff). The videos are shot in portrait mode, and they don’t disappear after 24 hours.
For marketers, the best thing about Reels is that your videos will be visible even to users not following you. Just use the right hashtags, ensure your videos are engaging and unique, and you can reach a much bigger portion of your target audience than with conventional posts. How active a profile is on the Reels format also ties in with how the algorithm works, so your reach is sure to increase in this regard as well.
It won’t be an understatement to say that a profile with a mere 100 or so followers, can easily reach over 1000 people through Reels. Read that again. And start posting Reels!
While this won’t exactly affect your Instagram engagement rate (directly), it will definitely expose your profile to a whole lot more users.
7. Don’t forget to geo-tag
This is especially true if you’re in a particularly exotic location (who else misses traveling? 😭). Some locations get searched a lot on Instagram, so having your post up there could mean exposure to a lot of new users.
Apart from this, one shocking study also revealed that posts that were geotagged garnered up to 79% higher engagement than similar posts that weren’t. That’s a lot more than an incremental change.
If you aren’t geo-tagging yet, here’s a sign from the universe to start today!
8. Engage With Your Audience Through Instagram Stories Stickers
In 2023, you can increase your Instagram engagement by utilizing Instagram Stories stickers. These vibrant and captivating stickers are not only enjoyable to use but also have the power to significantly improve the visibility and appeal of your content.
If you want to boost engagement, try incorporating interactive stickers such as polls, questions, and quizzes. This encourages your followers to actively participate and share their opinions, resulting in higher levels of engagement. Polls can be especially effective for involving your audience in decision-making or gathering feedback on your products and services.
Location and hashtag stickers are also important to consider to increase Instagram Engagement rate. These features can help increase your reach by making your Stories discoverable to users who are interested in the same locations or hashtags. Hence by adding these interactive elements, you can make your content more shareable and engaging, which ultimately leads to higher Instagram engagement rates without much effort.
9. Create and Share Relatable Memes for Increased Instagram Engagement rate
To increase your Instagram engagement rate in 2023, consider utilizing relatable memes. Memes have become a universal language on the internet and can easily connect with your audience when used strategically.
In the world of social media, humor, and relatability play a crucial role. By creating and sharing memes that are relevant to your specific niche or industry, you can form a connection with your followers and make your content more accessible. Funny and relatable memes are often shared among friends, which ultimately boosts the visibility of your profile.
When creating memes, it’s important to keep them light-hearted and in line with the tone and personality of your brand. You can also incorporate current trending memes or put your own unique twist on popular formats. Just remember to use relevant hashtags to enhance their visibility and reach.
If you’re looking to create memes more easily, give Predis AI Meme Generator a try! This incredible tool simplifies the process of making memes, making it effortless for you to create captivating and shareable content.
10. Create Shareable Graphics That Boost Instagram Engagement
If you’re looking to increase your Instagram engagement rate in 2023, one of the most important strategies is creating shareable graphics. On this platform, visual content holds great importance, and crafting eye-catching graphics can make a significant impact.
When creating graphics, it’s important to consider your audience’s interests and needs. Make sure your designs align with their preferences by incorporating elements like inspirational quotes, informative infographics, or visually appealing product showcases. It’s crucial that your graphics are not only visually attractive but also relevant to your specific niche or target audience.
To make your graphics more shareable, it’s important to ensure that they are easy to read and visually appealing. Use bold colors and clear fonts that are easily legible. Consider using a balanced layout that is visually pleasing and incorporates your brand’s style and logo for instant recognition.
Try Predis AI, a remarkable tool that effortlessly generates social media graphics. With Predis AI, you can optimize the design process and produce visually captivating visuals that engage your audience.
11. Share Valuable Information in Carousel Posts
To improve your Instagram engagement rate, one effective strategy is to utilize carousel posts. These posts, consisting of multiple images, allow you to capture your audience’s attention and provide them with valuable and meaningful information.
To integrate carousels effectively into your strategy, consider using them to simplify complete topics or share step-by-step guides. Educational content tends to resonate well with Instagram followers because it provides real value. When creating carousels, aim for visually captivating visuals and concise captions. Additionally, maintaining a consistent theme throughout your profile will ensure a cohesive and appealing look.
By including informative carousel posts in your Instagram strategy, you can not only maintain audience engagement but also establish yourself as a valuable resource in your specific niche.
12. Include Call-to-actions In Your Captions
If you want to increase engagement on your Instagram posts, don’t overlook the importance of including call-to-actions (CTAs) in your captions. These simple but effective prompts can significantly encourage your followers to interact with your content.
Begin by creating captions that encourage action. This can be achieved by asking questions, inviting opinions, or prompting users to tag a friend. By utilizing these call-to-actions (CTAs), you engage with your audience on a more personal level. For instance, you can inquire about their preferred travel destinations or invite them to tag someone who would benefit from the content.
To guide your audience toward engaging with your content, make use of clear call-to-actions (CTAs). These prompts can encourage followers to click on the link in your bio, visit your website, or participate in a giveaway. By providing explicit instructions on what you want your audience to do, you enhance the likelihood of them taking action.
13. Let Your Personality Shine Through on Instagram Stories
To increase your Instagram engagement in 2023, it’s important to showcase your personality through Instagram Stories. Naturally, these temporary and genuine moments from your life can help foster a stronger connection with your followers.
Share the behind-the-scenes moments of your daily life, work, or creative process on Instagram Stories. You can include personal anecdotes, fun facts, and your genuine reactions to current events or trends. Audiences appreciate authenticity and are more likely to engage with your content. Moreover, make use of interactive features like polls, questions, and quizzes in your Stories to keep viewers engaged and encourage their participation and feedback.
If you want to save time, give Predis AI Instagram Story Maker a try. It’s an easy-to-use tool that helps you create captivating and authentic Stories, allowing you to share your personality effortlessly.
14. Host an Enticing Giveaway
Hosting an enticing giveaway is a highly effective method to increase your Instagram engagement rate in 2023. Moreover, giveaways generate excitement, encourage active participation and have the potential to greatly enhance your follower interaction.
To ensure a successful giveaway, it is important to begin by establishing clear objectives and guidelines. Determine the desired outcome you hope to achieve, whether it is boosting your follower count, encouraging users to create content, or promoting a particular product or service.
To maximize engagement in your giveaway, it’s crucial to choose a prize that resonates with and entices your target audience. The more appealing the prize, the higher the level of engagement you can expect. To enter the giveaway, prompt participants to engage with your post by liking, commenting, sharing, or tagging friends. These actions not only boost engagement but also extend your reach to potential new followers.
15. Collab on Your Instagram Reels
To increase your Instagram engagement rate, try collaborating on your Instagram Reels. Collaborative content not only adds diversity to your profile but also reaches a larger audience, which can boost engagement.
Collaborating with other creators, influencers, or businesses can help you expand your reach to their followers and open up new possibilities for engagement. It also allows for the infusion of fresh perspectives into your content.
To begin, identify potential collaborators whose content aligns with your niche or interests. Engage in discussions about creative ideas and concepts that resonate with both your audiences. By combining your unique styles and personalities, you can create content that is more appealing and shareable.
To maximize engagement, make sure to promote your collaborative Reels on both accounts. Encourage your followers to engage by liking, commenting, and sharing. This cross-promotion strategy can result in a substantial increase in engagement rates for both you and your collaborator.
16. Post When Your Audience Is Most Engaged
Timing plays a crucial role in boosting your Instagram engagement rate in 2023. By posting when your audience is most active, you can maximize your impact and see a significant increase in likes, comments, and overall interaction.
To find the best times to post on Instagram, utilize Instagram Insights or other analytics tools to analyze your audience’s behavior. Look for patterns in their activity and engagement levels. Keep in mind that these patterns may vary depending on your specific target audience, so it’s crucial to customize your posting schedule accordingly.
After identifying these peak times, it’s essential to schedule your posts to align with them. Consistency is crucial, so aim to maintain a regular posting schedule that matches the engagement patterns of your audience.
If you post your content during the times when your followers are most active on social media, you increase the likelihood of your content appearing at the top of their feeds. This, in turn, makes it more likely to be seen and engaged with by your audience. Take advantage of timing in 2023 to boost your Instagram engagement.
17. Instagram SEO: Boosting Your Engagement Rate
When aiming to increase your Instagram engagement rate, it’s important not to underestimate the impact of Instagram SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Similar to websites, optimizing your Instagram profile and content can greatly enhance discoverability and boost engagement.
To optimize your visibility, make sure to include relevant keywords in your bio, captions, and hashtags. Consider what words and phrases your intended audience would use when looking for content similar to yours. By seamlessly incorporating these keywords into your posts, you can increase the likelihood of appearing in their search results.
To improve the visibility of your content in a specific area, consider using location tags and geotags. These tags can help attract users who are specifically interested in that particular location or region.
Interact with popular and trending hashtags, while also establishing and promoting branded hashtags that are unique to your content or campaigns. Encourage your followers to incorporate these hashtags into their posts, fostering a sense of community and increasing visibility.
18. Answer comments and DMs
If you want to increase your Instagram engagement rate, one often overlooked strategy is to respond to comments and direct messages in a timely manner. This simple act of interaction helps build a community, establishes trust, and creates genuine connections with your followers.
When you take the time to engage with comments on your posts, it sends a powerful message to your audience. It shows that you value their input and genuinely appreciate their engagement. Whether it’s responding to questions, acknowledging compliments, or addressing concerns or criticism, this level of interaction demonstrates your commitment to meeting the needs of your followers.
Similarly, it is important to prioritize and respond promptly to direct messages (DMs). This not only facilitates direct communication with your audience but also enables more personalized interactions. Whether it’s inquiries about your products, collaboration proposals, or simply friendly messages, being responsive can greatly enhance engagement levels.
Keep the conversations going for your Instagram engagement rate to be up!🎁🎉👑
These are the main ways you can increase your Instagram engagement rates in 2023. If you’ve already begun implementing these, great job!
The next step is patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it’ll take time to achieve the organic reach and follower count that you’re dreaming about. Keep at it without giving up, and you’ll go places.
Let us know in the comments below if you have any other tips and tricks for generating engagement for Instagram posts! Follow us on the socials for more content on social media marketing!
You May Like,
Does scheduling Instagram posts affect engagement?
