If you are wondering how to increase Instagram engagement without paying for expensive books and courses you are in the right place!

Not so long ago, we were at the same point wondering what we can do to increase Instagram engagement?! So we start testing different techniques and approaches in order to find perfect ones suitable for anyone using Instagram. Whether you are brand or regular user these simple tricks will help you increase your Instagram engagement. It will also help you maintain it!

Instagram likes are no more reliable indicator of the performance of your posts since the platform itself decided to hide those numbers. To be honest, it was never good enough because you still can buy 1000 likes/per post for just a couple of bucks. Therewith, we need to focus on other IG engagement elements.

Increase Instagram engagement with “savable” content

With the changes Instagram made and all upcoming ones, we need to focus on making content that will push your followers to save or share it. That means you need to create and share value through your content. People are more likely to come back and see it again if they find any value.

One of our local-based accounts focused on self-improvement is a perfect example of what we are talking about.

Instagram post insights

Every single “save” is a potential new impression, considering the person who saved it will come back again. The same goes for the “send” button. It allows you to have better reach and go further in the explore page.

Tip: When creating new content, try to think the way your followers are thinking. Ask yourself what kind of content would I like to see (depending on the niche you are in). Also, keep in mind that you have to test a lot before you reach your perfect content.

Do not underestimate the power of comments

Building a brand or anything that has to do with the following requires your full commitment. If you are serious about your Instagram page you need to use every single element of the platform. A lot of people are underestimating comments and that is exactly why they are stuck wondering what are they doing wrong.

Comments are clear signs your followers are interested in your content. No matter if they mention someone or asking a question it’s a sign that you are doing great.

How to create that kind of content

There is no universal formula for creating content that will trigger comments. It depends on the niche you are into, but captions can be a great ally for triggering comments. For example, we took a post from @theself_carekit to explain it.

Instagram | @theself_carekit

Posts like this will surely trigger comments with mentions mostly, but to gain even more comments your CTA will do the job. This example would have more comments if we write a caption with questions. “Which one do you like the most?” or “what would you add on the list?”

Pro tip: Do not answer comments all at once. If you are able, reply every half an hour. The ones who commented will come back at different time intervals. That will make our post last longer, have more reach and potential new followers.

Increase Instagram engagement using Instastory

Instagram story feature is an engagement oasis that evolves almost every month. Using Instagram story stickers, questions, quiz and countdown sticker you can almost double your current reach. Just to remind you that 500 million accounts are using this feature.

Instagram story questions allow your followers to ask you anything they want. By regularly posting and answering questions you become closer with your followers which is absolutely fantastic. They need to feel familiar with you to create a strong relationship. It should be your number one goal because once they trust you, they will open that link, buy that e-book or anything else.

Instagram quiz sticker allows you to play a bit with your followers. The fun factor is very important. Besides all the elements your account needs to have, making it interesting and funny is a huge advantage. Try to be creative and make questions within your niche. “Did you know” facts combined with “do you know” quiz is a perfect example. Let’s say you post some facts within your niche on the Instagram story and the very next day you post a question referring to the previous fact.

Instagram story stickers

The Instagram poll is also a great resource for testing your new content or asking for your followers’ opinions. It is also a good way to increase Instagram engagement since every single tap on the poll is a new impression for your account.

Combine Instagram story features

You can use countdown when you want to notify your followers about your book release or service you want to offer. Also, there is a chat sticker which allows you and your followers to enter the chat room. You can create one to discuss with your followers something they want to talk about. This is awesome because now you can combine the question sticker with a new chat feature.

Pro tip: You can post up to 10 hashtags in the Instagram story to increase your reach. Minimize them as much as you can (they won’t be visible) to save space and make the story more interesting to see.

Increase Instagram engagement by writing longer captions

You know they say that picture speaks a thousand words. Well, say something about your post. Use captions to attract more attention and make people stay longer on your post. This one is really important since Instagram is tracking how long someone stays on the picture you posted.

Besides, longer captions can be really useful when it comes to explaining your followers further about the picture you posted. You can provide more pieces of information and share more value, which is really appreciated and good for your business.

Create video content to increase Instagram engagement

One thing is for sure, video content lasts longer. Plus when we mention that Instagram introduced IGTV feature it is desirable to try video content as a way to increase IG engagement. Video on your feed or IGTV takes up more space on your viewer screen, so you are going to be able to fill the screen and grab their full attention. IGTV, when pushed on the explore page, gets 4x more space than usual post. More than enough reasons to try with video content.

The power of hashtags

Undoubtedly one of the most important factors when it comes to Instagram engagement. Many people overlook the fact that hashtags are the simplest, best and most effective way to reach new audiences. Not only that, it is important to mention that with a good hashtag strategy, we can avoid paying for ads or other accounts for the purpose of promotion.

Hashtag | Pixabay.com

Whether you are a beginner or have previous experiences with Instagram, you need to learn how to make the most of hashtags to increase Instagram engagement. We mentioned earlier that you can use up to 10 hashtags in Instastory, and as far as using them for posts we will speak from our own experience. The best option is to test for yourself which hashtags the best suit your niche. In any case, it is advisable to make the most of the hashtags, as they are indeed a very powerful weapon.