With ever changing algorithms and increasing popularity, you might be wondering how exactly to increase your engagement on Instagram. Having a better understanding of how the Instagram algorithm works will aid you in knowing what to post, when to post it, and how to better engage with your audience. Here we’ll share some hacks that will increase your instagram engagement rate, help you gain loyal followers, and take advantage of Instagram’s lesser known features. This will allow for better utilization of the application and more success for your business.
Tip #1: Find your time of day
Because the Instagram algorithm is no longer chronological, you will receive the most engagement on Instagram when your followers are active on the app. Comments, likes, shares, and saves all have an impact on your feed ranking and Instagram prioritizes posts with the most engagement. For a better understanding of when your followers are active, view your page’s insights, located in the top right menu of your profile, where you will find a breakdown of your audience including their location, gender, age, and the times and days in which they are most active. Being strategic with the days and times that you post, will ensure that your content reaches the most people.
Tip #2: Be consistent with your posting
The more consistent your content is, the more your posts will be seen, thus more Instagram engagement. You are much more likely to gain long term followers if your content is steady, well planned, and intentional. Using a feed preview app like Preview can be helpful for planning content, measuring engagement, and can even be used to schedule and publish posts. Maintaining consistency will create trust within the consumer and ensure your brand’s growth.
Tip #3: Comment and respond to comments
Leaving comments on photos you love will both aid you in making genuine connections with other brands and followers as well as creating a more accurate algorithm for your interests. As important as it is to leave comments, it’s even more important to respond to comments left on your posts. Ignoring comments can create distance between yourself and those trying to offer their support. If you’re receiving more comments than you can single-handedly keep up with, there is an auto-comment option in the Instagram settings where you can customize responses that will automatically appear, making it much easier to leave no comment unnoticed. At this point, you also may want to consider hiring a digital marketing agency that offers social media services.
Tip #4: Discover new audiences with hashtags
Using hashtags in your posts and stories will allow your posts to be seen by new and relevant audiences and are likely to help you gain likes and followers. Along with tracking who and where your followers are, your insights can also help you determine which hashtags were the most effective by monitoring the amount of people who visited your page from any given story. Instagram allows you to shrink the size of your hashtags in your stories, so there is no worry about whether or not adding hashtags will compromise the quality of your content.
Utilizing these tips and tricks will increase your instagram engagement, so long as you are putting out quality content with a purpose. One of the most important factors in growing your instagram, or any business for that matter, is to have a clear vision of your goals and stay true to what your brand values. With over 500 million active accounts, getting lost in the mix can be pretty easy, so embrace what sets your brand apart and you will gain loyal, trusting followers who want to see you succeed.