As you learn how to increase Instagram engagement, you’ll find out what content resonates with your audience, how to find followers, and the best strategies for hashtags. 

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In spite of its faceoff with TikTok, Instagram is still a major influencer marketing hub — actually, it had more installs in Q4 of 2021 than TikTok. With over 2 billion active users worldwide and 157 million in the U.S. that year, Instagram is a must-have for creators. 

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But even if you post every day, you might see a dip in your Instagram engagement rates. Why is this happening? 

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There are plenty of potential reasons, including:

• Algorithm updates
• Instagram UX changes
• Changing follower preferences

But the bottom line is that you need to learn how to increase Instagram engagement to prevent any dips in your metrics. Let’s look at why engagement is such a big deal for the Instagram algorithm and how to increase Instagram engagement as a creator.

Why Does Instagram Engagement Matter So Much?

When we talk about Instagram engagement, we’re talking about likes, comments, and shares on your content. Generally, the more your audience engages with your content, the more they enjoy it. A high engagement rate is a litmus test that shows you’re serving your target audience’s needs. 

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Learning how to increase Instagram engagement means you can:

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• Score brand sponsorships: If you want to make a living as a brand ambassador, you need proof that you have an engaged audience. Brands will ask for your engagement metrics before they pay a dime, and if your engagement isn’t high enough, it’s unlikely that you’ll score a cushy paid sponsorship. But if you manage to increase engagement, your odds of scoring a sick paycheck are a lot higher.
• Find more followers: If you’re wondering how to increase Instagram engagement, you need followers who interact with your content. The Instagram algorithm rewards creators with quality content by putting those posts in front of new audiences. The more engaging your posts, the more likely Instagram is to show your content to people who haven’t discovered you yet and increase your number of followers.
• Build a loyal following: It’s one thing to have a ton of followers, but creating a loyal community is a completely different ballgame. If you take the time to build real relationships with your followers, they’re much more likely to act on your suggestions — which means higher engagement rates and maybe even a few affiliate sales.

As a creator, you want to increase your engagement rates as much as possible. Since the average Instagram engagement rate across all post types is 0.83%, start with that as your benchmark.

How to Increase Instagram Engagement

You know you need more engagement on your Instagram account, but how do you convince people to act on your content? Try these five creative ways to increase engagement, and implement them every day. Chances are good that you’ll see a boost in your engagement rates with a little elbow grease.

1. Write Engaging Captions

If you want people to engage with your posts, add a call to action (CTA) in every caption. Not everyone will comment, share with a friend, or visit your link in bio, but plenty of people will take action if you tell them what to do. Keep it simple with just one CTA in your captions so you don’t muddy the message.

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It’s also a good idea to ask questions in your captions. Give your followers the choice between two options and tell them to vote in the comments — you’ll see way more engagement when you ask people for their opinions.

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You don’t have to write the next great American novel here, either. Keep your captions short to increase Instagram engagement. 

2. Try Different Instagram Post Formats

Do you always post static photos in your feed? Trying different formats can keep things fresh while boosting your engagement rates. Spice up your feed with different types of content, like:

• Instagram Stories: Stories get engagement rates as high as 10.4% — which is crazy-good. Since they’re only around for 24 hours, you can use Instagram Stories the FOMO can drive people to engage with this content.
• Video: Videos get 21.2% more engagement than photos. They also help creators say more in less time, and it doesn’t hurt that your followers probably prefer video content, anyway. 
• Polls: Questions are a great way to encourage engagement. Ask your followers to vote on content ideas, outfits, and just about anything else with Instagram polls.
• Stickers: Instagram allows you to add Stickers to videos, Instagram Reels, and much more. These mini animations and emojis turn heads and help you draw attention to your content, which can increase engagement rates.
• Carousel posts: Instagram Carousel posts allow you to share 10 pieces of content in one post, which is perfect for sharing step-by-step instructions or educating your followers. These types of posts get a higher-than-average engagement rate of 1.08%.

3. Always Include Relevant Hashtags

Instagram hashtags are the best way to get your content in front of more people. If you’re posting Instagram content without hashtags, you’re leaving a lot of engagement on the table. 

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The right hashtags will help you: 

• Show up in more search queries
• Find relevant people in your target audience
• Stand out in your niche

Instagram allows you to add up to 30 hashtags in one post, but on average, Instagrammers use 10.7 hashtags per post. When in doubt, go with specific hashtags that accurately describe your post or your niche. But use hashtags thoughtfully — spamming people with tons of irrelevant hashtags can get you shadowbanned. 

4. Host a Contest

In a big blow to Tiktok, Instagram announced that it’s rewarding creators who post original content on Instagram first. That’s good news for Instagram creators, but you still need to make content that brings the roof down, like contests.

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Giveaways generate a ton of excitement in a short period of time. If you can, partner up with a brand or another creator to get even more eyeballs (and engagement) on your contest posts. You can even give participants additional entries if they engage with your posts — and that’s definitely going to optimize engagement rates. 

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But you don’t want to tick off Uncle Sam. Follow the Federal Trade Commission’s sweepstakes rules and Instagram’s promotion guidelines to keep things on the up-and-up.

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Also, remember that even though contests are exciting, they shouldn’t make up the bulk of your posts. Otherwise, you’ll get a ton of disinterested followers and bots on your account that only care about free stuff. Conduct giveaways just a few times throughout the year.

5. Engage With Other Instagram Users

Connecting with people is a key step in how to increase Instagram engagement. Try engaging other people on Instagram by:

• Replying to comments: If your Instagram followers leave a comment, continue the conversation by replying to them. The more meaningful comments you get, the more your engagement rates will go up. 
• Tagging other users: Tag other creators, brands, or your top followers in your posts. Just make sure you have something more interesting to say other than, “You’re one of my top followers this week!” Ask for feedback or give them a fun shoutout — if they like what they see, there’s a good chance they’ll engage with your content.

• Adding a link in bio: Who says engagement has to stay on Instagram? Let’s keep the conversation going with your Instagram connections. Add a free microsite to your Instagram profile using Hype so you can collect data on your followers and continue conversations off the platform. 

Keep Up With the Times to Boost Instagram Engagement

Instagram engagement is one of the best ways to score more paid sponsorships as a creator. But even if you have solid content, you might struggle with declining engagement rates. Learn how to increase Instagram engagement by experimenting with these tips: 

• Write engaging Instagram captions
• Try different Instagram post formats
• Include relevant hashtags
• Host contests
• Engage with others

Keep trying and see what works for you. Social media platforms like Instagram change all the time, so if what you were doing before isn’t working now, evolve with the times to take your content to the next level.