Tips to Increase Engagement on Instagram
With the announcement of Instagram Algorithm Changes, I’ve seen a lot panicking and outright revolt on social media. In case you missed it, earlier this year, Instagram announced that it will move from a chronological feed, to a more “user preference based” one. A lot of folks have spent the last few months wondering what that means for us content creators getting our content out to our followers.
But remember….
Instagram always has been and always will be about engagement.
Because guys…engagement is KING on Instagram. So no matter what your Instagram strategy is, increasing your engagement should be a part of it. And if you remember that, the Instagram Algorithm changes should not affect your bottom line.
Tips to help you Increase Engagement on Instagram with the New Instagram Algorithm Changes
With that in mind, I’m going to share a few tips with you that should help you not only increase your engagement on Instagram, but help your content stay relavent in the new Instagram algorithm changes….
Outstanding Visuals
I hope that this goes without saying. Instagram is a photo app. No matter if you post photos, quotes or graphics, your visuals need to be awesome! That means clear, in focus photos, beautiful graphics and creative content. There is basically no excuse these days. There are apps on your phone like VSCO, or WordSwag that can help you create great photos and graphics right on your phone. Free and low price programs like PicMonkey and Canva can help you make beautiful graphics. YOU CAN DO IT.
Add Call to Actions
When you craft a Instagram caption for your photo or your graphic, add a call to action. That could be something as simple as asking a question or inviting your followers to visit your blog! Give them something to DO! That way they are interacting with your content. Which in turn shows Instagram that your followers are interested in your content.
Engage with your Followers
Like I said before, Engagement is KING on Instagram. Likes and comments are currency on Instagram. But not only do you want your followers to engage with you, YOU want to engage with THEM! Go like and comment on THEIR photos! Do this and your followers realize that you are not just randomly posting and leaving Instagram. It shows that you are invested in what they think, and that you appreciate them.
Create Challenges
Another great way to encourage engagement is to create a challenge on your Instagram page. Do a 30 day challenge around your brand encouraging folks to participate and use your branded hashtag! This gets your followers engaged with your feed and has them coming back for what comes next!
Be Consistent
If you want to increase engagement on Instagram, be consistent. When you are, your followers know when to expect you to post and they are looking for you. They begin to look forward to seeing posts from you. You become part of their routine. For example, I post in the mornings. My followers know this and have come to expect it. When I don’t post in the morning, I get messages checking on me. Develop a routine. If you post the sunrise every day, make it a point to post a sunset everyday. If you show post your new product every Tuesday afternoon, then every Tuesday afternoon, have that product there. Your followers will thank you.
The new Instagram Algorithm Changes are NOT a death wish for your Instagram feed. Your followers should still see your content in their feeds because they are engaged with you. Remember to keep in mind that ENGAGEMENT always has been and will continue to be king on Instagram and you should be fine.
And of course, follow me on Instagram at @lashawnwiltz
Questions about increasing engagement or the Instagram algorithm changes? Sound off in the comments!!
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Fantastic tips as usual!! I am not a fan but honestly it feels like a challenge to me personally to get my engagement UP! I knew this was coming so I wasn’t all crazy about it but we content creators are just going to have to step out game up!
I am a little worried about this change, just like many other bloggers. They were so hard core about keeping it “instant” and now they are going the way of all the other social media channels. Well not all of them but most. UGG I have been interacting with my comments, so I am that far ahead, but I need to step up my call to action game!
Lots of great tips! Calls to action are such a HUGE part of engaging audiences on social media. I often feel silly with my little questions, but I always try to introduce an image with a question and I always include a link back to the blog. Even in doing so I still don’t get a huge boost of engagement, but I can tell that it is working a little bit.
Thanks for these tips! I desperately need all the help I can get on Instagram. I especially like your tip to post at the same time every day. I post at random times and usually 2-3 times a week. I’m going to try to increase that and post at the same time and see what happens.
Thanks again!
I’m not into Instagram but this is information. Like any social media platform, all of us should aim for engagement. So that if anything happens, i.e. changes on Instagram, we can be sure that we are still in the game.
Thank you for the fabulous tips! I am on instagram; however, I have never made any real money in my business like I do with Facebook. I signed up for your free instagram e-course! Can’t wait to learn more!
Awesome tips! I’m definitely gonna bookmark this.
You know you are the bomb, I hadn’t had a chance to give the change a lot of energy. I’ve manage to figure out FB with all of their changes so I figured the same would happen here.
You just made it uber easy for me, thanks Boo.
I’m still worried. Your tips are great to help someone continue to build their Instagram but the algorithms make it almost impossible for a newbie to grow a following. This algorithm of pushing already popular content has already hurt businesses on Youtube and Facebook. Now it’ll happen with Instagram. It’s unfortunate that it will take MORE work marketing and interacting to gain a following to produce the same result. I love Instagram, I’m just so sad about it! That being said these are top notch tips and ideally they WILL help someone to build a better instagram following and feed. Your feed is beautiful btw. 😉
This algorithm thing really goes with the territory, doesn’t mean it sucks any less. But great tips, gracias!
I am still working on Facebook now Instagram. Glad to read that the new changes is not as drastic as thought. Continue with engaging images, an call for action of course… A work in progress for me.
I haven’t been very active on Instagram, so I missed this news altogether. These tips will help me become a better instagram-mer when i finally get my camera out!
These tips are so helpful, Lashawn. I was dreading the new algorithm but you make sure great points about engagement being the key. I work in social media management and I’ll definitely be carrying these tips on.
XO Jillian
I definitely need to be more consistent with y posts, that’s a great tip. I’m going to develop a regular schedule ASAP. Adding a call to action is something I need to do as well.
This is all helpful because I haven’t really figured out IG with the changes. I think this will simplify it for a lot of people other than myself. I will be sharing this post with a few of my friends who will definitely learn from it.
Great tips! I’ve been working on engagement, but of course there are slow days. I’m pretty happy that I’ve made almost 400 followers in three weeks. Wish I could get it in a day. Slow growth is better than no growth though.
These are great tips. I heard they are testing this algorithm to decide if they are fully going to release it or not. We shall see I guess.
This is FAB! I definitely was nervous about this, as I finally was gaining traction on IG, so didn’t know how to address these changes. Thankfully, I’m doing a lot of these things (like posting around the same times daily), but there are definitely a few more things I can be doing to ensure success. Thanks!
Yes! I actually have been thinking about this a lot. Especially witht the change, I be putting this into play. Thanks for keeping it simple (that helps a great deal).
These are really great tips! I’m great at engaging with my followers on other platforms but don’t do as great a job on IG.
Thank you for the tips, Lashawn. On one of my instagram pages I am doing well, while on the other one not so great. I will incorporate your tips to see if I can see any improvements.
I have been trying to figure out how to circumvent the algorithm. Perfect tips to help improve and keep engagement. THANK YOU!
Thanks for talking us off the ledge! I was one of the panickers but this info is so helpful!
Superb tips! I especially love your giveaway and the challenge suggestion. Thanks!
and this is, of course, why I love your Instagram! I was getting a bit overloaded with all of the “turn on post notifications” images and am glad to see you giving some authentic advice!
Brilliant tips – but it still annoys me that Instagram did this. I hate that I can’t actually see the “instant” my friends post – and posts that were there hours ago are top of my feed.
I Heart Instagram and with all the changes I wish it were the same old same old. I don’t like how posts are done, moved around but I am still passionate about posting. thanks for the info on the Instagram Algorithm changes.
Thank you for the tips! I’m trying to get my engagement up on my page, so, this was very useful! Consistency is my issue though. I’ll have to work on that, lol.
Thanks for sharing these great tips! I love Instagram, and I love seeing what everyone has going on there. It can be a beast, though.
These are great tips to increase engagement on Instagram. We have been working on our Instagram for a while now.
Such useful tips! I love this, as I’m trying to grow my brand. Thanks for sharing!
You gave some really good tips and I have to agree with you, I think a person can get a lot more traffic when they start interacting with their followers more. Your followers will then start to take more time to speak to you and your traffic will grow.
These are a lot of great tips for using instagram. There is so much more to instagram than just comments and likes.
Instagram has always been so tricky for me. I started mine over 6 years ago before my blog came into play so its been mainly personal, but grew so I had to start using it for my blog and its not as great when it comes to engagement as all my other platforms so this is helpful!
Instagram can be a very engaging platform with the right strategy. These are great tips on how to make the most of Instagram.
These are all great tips to share, I will have to try to use some of them to get my Instagram engagement up, so far my likes are decent it’s those comments that are few and far between!
I have found that I like to tell little stories with a post. I seem to get more engagement on my posts when I do that.
I could definitely learn from these tips for my instagram. I feel like I share awesome content and use as many hashtags as possible to relate to what I am sharing. I also engage with my followers and everyone I am following but I still fall short on followers. I need to read and reread this a million times!
ever since instagram changed their algorithem, all i see are my facebook friends content. it’s such a bummer because i can use facebook for that lol. i want to see the creatives i follow with the same interests as me, rather than personal posts from friends that i can get elsewhere. hopefully your engagement strategies can help turn things around, or maybe i just need to disconnect my facebook from instagram :/
I agree with you. Engagement is very important factor. I use my Instagram account to promote business
I like the old IG algorithm but we have no choice but to ride on the changes. I will still use IG.
These are good trips on Instagram engagement. It’s all about timing.
Very useful tips! I need to start engaging more with my followers! Would love to reach 10K by Christmas!
Thanks for the information.