Instagram is a haven for social marketers, who attempt to build value for their brand by sharing attractive pictures. As you read this, the platform becomes even more popular, with a growing base of users and loyal customers, who love to share and engage in your posts. Their actions have the domino effect of creating a larger audience for your brand.
So, the question here is how to increase this rate of engagement so that your brand can be made visible to a larger audience? This might help in roping in more customers for your business in comparison to most other conventional mediums of advertising. So let’s dive into some factors which can help enhance your Instagram engagement.
How To Increase Engagement on Instagram?
1. Use Every Feature
You would realize it on your own, but the robots that are running the algorithms on Instagram are getting smarter with each day. Quite methodically, they tend to prioritize accounts that make use of all the features that the platform has to offer. And it is simply because the platform wants its users to make use of diverse and interesting content making strategies.
To do that, start by using the business account on the platform. Interestingly, their €™s a lot more to do on Instagram than merely sharing pictures. You can diversify your content by choosing to upload stories, carousel posts, ads, and highlights.
2. Make Use Of Stories Daily
Instagram algorithms undergo rapid changes now and then, but if their €™s one way to stay on top of your follower €™s feeds, then you got to start posting stories daily.
There €™s a pretty good chance that they will spot your content through these stories. Like it or not, some users will simply like to view stories than go through the entire feed. It’s an easier way to find success and greater engagement, as well.
3. Use Different Video Formats
You must understand that video format generates a whole lot more engagement than photos. But ever wondered what your options with videos are? There €™s the option of posting videos on your feed, which are permanent unless you delete them altogether.
These can be supported with hashtags to generate more eyes for such posts. Else, you can go for videos in your stories, which can be included for footage from events or making live announcements. How you shoot it and edit it is something that you get to choose, depending on what type of story you are trying to tell your audience.
4. Aim For Peak Times
Have you heard the phrase €˜the best time to post €™ on your social media channels? If you are using a business account, you will be able to access various insights on your wall. This will tell you about the times when your audience is most active on their accounts.
As per Instagram algorithms, the quicker a post gets engagement, the more likely it is to be visible on more feeds. There €™s a different peak time for every account, and it will help you tap greater engagement from potential customers.
5. Post The Right Number Of Times
Social media isn €™t a toy where you can keep posting stuff all day long. Beware, because you may not realize it, but there can be diminishing returns to your actions as well. Remember that posting more number of times is not consistent with greater engagement.
At the same time, you also cannot expect to post once in a week and your followers to still engage in it. Figuring out what is best for you includes testing out your posting pattern. Whatever seems to draw greater engagement for you should be followed for posting further content.
6. Add Ways To Interact With The Community
Instagram is seriously not limited to posting photos and videos alone. You can create an opportunity for your community €“ followers, friends, and fans, to interact with them. Some of the ideas to get this done is through contests, tutorials, behind the scenes moments, and takeovers.
Each of these strategies can work comprehensively together to give your audience a greater flavor of your content.
7. Opt For Influencer Marketing
This is one way to increase the network of people involved in promoting your brand. Influencer marketing is gaining huge momentum on Instagram. For a brand that wants to increase its engagement, this strategy works to offer the right swing and offer greater visibility to the brand.
With their following, influencers are likely to bring a horde of people to follow your page too, and even convert as a consumer. This is the most widely popular and trending form of instagram marketing.
8. Hear Out To Your Community
Instagram isn €™t only about posting and posting more content. You cannot expect your efforts to hit the right mark simply by posting content in higher volumes. Make it a point to monitor comments and captions.
This will help you understand your followers in a better way and discover what it is that they would like to see on your feed. If any tailoring is required, you will be able to catch cues of what is wrong with your content or what is right and focus on those areas.
It is highly important to catch wind of what the community is speaking about you so that they are better engaged with you.
9. Make Use Of Polls
Polls are a direct call to action elements for your followers. By their nature, they lead to higher engagement on your content. Interestingly, you do not need a valid reason to create or run a poll.
They are easier to create and are known to engage your audience instantly. Keep the questions simple, and then it should be good enough to be posted.
In conclusion
A look at some of the top posts of all times would tell you that there is a lot that goes into making a video that gets greater engagement. From using the right hashtags to tagging people and encouraging more comments, there are a lot of factors to exploit while aiming for higher engagement from your audience.
For example, if you could learn how to make a video into a gif, you could post more such content and widen your follower base.
