Instagram engagement is pretty much an asset to consider in social media marketing, especially for small businesses and startups. As you are already aware, video content is quite a treat, and many profiles are starving to prove their best.Â
Many small businesses that became top brands owe much of their success to this platform. Ever wonder? With more than 2 billion monthly active users, how can you boost your engagement using Instagram? Don’t worry!
We are breaking down 10 Instagram hacks that can help you boost your engagement and build a connection with users.Â
Engagement on Instagram: Why is It Important?
Engagеmеnt on Instagram is a mеasurе of how wеll your contеnt is rеsonating with your audiеncе. It is mеasurеd by thе numbеr of likеs, commеnts, sharеs, and savеs your posts, interaction, brand mentions, DMs, Click-through links, story views. Engagеmеnt is important for sеvеral rеasons:
- Shows your content is interesting and valuable
- Reaches more people
- Builds credibility with your audience
- Lead more sales and conversions
Instagram Algorithm also considers engagement when deciding what content to show users, and how they are interacting with these posts.
10 Instagram Hacks to Boost Engagement
Do you know that reels take up to 30% of the time people spend on Instagram? Utilize each of Instagram’s features because the algorithm prioritizes the profiles, as robots are getting smarter with each passing day. Here are 10 tips to maximize Instagram followers and boost your reach.
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Know Your Audience
Knowing your target audience can help you create content according to their interests based on your niche. It is essential to target your market and advertise your efforts more effectively.Â
Use Instagram insights, as it provides a wealth of information about your followers, and their demographics, including location, gender, and age.Â
Pay attention to the posts that perform well, and create more of that content. The most important step in defining your audience is to create a buyer’s persona to understand them well.Â
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Write Engaging Captions
Craft interesting and engaging captions that captivate users’ attention and make them stop and scroll to read more. Utilize the CTA’s on each post to let users know, what they need to do more.Â
The first few words are enough to make a bold statement or tell a story. People love to read posts that are written in a conversational tone.Â
Emojis, stickers, and other visual elements can make it more appealing and engaging. Aim to use a few sentences or less and end them with a call to action.Â
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Optimize Your Bio
Your bio is the first thing people see when they visit your profile, so it’s important to make a good impression. Ensure your Instagram bio is optimized and aligns with your brand’s value.Â
A well-written bio can help you attract more followers, promote your brand, and drive traffic to your website. Your bio should be clear and concise.Â
You can use keywords to make yourself visible in search results. Clearly define who you are and what your brand is about, use it to make a story, and explain what makes you unique.Â
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Utilize Hashtags
When you use relevant hashtags in your posts, your content will show up in the search results for those hashtags. This means that people who are interested in this topic, are most likely to find your content.
Use popular and trendy hashtags that are relevant to your niche. You can use up to 30 hashtags in a single post, make sure to use them all, but don’t make it look spammy.Â
Don’t use the same hashtags again, use a variety of them. This will help you boost your reach and increase your Instagram likes with more engagement.
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Go Live
Use live streaming to connect with your audience in real-time and build relationships with them. Live videos are more likely to be seen by your followers and other audiences on Instagram, which can help you boost engagement and reach a wider audience.Â
Plan your content ahead of time and think of what you can say or show your audience. Create a list of questions and activities and encourage them to actively participate in them.Â
Respond to comments, queries, and questions, and define your purpose for getting live. You can promote your live videos on other social media platforms for more engagement.Â
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Use High-Quality Photos and Videos
Instagram wants to deliver the most interesting and engaging content to its users, so it is better to resonate with your audience and use high-quality content. People are likely to engage with your content if it is visually appealing and clear with the use of colors. Â
Use good lighting and carefully compose your shots with a good background. Use a tripod to avoid blurry and shaky images.Â
Edit your photos and videos with a good editor. Adjust the brightness, contrast, colors, and other settings properly. Avoid making your content too artificial.Â
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Utilize Stories and Reels
There are two most popular features on Instagram: Reels and Stories. Stories are short, ephemeral material that disappears after 24 hours, while Reels are longer, more polished videos that can be up to 60 seconds long.Â
Aim to post one story each day, the more the better. Create Reels that reflect your brand’s identity. Both should be visually appealing, and use good music, filters, and effects to draw the user’s attention.Â
Ask questions, or share polls and surveys in stories, while Reels should tell a story. This will help your content be discovered by more people and engage with them personally. Â
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Interact with Your Audience
Whеn you rеspond to commеnts and quеstions, participate in convеrsations, and likе and commеnt on othеr usеrs’ posts, you show your audiеncе that you carе about thеm and that you’rе intеrеstеd in what thеy havе to say. Â
Host contests and giveaways to reach new audiences, and ask users to tag their followers to foster more meaningful connections.Â
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Use Carousel Posts in Ads
Carousel ads are the type of Instagram ads that will allow you to showcase up to 10 images or videos in a single ad. Instagram has the highest cost per click (CPC), which means the more followers you have the more benefits will multiply.
This can be a great way to tell a story, showcase different products and features, and highlight different sides of your brand. Target your ads carefully once you analyze your audience.
You can use products, create a story, write testimonials, and make it educational and informative. You can use Instagram Ads Manager to create and manage your Carousel ads. It also provides you with detailed insights into your Carousel ads. Â
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Collaborate with Other Users
Look for other users who have a similar target audience and have more followers. You can find them using potential hashtags or by attending industry events. Once you have identified them, ask them for collaboration.Â
Brainstorm some ideas and create content together. It can be a joint video or live streaming with a series of co-branded posts. Follow your schedule and promote your content on other platforms for better engagement.Â
This will also help your brand be introduced to a new audience and create excitement among other brands to reach out if they want to promote something.Â
Final ThoughtsÂ
Instagram offers several features to enhance your brand and improve your visibility in order to increase engagement. By following the above 10 hacks, you can achieve your marketing goals.Â
Analyze your metrics for a better understanding of your audience and develop your strategies in order to make improvements. Engaging with your followers can not only benefit your brand, but it can also create a connection between you and your audience.