Are your Instagram posts receiving enough likes and comments? When marketing on Instagram, boosting authentic organic engagement should be a top priority. You might be producing amazing content, but if it’s not attracting likes or comments, your account could easily get overlooked. Before you know it, you’re struggling to gain customers from Instagram, and your investment in the platform might not pay off.
In this guide of System SocialZ, we’ll show you exactly how to increase your Instagram engagement rate and make the most out of your efforts. Let’s get started!
What is Instagram engagement?
Instagram engagement encompasses all the ways users interact with your content, including likes, saves, shares, direct messages, brand mentions, and comments.
High engagement on Instagram shows that your content resonates with your audience, which not only enhances your brand’s visibility but also helps build a strong community on the platform.
How to increase engagement on Instagram?
Instagram engagement plays a crucial role in how the algorithm ranks your posts. A high-engagement post signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable, prompting it to share your post with a broader audience, including those who have interacted with similar content.
This means the algorithm not only boosts your ranking in your followers’ feeds but also expands your reach to potential followers.
Why a good engagement rate matters on Instagram in 2024?
Here are some key benefits of maintaining a strong engagement rate on Instagram:
Increase platform visibility
The Instagram algorithm considers several factors when ranking and displaying content, and engagement is a significant one. Even if your post is relevant, a high level of Instagram engagement increases the likelihood of appearing in the Explore feed. This makes having a good engagement rate crucial for enhancing your visibility on the platform.
Reach a new audience
Higher visibility naturally leads to more opportunities to attract a new audience. Instagram tends to show your content to users who are likely to find it interesting. If your posts receive strong Instagram engagement, potential followers may be encouraged to visit your profile and follow you, helping you grow your audience.
Why understanding your target audience?
Enhance credibility
For the average user, posts with high Instagram engagement signal that others are enjoying the content. This acts as social proof and can positively impact your brand’s authenticity. People are more likely to trust and engage with your brand when they see that many others are doing the same.
How to calculate your Instagram engagement rate?
To get started with calculating your Instagram engagement rate, first, decide on the timeframe you want to measure. This could be for a single post, a collection of posts, or an entire campaign.
Next, gather all the relevant interaction metrics for the chosen period. Here are the interactions to include in your calculation:
- Comments
- Story replies
- Sticker actions
- Shares
- Likes
- Saves
- Mentions
- Click-throughs
- DMs
- Impressions
Once you’ve collected all the interaction data for your selected timeframe, you can use the following formula to calculate your Instagram engagement rate:
Engagement rate = (Total interactions/Impressions) x 100
How to use this Instagram engagement rate calculator in 2024?
Step 1: Collect your Instagram engagement metrics
Before you start calculating, you need to gather some data and make a few decisions.
First, decide how many Instagram posts you want to measure. This calculator can determine the engagement rate for a single post or multiple posts. If you want to calculate the engagement rate for a specific campaign or time period, enter the number of posts into the second row of the calculator.
Next, gather the necessary metrics for the posts you want to track: the number of Instagram followers, comments, shares, likes, saves, clicks, and DMs. You can find this information in the post itself, through the Hootsuite dashboard, or via Instagram Business analytics.
Step 2: Input your Instagram engagement metrics
Always keep an eye on your Instagram engagement metrics to further improve your account.
Now, start entering your data into the calculator. To find your engagement rate per post, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- Number of followers on the account
- Number of posts being measured
- Total number of comments on the post
- Total number of shares from the post
- Total number of likes
- Total number of saves
- Total number of clicks on a link or video
- Total number of direct messages (DMs)
The more metrics you include, the more accurate (and possibly higher) your Instagram engagement rate will be. However, if you don’t have data for all metrics, it’s okay to leave any fields blank or at 0.
Step 3: Click ‘Calculate’
Now for the exciting part: click ‘calculate’ and let the tool do its job. It will quickly compute your Instagram engagement rate in just a few seconds.
What is a good engagement rate on Instagram?
According to the latest data, the average Instagram engagement rate for posts is around 0.98%. While a rate close to this number is considered acceptable, it’s best to aim for an engagement rate higher than the platform average to maximize your impact.
What is the average Instagram engagement rate?
In 2023, System SocialZ analyzed over 50 million Instagram feed posts (excluding Reels) and found that the average Instagram engagement rate, based on follower count, is 2.88%.
Breaking it down further, carousel posts have an average engagement rate of 3.11%, images see around 2.76%, and videos come in at 2.60%.
Although this study doesn’t cover the average Instagram engagement rate by reach, many social media marketers consider anything between 1-5% to be a healthy engagement rate.
Instagram engagement 2024: Which industries are doing best?
Knowing how your Instagram engagement measures up to industry standards can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your social media strategy.
Here are the 2024 average Instagram engagement rate benchmarks for different industries:
- Agencies: 1.46%
- Education: 2.21%
- Entertainment and Media: 1.94%
- Financial Services: 2.0%
- Food and Beverage: 1.54%
- Government: 2.26%
- Health and Wellness: 1.97%
- Real Estate: 1.44%
- Retail: 1.62%
- Services and Consulting: 1.61%
- Technology: 1.44%
- Travel, Hospitality, and Leisure: 1.44%
Government engagement to peak in 2024
Use these benchmarks as a guideline to assess your own Instagram engagement rate. If your rate is above the industry average, it means your content is likely resonating well with your audience. If it’s below, consider rethinking your strategy and experimenting with new content formats or posting schedules.
20+ tips to improve your Instagram engagement rate
Here are 20+ tips and strategies that help you to increase your engagement on Instagram.
Optimize your profile
Optimizing your Instagram profile is crucial for driving Instagram engagement and making a strong first impression on potential followers.
A well-optimized profile clearly communicates who you are and gives users a reason to follow you.
“Your Instagram profile is like a digital business card. An optimized profile not only attracts new followers but also engages them from the start,” says Katelyn Rhoades, CEO of Enfluence Marketing Studio, in her Instagram masterclass.
Start by choosing a username that is easy to identify and search for, ideally matching your business name. If your desired name is taken, try adding your business name at the beginning to increase discoverability.
Select a profile picture that reflects your brand and is consistent across all your social media profiles, similar to SocialPilot’s approach. This consistency strengthens your brand identity and avoids confusion among followers.
Switching to an Instagram business account is another essential step, as it provides access to various features that are key for growth.
Most importantly, ensure your profile is set to public. A private account can limit Instagram engagement and reduce visibility among potential followers, hindering your growth.
Update your bio on Instagram
Source: words_worth_billions
Optimizing your bio is key to boosting Instagram engagement. Your bio should convey your brand’s identity clearly and invite users to interact with your content.
Here are some tips:
Create a compelling description: Use concise, engaging language to describe your brand.
For example:
- @Staples: “We make it easy to #MakeMoreHappen”
- @wdywt: “To be considered: Tag your on-feet photos with #WDYWT”
- @caratlane: “We’re Obsessed with Making Beautiful Jewelry Accessible #CaratLane”
Leverage CTAs and hashtags: Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) and branded hashtags to boost community engagement. A CTA could invite users to check out your latest products or share user-generated content using a specific hashtag.
Include a Link: Add a clickable link to your product page or use a link-in-bio tool to direct followers to multiple destinations. Since most Instagram traffic comes from mobile devices, this makes it easy for users to explore your offerings.
Use emojis and formatting: Emojis and line breaks can make your bio more visually appealing and relatable, adding personality to your profile.
Keep it updated: Regularly update your bio with current information, promotions, or events related to your brand.
Crafting a thoughtful bio can make a strong first impression and drive Instagram engagement. For more ideas, check out our curated list of Instagram bio suggestions for your brand.
Actually engage with your audience
We’re starting with an essential step: engaging with your followers. Social media is a two-way street, and to build a devoted audience, you need to acknowledge your followers. Remember, every comment means someone took the time to engage with your post. So, it’s important to respond.
Building up Instagram engagement takes time, and you should aim to start conversations on other posts, not just your own. Ask questions, respond to comments, and reply to Stories to create more interaction.
Comment threading makes it easier to track responses on your posts. Additionally, tools like Sprout Social’s Smart Inbox allow you to check off comments you’ve already addressed.
As your account grows and you receive more comments, it might not be possible to reply to everyone. However, this doesn’t mean you should stop trying. You can still like comments or reply to as many as you can.
For instance, Canva, with over a million Instagram followers, deals with hundreds of comments on its posts. While it may not be feasible to reply to each one, they still take the time to respond to questions or comments about specific features.
Source: Canva
Reuse your top-performing posts
What works for your brand may not work for others. Review your top-performing posts from the last few months. Is there a recurring theme among them?
For example, you might find that bright and bold images attract more Likes, or perhaps Reels with music are driving more engagement.
Use tools like the Instagram dashboard to identify your best-performing posts. Then look for patterns and try to replicate those elements in future content.
Utilize Instagram stories
Instagram Stories offer various stickers that make it easy to drive engagement. Each time someone interacts with those stickers, it counts towards your Instagram engagement.
Use stickers to create polls, quizzes, or invite followers to ask questions. For example, Living Stone Construction uses a simple poll to ask people if they like their renovation work. You can make it even more engaging by adding competitive elements, like asking people to guess the correct answer to a question.
To increase interaction on Instagram, don’t miss Instagram Stories
Create and share relatable memes
In simple terms, memes are the key to capturing every user’s attention. They are humorous, creative, and relatable—qualities that resonate strongly in 2024. With the right meme, your audience will engage with your post through likes, comments, and shares, regardless of your niche or industry.
For instance, consider using branded text alongside a trending image that aligns with your content pillars, like Melanie Laurene does. When someone shares your meme on their Instagram Story or sends it to a friend, you’ll see a boost in Instagram engagement.
Share Instagram reels
In 2024, Instagram Reels continue to be a powerful tool for reaching a wider audience. Why? Reels have a dedicated tab on the home feed navigation bar, making them more visible to users who don’t follow you. More visibility translates to more engagement for your content.
Instagram Reels are still being chosen by many people to increase interaction for their accounts.
Create shareable graphics
Inspirational quotes, graphics, and repurposed Tweets are ubiquitous on Instagram—and they’re perfect for driving engagement. Users love sharing quotes on their Stories, especially those that are funny, inspirational, or relatable. One trend is transforming posts from X into Instagram feed posts, which proves to be just as engaging.
To do this, simply take a screenshot of your chosen X post (or Thread) and place it onto one of the free Instagram Canva templates available.
Share valuable information in carousel posts
Carousel posts are a treasure trove for Instagram engagement. Why? Because they allow you to share up to 10 images, videos, and text graphics in one post. Since carousel posts often appear in users’ feeds multiple times, they can significantly increase the chances of receiving likes, comments, and shares.
Whether you’re providing educational content or promoting a social cause, each slide represents an opportunity to engage your audience. It’s like getting 10 posts in one!
Instagram carousel makes your posts more attractive
Include CTAs in your captions
Adding a call-to-action (CTA) in your captions is a reliable way to enhance Instagram engagement—especially when you pose a question. You might ask for advice, recommendations, or inquire about what type of content your followers would like to see from you.
Another effective way to drive engagement with CTAs is by encouraging followers to click the link in your Instagram bio. Since direct links can’t be included in post captions, utilizing a free link-in-bio tool is an excellent solution.
When users click on the link in your bio, they can easily tap on any image or button and be taken directly to the links you’ve provided.
Cross-Promote on Other Networks
The audience on your Facebook Page might differ from your Instagram followers. Some Facebook users may be on Instagram but unaware of your presence there. Don’t hesitate to share cross-network promotional posts to encourage more followers.
Be Strategic with Instagram Ads
Since Instagram was integrated into Facebook’s Ads Manager, new targeting opportunities have emerged. While you can boost a post or promote your account, it’s crucial to be strategic.
Leverage retargeting and custom audiences to optimize your ads. For instance, after visiting a furniture store website like Pottery Barn, you might notice ads from other furniture brands. This retargeting strategy can help drive more relevant traffic to your Instagram account and increase engagement.
Custom audiences are a powerful tool to target specific groups of people. Begin by leveraging existing data:
Your email subscribers: Those who have opted into your newsletter are likely interested in your brand.
Website visitors: People who have explored your website have shown interest in your products or services.
Past customers: Your loyal customers are a valuable source for retargeting.
Social media followers: Engage with your audience on Facebook and Instagram to build custom audiences.
Once you’ve created these custom audiences, expand your reach using lookalike audiences. This feature helps you find new potential customers who share similar characteristics with your existing audience.
By mastering Instagram advertising options and retargeting, you’ll gain a competitive edge. These strategies can significantly improve conversions and reduce your advertising costs.
Make the most of the collab feature
Source: The Honest Kitchen
Instagram has recently rolled out a feature that allows users to create Collab posts with one another. These Collab posts appear in the feeds of both users’ followers, providing an excellent opportunity for increased engagement. Take full advantage of this feature by collaborating with influencers, industry leaders, and brand partners.
For instance, The Honest Kitchen frequently creates Collab posts with pet influencers to promote its human-grade pet food. This strategy helps the brand reach a vast and relevant audience—namely, the followers of the pet influencers—resulting in hundreds of thousands of likes and comments.
Give sneak peeks and hints
Followers appreciate being let in on a secret. Even public posts that offer sneak peeks and hints about new releases create a sense of exclusivity among your audience. This strategy entices them to guess what’s coming and encourages them to revisit your profile for updates.
For example, Fourth Ray Beauty shares teasers for upcoming products without revealing too much information. Their Reel provides a brief close-up of the new product, while the caption cleverly uses a cherry emoji to hint at what’s to come. This kind of content fosters anticipation and drives Instagram engagement.
Source: Fourth Ray Beauty
Post your content at optimal times
Utilize your Instagram analytics to determine the best times to post for your audience. It’s essential to share your content when most of your followers are active and engaging on the platform. Even with a fantastic photo and a clever caption, you may miss out on valuable Instagram engagement if you post at the wrong times.
Our research has identified some general best times to post on Instagram, but keep in mind that the ideal timing can vary by account. Instagram business accounts provide analytics that reveal when your followers are most active. Leverage this data to schedule your posts effectively, allowing you more time to interact with comments.
Encourage customer and employee posts
Incorporate branded hashtags to help organize user-generated content (UGC). By actively engaging with these hashtags and implementing a UGC strategy, you’ll encourage more individuals to take notice and start using them as well.
Your employees can be your strongest advocates, offering a personal, unfiltered view of the company. People enjoy feeling like they are part of an exclusive club, so resharing content from your employees provides insights that your brand typically wouldn’t offer, enhancing Instagram engagement.
Host an exciting giveaway contest
Who doesn’t love winning free items? This is precisely why social media giveaways are effective for increasing Instagram engagement. They prompt users to interact with your brand in unprecedented ways.
Whether your contest involves commenting, sharing, or contributing a story, you’ll drive engagement through participation. However, it’s crucial to ensure your giveaway is strategic and intentional. Design the rules with your engagement goals in mind, and make sure the prize is attractive enough to motivate participation.
For example, Fenty Beauty organized a Game Day Giveaway, offering two tickets to the Championship Game, covering flights, hotels, and ground transportation. As a result, the post garnered over 17k Likes and nearly 18k comments.
Source: Fenty Beauty
Optimize your Instagram hashtags
It’s widely recognized that using the right hashtags can significantly enhance your reach, which in turn increases the potential for Instagram engagement. The more users who see your content, the greater the chances of receiving interactions.
Focus on relevant and niche hashtags that will connect you with the right audience. The objective is to have Instagram display your content to users interested in topics related to those hashtags, increasing the likelihood that they will engage with your posts.
Go to live on Instagram
Increasingly, people are looking to connect with the authentic aspects of the creators and businesses they follow, and Instagram Live provides an ideal platform for this connection. Did you know that an impressive 100 million people interact with Instagram Live every day? The spontaneous and unscripted nature of this feature allows you to engage with your audience in real-time. However, it’s essential to remember that simply going live isn’t enough; you need to deliver engaging and relatable content during the session.
Instagram Live includes features like Q&A stickers and other interactive tools that let you ask questions, share insights, and explore topics your audience is passionate about, all while maintaining a lively and interactive atmosphere. The primary objective is to build rapport and foster an ongoing conversation that enhances Instagram engagement with your audience.
Livestream to increase Instagram engagement
Leverage your Instagram SEO
For a long time, making your content visible relied heavily on understanding the algorithm. While you shouldn’t disregard the Instagram algorithm, it’s crucial to invest energy into Instagram search optimization (SEO) as well. Instagram SEO focuses on making your content easily discoverable when users search for specific keywords on the platform. Unlike traditional engagement methods that cast a wide net, SEO allows you to connect with users actively looking for content like yours, increasing the likelihood of Instagram engagement since they are searching for exactly what you offer.
To enhance your content for Instagram SEO, start by identifying relevant keywords for your niche or industry. Naturally incorporate these keywords into your captions, bio, and even your username. Remember, hashtags still play a vital role in making your posts searchable.
Make your images on Instgram stand out
Instagram is fundamentally a visual platform, and while you don’t need to be a professional photographer to succeed, creating eye-catching images is vital. To achieve Instagram engagement with your main feed images, you need visuals that stop users in their tracks and encourage them to linger long enough to like, comment, or share.
Utilize various tools to add some flair to your feed posts, ensuring your Instagram maintains a consistent look that makes followers recognize your content and pause to see what you have to say.
Stay trendy
If there’s a buzz around a current event or holiday, seize the opportunity to contribute topical content of your own. If there’s a trending hashtag or audio, you have an instant hook. While it’s essential not to rely solely on timely content—evergreen posts are also crucial for a well-rounded grid—if you have a hot take on a current meme or trend, create and share it quickly while the topic is still fresh.
Optimize your captions on Instagram
Your Instagram caption is an excellent opportunity to provide context for your content, convey your brand’s voice, and encourage interaction. A well-crafted caption can be the difference between a post that gets scrolled past and one that drives meaningful Instagram engagement.
To enhance your captions for better engagement, make them informative and narrative. Share a story, ask a question, or provide a fun fact. Aim to evoke emotions in your followers—whether that’s curiosity, excitement, or a connection to your brand.
Source: Literaryhub
Remember, engagement isn’t everything
It’s easy to become fixated on accumulating likes and comments, but it’s important to recognize that Instagram engagement isn’t the only metric that matters. As Cara Dorr highlights, “It is crucial to theme out your posts and understand what type of content will drive traffic/shopping, engagement, or reach/views. One type of content rarely excels across all metrics—it’s a balancing act.”
Different posts should have different objectives. Some may aim to spark conversations and boost engagement, while others might focus on driving traffic to your website or increasing sales. This is why diversifying your content is essential; each piece should serve a unique purpose.
A post that generates numerous likes might not lead to sales, but it can help strengthen your brand and foster a sense of community among your followers. Conversely, a post that drives traffic or sales may not attract as many likes, but it still contributes significantly to your business’s success.
The key is to find the right balance. One viral post is excellent, but consistent performance across various metrics is what truly contributes to long-term success and helps you achieve your overall goals.
Instagram engagement – Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for Instagram engagement
How is Instagram engagement rate calculated?
Engagement rate is typically calculated as the total engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves) divided by the total number of followers, multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. It can also be calculated per post.
What is a good engagement rate on Instagram?
A “good” engagement rate can vary depending on the size of your following. Generally:
- 1% to 3.5%: Average/good
- 3.5% to 6%: High
- Above 6%: Very high
How can I increase my Instagram engagement?
- Post high-quality, visually appealing content.
- Use relevant hashtags.
- Engage with your followers by replying to comments and DMs.
- Post consistently and at optimal times.
- Use Instagram Stories, Reels, and IGTV to diversify content.
- Run contests and giveaways.
- Collaborate with influencers or brands.
Do hashtags help with engagement?
Yes, using relevant and targeted hashtags can increase the reach of your posts, making them visible to a broader audience, which can lead to higher engagement.
Why is my engagement dropping?
There could be various reasons, such as changes in Instagram’s algorithm, reduced content quality, posting inconsistently, or not engaging with your audience.
How can Instagram Stories improve engagement?
Stories can increase engagement by providing a more personal, real-time connection with your audience. You can use interactive features like polls, quizzes, questions, and swipe-up links to encourage interaction.
Conclusion
Finding the right balance is essential. While a single viral post can be exciting, achieving consistent performance across various metrics is what truly drives long-term success and helps you meet your overall objectives.
To enhance your Instagram engagement rate while reading this article by System SocialZ, consider scheduling and publishing your posts and Stories, responding to comments, tracking your performance over time, and managing all your other social media accounts—all from one user-friendly dashboard.
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