15 ways to increase engagement on Instagram

Feeling overwhelmed by the numbers? We’ve got the easiest ways to calculate and increase your brand’s Instagram engagement rate.

What is Instagram engagement?

Instagram engagement is a measure of how many people interact with the content you post on Instagram. It goes beyond just a metric and is a collection of metrics that indicate how well your content connects with your audience and how passionate your online community is about your brand.

Engagement is important because it shows that people are stopping to interact with your content instead of scrolling past it. It also indicates that something in your post resonated with them and made them feel something about your brand. These feelings are the foundation of brand loyalty.

Engagement is also a key ranking signal for the Instagram algorithm. Early engagement on a post, Story, or Reel can help get it in front of more people, leading to even more engagement.

How to calculate Instagram engagement

To calculate your Instagram engagement rate, you can use the following formula:

Engagement rate = (Interactions / Audience) x 100

Interactions include metrics like comments, shares, likes, saves, mentions, use of branded hashtags, click-throughs, DMs, and accounts engaged. The audience refers to the number of followers, posts, reach, or impressions.

You can use our free engagement rate calculator to find out your engagement rate quickly and easily. Simply input the number of followers, posts, and various engagement metrics, and the calculator will give you the engagement rate.

15 ways to increase engagement on Instagram

1. Lean into Reels: Reels are currently favored by Instagram and can help you reach a wider audience. They have the potential to go viral and attract new followers and engagement.

2. Experiment with different Reels features: Utilize transitions, timed text, trending audio, voiceovers, and templates to make your Reels more engaging and captivating.

3. Focus on Instagram SEO: Optimize your content for Instagram search by using relevant keywords and hashtags. This will help your content be discovered by users searching for similar content.

4. Get to know your audience: Understand your target audience’s demographics, preferences, and interests. This will help you create content that resonates with them and encourages engagement.

5. Post consistently and at strategic times: Develop a consistent posting schedule and post when your audience is most active to maximize engagement.

6. Be authentic and interactive: Show the human side of your brand by being relatable and interactive. Use interactive features in Stories and encourage two-way communication with your followers.

7. Make your images stand out: Create visually appealing and eye-catching images that grab attention and encourage followers to engage with your content.

8. Post carousels: Utilize the carousel feature to share multiple images or videos in a single post. Carousels tend to receive higher engagement rates compared to regular posts.

9. Write strong captions: Craft compelling captions that add context to your posts and showcase your brand’s personality. Longer captions can be effective in storytelling and engaging your audience.

10. Create informative content that inspires saves: Share facts, infographics, and resource materials that provide valuable information to your followers. Encourage them to save your content for future reference.

11. Go live: Utilize Instagram Live to connect directly with your audience, answer questions, and share news. Live videos create an intimate and engaging experience for your followers.

12. Share user-generated content: Repost or share content created by your audience. This not only engages your followers but also shows that you value their contributions and encourages them to continue engaging with your brand.

13. Answer comments and DMs: Respond to comments and direct messages from your followers. Engaging in conversations shows that you value their feedback and encourages further interaction.

14. Get experimental: Try out new ideas, formats, and content types to see what resonates with your audience and drives engagement. Monitor your metrics to track the impact of your experiments.

15. Create topical content: Join conversations around current events or holidays by creating content that is relevant and timely. Utilize trending hashtags or audio to capitalize on the buzz and increase engagement.

By implementing these strategies, you can increase your Instagram engagement and gain more followers. Remember to consistently analyze your metrics and adjust your approach based on the data to optimize your engagement rate.