8 Creative Ideas for Getting More Engagement on Your Instagram Posts

Instagram is one of the best channels for brands to reach younger customers. However, the popularity of Instagram also means that your posts will compete with several other brands for attention and engagement. This means that you need to have an innovative strategy to get higher engagement figures for your Instagram posts. If you’re in need of some suggestions, here are 8 creative ideas for becoming an Instagram pro.    

1.  Instagram Stories Stickers

Stickers have only been added on Instagram in 2019 but have proven to be a hit with regular users and brands alike. This function encourages your followers to chat and share opinions with others. You could insert question stickers, poll stickers, and vote stickers into your stories to start discussions on any topic you consider relevant such as product features or design. Just make sure to stay on top of the conversation and respond to your clients!

 

2.  Draft Longer Captions

Instagram now allows you to draft longer captions that could have up to 2,200 characters. While this might sound like a wall of text, this feature is invaluable for increasing engagement. Extended captions could help you to convey more information to your followers and describe any implicit meanings of the image posted. As people generally take more time to read a lengthy caption, longer captions could also improve the performance of your account as the time spent by users on a post is a key ranking factor of Instagram’s algorithm.

 

3.  Engage with Your Competitor’s Accounts Regularly

In the case of Instagram, engagement begets engagement. Start regularly engaging with your competitor’s accounts or other accounts operating in the same industry or niche. Interacting with other Instagram accounts increases your visibility and brand awareness. In turn, this means that more customers will be more inclined to visit your posts and leave comments of their own. However, remember that quality is more important than quantity. Make sure that your contribution to other posts is meaningful and encourages civil discussion.

 

4.  Engage with Past Posts on Your Feed Before and After You Post

Higher activity on your feed makes Instagram algorithm recognise that your most recent posts are valuable and informative. You can temporarily increase the activity on your feed without compromising your online marketing budget by engaging with past posts before and after you publish a new post. Increased activity results in the post becoming visible to more of your followers, leading to higher engagement levels.

 

5.  Use Ephemeral Content

Ephemeral content such as Instagram stories is content that is only available for a short time. While using stories to boost engagement may seem counter-intuitive, they are a great tool for increasing your Instagram numbers. Posting stories encourages users to visit your profile; this means that your new posts will be seen by the majority of your followers. To get the best results, post ephemeral content and regular Instagram posts at the same time. Use professional photos while creating ephemeral content for your feed; this will build credibility in the eyes of your followers. Ephemeral content is cheap to produce and will help you in staying within your marketing budget.

 

6.  Interact with Your Followers

Social media is not unidirectional. The only way to make it big on Instagram is by returning the attention your followers give you. Make sure to let your followers know that you are listening to them. One of the best methods for making the followers feel appreciated is asking for advice or constructive criticism. Another cool strategy is to use posts to ask questions about their habits or opinions. However, it is just as important to make your page is a friendly environment in which your followers feel safe.

 

7.  Use Long-tail Hashtags

Long-tail hashtags are similar to long-tail keywords typically used in search engine optimisation (SEO). For example, ‘#fashion’ is a short-tail hashtag that would return hundreds of thousands of posts. In contrast, ‘#fashionshow2019’ is a long-tail hashtag that provides specific information and is used by a limited number of accounts. Long-tail hashtags can accurately reflect the context of your post and leave very little to the imagination of your followers. In social media, clarity is a good thing and so is avoiding direct competition.

 

8.  Use More Photos with Faces

Faces make photos look more personal. Analysts have argued that photos with faces typically get more likes and increase engagement levels. While posting photos with faces, make sure that the customers easily link this content to your brand. For instance, if you own a restaurant business, the photos should focus on your visitors enjoying their meals or receiving high-quality service.  

 

Social media marketing has been a mixed bag in the last couple of years. Facebook and Google Plus suffered significant data leaks, highlighting the issues of security and privacy. In contrast to these cases, the value of Instagram has been growing exponentially and shows no signs of slowing down. Following the 8 creative ideas explained above will help in mastering this platform and becoming a true Instagram prodigy.

About the author

Anna Clarke is the owner of online writing company 15 Writers. She is a successful entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in freelancing, academic dissertation writing consulting, specialising in Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Management.

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