13 Strategies to Skyrocket Engagement on Instagram

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

If you google the word “Engage”, it gives the definition — “to occupy or attract (someone’s interest or attention)”.

Instagram is a Social Media Platform, and so brands, not only humans, are expected to ‘socialise’ and ‘engage’ on the platform.

Here’s why it is important for brands to engage with their audience on Instagram:

• Building Trust and Loyalty: Regular interaction will create a sense of community and loyalty among followers. By interacting authentically with your audience, addressing their concerns, and providing valuable insights, you will foster trust with them.
• Gathering Feedback: Engaging with the audience will provide an opportunity to gather feedback, enabling you to understand customer preferences and improve products/services.
• Humanizing the Brand: Interacting with customers on a personal level will humanize the brand, making it more relatable and approachable.
• Boosting Brand Awareness: Active engagement will increase brand visibility and awareness as satisfied customers share positive experiences with their network.
• Driving Sales and Conversions: By building relationships and trust, engaged audiences are more likely to convert into customers and make repeat purchases.
• Staying Relevant: Continuous engagement helps brands stay top-of-mind of their potential customers and relevant in a competitive market, ensuring continued customer interest and attention.
• Enhancing Customer Experience: Engaging with the audience allows brands to provide timely support, answer questions, and create memorable experiences for customers.
• Generating User-Generated Content: Encouraging engagement can lead to the creation of user-generated content, which serves as authentic endorsements and testimonials for the brand.

This is why brands now not only invest in a content strategy, but also an engagement strategy.

Let’s see some ways you can engage better on Instagram:

1. Authentic Storytelling: Share authentic stories that resonate with your audience’s emotions and experiences. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your business or a personal anecdote, authenticity builds trust and encourages engagement.
2. Ask Questions: Encourage interaction by asking questions in your captions or Instagram Stories. Whether it’s soliciting opinions, seeking recommendations, or sparking debates, questions prompt followers to engage and share their thoughts.
3. Respond Promptly: Be proactive in responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Show your audience that you value their input and appreciate their engagement by acknowledging their comments and answering their questions promptly.
4. Host Q&A Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions on Instagram Live or through Instagram Stories to engage directly with your audience in real time. Invite followers to ask questions about your products, services, or industry, and provide valuable insights and expertise.
5. Share User-Generated Content: Showcase content created by your followers featuring your products or services. Repost user-generated content on your feed or Stories, giving credit to the original creators. Not only does this foster a sense of community, but it also serves as social proof and strengthens brand loyalty.
6. Run Polls and Surveys: Use Instagram’s polling feature to gather feedback, preferences, and opinions from your audience. Polls are a fun and interactive way to engage followers while gaining valuable insights into their preferences and interests. Now you can add Polls to feed posts also.
7. Create Interactive Content: Experiment with interactive content on stories and reels such as quizzes, polls, and countdowns to engage your audience and encourage participation. These interactive features not only increase engagement but also provide valuable data on user preferences and behaviours.
8. Host Instagram Takeovers: Collaborate with influencers, brand ambassadors, or industry experts to host Instagram takeovers. Allow them to temporarily take control of your account to share their insights, experiences, or behind-the-scenes perspectives, providing fresh and diverse content for your audience.
9. Use Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Include clear CTAs in your captions or Instagram Stories to prompt followers to take specific actions, such as liking, commenting, sharing, or visiting your website. Whether it’s asking for feedback, inviting participation, or encouraging engagement, CTAs guide your audience towards meaningful interactions.
10. Engage with Trending Topics: Stay relevant and join conversations around trending topics, hashtags, or challenges on Instagram. Participating in popular trends and challenges not only boosts visibility but also encourages engagement from users participating in the same trends.
11. Collaborate with Other Brands: Partner with complementary brands or influencers for co-branded content or collaborations. Cross-promotion exposes your brand to new audiences and encourages engagement from their followers.
12. Optimize Posting Times: Identify the times when your audience is most active on Instagram using analytics tools. Schedule your posts during these peak times to maximize engagement and reach.
13. Monitor and Analyze Performance: Regularly monitor your engagement metrics, such as likes, comments, shares, and saves, to gauge the effectiveness of your engagement strategies. Analyze which types of content and tactics resonate most with your audience and adjust your approach accordingly.

Remember, how you engage with your audience, reflects your brand tone and values. Engaging well on Instagram can set a positive image for your brand.

Keep these strategies in mind while preparing for next month!