Not seeing the engagement results you desire on Instagram? Try these 5 tips for increasing engagement!
1. Be Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to maximizing the Instagram Algorithm. Rather than posting everyday one week and taking a break for the next two, spread your content out evenly over the same three week period. Yes, this does require sitting down and planning your content! A good social strategy requires planning, so that you’re not scrambling to post at the last minute. Establishing and sticking to a posting schedule will help ensure your posts are getting in front of as many of your followers as possible.
2. Engage with Your Audience
You can’t expect to see engagement on your posts if you’re never engaging with your own audience! This includes followers and new accounts that you find through the explore page or who have used hashtags you follow recently. Taking 15-30 minutes to like and comment on posts from your target audience either before or right after you post will help garner some organic 👀on your account, increasing the chances you’ll see more interaction on your most recent post.
3. Use a Hashtag Strategy
Yes, there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way to use hashtags! A good hashtag strategy will help you maximize the reach on every post you make. Spend some time researching which hashtags your audience follows and brainstorm a list of potential hashtags you can pull from for each type of post you make. Then, be sure to include these hashtags in the body of your caption or as a first comment on your post when it publishes.
4. Tell YOUR Story
The best way to sell your product or service on social media, isn’t by selling. Wait, what? People don’t follow brands or products on Instagram just to see more pictures of the product they already have. They follow your brand to see what makes it unique — that’s your story. Spending time focusing on your story helps connect your audience with the people behind the brand and differentiates you from the competition. Have you told your founding story on social? Introduced your team? Gone behind the scenes in stories? Try one or all of these strategies to increase transparency between you and your audience.
5. Provide value.
Lastly, one of the best things you can do to keep followers engaged is to continue providing value beyond the sale of your good or service. Focus on the pain points of your target consumer that moved them to buy your product in the first place and work on creating content that will further help them in their current season. This is a great opportunity to incorporate tips from blogs or how-to’s into your feed!
I hope you find these 5 tips helpful in increasing engagement on Instagram! If you don’t know where to start, focus on consistency then choose one or two other tips to hone in on after that. Rather spend your time running your business and leave social media to the experts? That’s where I come in! Email me at heather@oliverandco.social to get started.
Oliver and Co. Social 