Instagram is a billion-dollar social media platform, and it decided that for people to stay on the platform and not use bots to increase instagram engagement, introducing Instagram algorithm was important. These algorithms changed the way we see our feed, now we don’t see pictures or videos chronologically. We see videos and pictures with the highest likes or comments first, amongst other changes.Since algorithms keep changing, it is becoming hard for marketers to decide on a pattern that can help them engage more people on Instagram. Now, to get more screen time, to say with your customers, you need to interact with them more.
To do that, you need to know your audience, and Instagram is the home of the millennials. More than 70% of the audience on Instagram Engagement is the younger generation who have different choices when it comes to shopping or interacting with the brand. It makes it more difficult for brands to figure out a strategy to engage them, all the while beating the algorithm.
The one obvious thing you need to do is post consistently. It is because if you are not quite active on your IG account, the algorithm won’t show your posts much to your audience, maybe not even once.
Here are 6 other ways to increase instagram engagement and beating the algorithm.
1. Be smart with your hashtags
We all know that the limit of using hashtags per post is thirty, but do you know that you can follow hashtags too? Yes, it is true, just like you follow people on Instagram, now you can follow hashtags like #capturingbeautifulmoments too. It gives you new opportunities to get more exposure because a person who is following particular hashtags will see your post even if they don’t follow you when you use that hashtag.
The trick here is to use hashtags that are not only relevant but also something that gets you in the top 9 segments of Instagram. Moreover, never use hashtags that are banned, so knowledge about the same is important.
2. Don’t ignore Instagram Stories
Instagram stories don’t have any influence on algorithms, but still using them for your brand is important. Why? It is because it puts your brand and its content at the front of the user’s screen, which is something that all brands want. You can make eye catching Instagram stories with Canva.
Also, sharing stories on IG is one of the best ways to put out a different type of content, and also share your daily routine with your customers. It also provides you with a way to promote your post, as you can share a teaser with your customer, which will make them keep an eye out for your post.
3. Have a business account and check your analytics
So many young entrepreneurs or home-based business owners are promoting their small business on their personal Instagram page only. If you are one of them, you are making a big mistake. Switch to business profile ASAP as it gives you a chance to gain more followers, have a brand, make money on IG, and most importantly, you can look at analytics.
Analytics helps you to see how many people are engaging with your content, and with which post. Using feedback from the insights tool can help you improve your Instagram for the better.
4.Focus more on video content
Video is one of the most engaging types of content that you can post on Instagram or any other social media platform. It is a quick way to grab your user’s attention, as they auto-plays on the users feed.
Even Instagram is trying to make video content more popular by making IGTV videos appear on the user’s feed. It should give you a clue about the importance of putting video content on IG. When you post video content it keeps people on your profile for longer, which increases the instagram engagement level of people.
5.Have a consistent theme
Your Instagram feed should have a consistent theme if you want more people to engage with you and remember you. It is because your IG page is an extension of your brand, and if you have a consistent theme, like posting only black and white photos, or so on, you make a symbol for yourself. It is something that helps people remember your brand and recognize it immediately.
6.Captions are crucial
Captions can and should move people. It should elicit emotions from them. Thus, make sure you spend a good time dwelling on your captions before posting it. If people stop scrolling and take time to read your caption, they are interacting with you and that means more instagram engagement.
- Keep your caption crisp, and make sure that they are relevant.
- Also, use a CTA in your caption so that you encourage them to take some action.
Instagram is a visual medium and it is quite important to promote your brand here. Thus, keep updates about the changing scenario of Instagram to be on top of the game.
