How to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Rate

You’ve been creating great Instagram posts, but no one—or just a few people—are liking and commenting on them. 

You notice your Instagram account slipping through the cracks, and you’re struggling to attract customers from the platform. 

It feels like your investment is going to waste, and you’re left wondering why your followers and other users aren’t engaging with your content. 

If this sounds familiar, we’re here to help. 

In this article, I’ll show you exactly what to do to boost your Instagram engagement and drive sales. 

We’ll cover:

• What is Instagram engagement?
• How to calculate your Instagram engagement rate
• What’s considered a good engagement rate on Instagram?
• 11 tips to improve your Instagram engagement rate
• Why a good engagement rate matters on Instagram

Keep reading to find out how to turn things around!

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What is Instagram Engagement?

Instagram engagement refers to the interactions your content receives from users, including likes, comments, shares, saves, and direct messages. 

It’s a key metric that measures how well your audience is connecting with your posts, stories, and overall profile. 

High engagement indicates that your content resonates with your audience, encouraging them to actively participate and interact with what you share.

How to Calculate Your Instagram Engagement Rate

To calculate your Instagram engagement rate, start by tallying up all interactions on your content, including likes, comments, shares, Story replies, and saves. Then, apply the following formula:

Engagement Rate = (Total Interactions / Impressions) x 100

What’s Considered a Good Engagement Rate on Instagram?

According to the latest Instagram statistics by Sprout Social, the average post engagement rate is around 0.98%. 

While this is a reasonable benchmark, aiming for a higher engagement rate will set you apart from the average and help you achieve better results on the platform.

11 Tips to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Rate

Ready to elevate your Instagram engagement? These 11 strategies will help you connect with your audience more effectively and boost your engagement rate.

1. Engage Actively with Your Audience

Engagement on Instagram is a two-way street. If you want your followers to interact with your content, you need to show them that you value their presence. 

Respond to comments, ask questions, and start conversations—not just on your posts, but on others as well. 

This simple practice not only builds relationships but also shows that you value your community. For instance, if someone takes the time to comment on your post, don’t let it go unnoticed—respond thoughtfully. 

With comment threading, it’s even easier to know which ones you’ve missed on your posts. Not to mention, tools like Manychat can automate your responses, making it easier to maintain engagement. 

When a follower comments on your post or Reel, Manychat can send a message directly to their DMs, allowing you to continue the conversation. 

It can even prompt followers to share their email addresses, which you can then add to your email list, nurturing your audience beyond Instagram.

2. Leverage Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories offers an array of interactive features that can significantly boost engagement. 

Stickers like polls, quizzes, and questions provide easy ways for your audience to interact with your content. Every time someone engages with these stickers, it counts toward your overall engagement.

For example, Living Stone Construction used a simple poll in their Story, asking followers if they liked the renovation work shown in before-and-after photos. 

This not only engaged their audience but also provided valuable feedback. You can make it even more fun and competitive by incorporating a quiz or a guessing game using the “Add Yours” sticker, encouraging followers to participate and share their content.

3. Be Strategic with Instagram Ads

Instagram ads can be a powerful tool, but to maximize their effectiveness, you need to be strategic. 

Instead of just boosting posts, take advantage of Facebook’s Ads Manager, which offers advanced targeting options. 

Use retargeting and custom audiences to reach users who are more likely to engage with your content.

For example, if someone visits a furniture store website, they might start seeing ads from similar stores. 

You can create custom audiences based on your newsletter lists, website visitors, or social media engagements, then use lookalike audiences to find even more users who are likely to be interested in your content. 

This approach not only boosts engagement but also helps improve conversions and lower your ad costs.

4. Focus on Short-Form Video Content

In 2023, Statista data showed that short-form video is the most engaging type of in-feed social content. 

This means that your Instagram content strategy should prioritize Reels, which are perfect for capturing your audience’s attention and encouraging interaction.

Consider creating Reels that offer quick how-to tips, behind-the-scenes looks, or informational snippets. 

For example, Drunk Elephant, a skincare brand, created a Reel listing reasons why a particular product is great, using a simple hand gesture to showcase the product. 

This type of content is engaging, easy to consume, and has the potential to go viral.

5. Utilize the Collab Feature

Instagram’s Collab feature allows you to co-create posts with other users, displaying the post in both of your followers’ feeds. This dual exposure can lead to higher engagement, as it taps into both audiences.

For instance, The Honest Kitchen frequently collaborates with pet influencers to promote its human-grade pet food. 

By using the Collab feature, their posts reach a massive and relevant audience, generating hundreds of thousands of Likes and comments. 

Consider partnering with influencers, industry leaders, or brand partners to take advantage of this feature and boost your engagement.

6. Share Sneak Peeks and Hints

Giving your followers a sneak peek into upcoming products or events makes them feel like they’re part of an exclusive group. Even if the information is public, the sense of being “in the know” can drive engagement.

Take Fourth Ray Beauty as an example. They teased an upcoming product by sharing a close-up shot in a Reel, accompanied by a simple cherry emoji in the caption. 

This subtle hint sparked curiosity and anticipation, encouraging followers to stay tuned for the full reveal.

7. Write Engaging Captions

Your captions are a powerful tool for driving engagement. By including a call to action, such as asking a question or encouraging comments, you can prompt your followers to interact with your post.

For example, Pottery Barn posted a carousel of different stool and pendant pairings for a kitchen island, then asked followers to vote for their favorite in the comments. 

This simple yet effective strategy led to a significant number of comments, showing that thoughtful captions can directly boost engagement.

8. Post at Optimal Times

Timing can make or break your engagement. Use Instagram’s analytics tools to determine when your audience is most active, and schedule your posts accordingly. 

Posting when your followers are online maximizes the chances that they’ll see and engage with your content.

While general best times to post are available, your audience might have specific habits. Tailor your posting schedule based on your followers’ activity patterns to ensure your content gets the attention it deserves.

9. Encourage User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is a fantastic way to increase engagement. Encourage your followers to share content related to your brand by using branded hashtags. 

Engaging with and resharing this content not only boosts engagement but also builds a community around your brand.

For instance, a travel company could create a branded hashtag and encourage travelers to share photos from their trips.

By featuring the best posts on your profile, you show appreciation for your followers’ contributions and foster a sense of community.

10. Host a Giveaway

Hosting a giveaway is one of the most effective ways to spike your engagement. Everyone loves the chance to win something, and a well-designed giveaway can generate a lot of buzz around your brand.

Fenty Beauty’s Game Day Giveaway is a perfect example. They offered a chance to win two tickets to a championship game, covering flights, hotels, and ground transportation. 

This enticing prize led to over 17k Likes and nearly 18k comments. When planning your giveaway, make sure the prize is valuable enough to motivate participation, and align the rules with your goal of boosting engagement.

11. Optimize Your Hashtags

Hashtags are crucial for expanding your reach on Instagram. By using relevant and niche hashtags, you can target the right audience and increase the visibility of your content.

For example, if you’re posting about eco-friendly products, using hashtags like #sustainableliving or #ecofriendlyproducts helps you reach users interested in those topics. 

The more targeted your hashtags, the more likely you are to attract users who will engage with your content.

Why Does a Good Engagement Rate Matter on Instagram?

Why is Instagram engagement such a big deal? 

Here are some key reasons why maintaining a good engagement rate is crucial for your success on the platform:

1. Increase Your Visibility

Instagram’s algorithm considers several factors when ranking and displaying content, with engagement being a major one. 

Posts with high engagement are more likely to appear in users’ Explore feeds, even among other relevant content. This makes a good engagement rate vital for boosting your visibility on Instagram.

2. Attract a New Audience

Greater visibility leads to a higher chance of reaching new audiences. Instagram tends to showcase your content to users who are likely to be interested in it. 

If these users find your content appealing, they may visit your profile and potentially follow you. In essence, a strong engagement rate can help you grow your Instagram following.

3. Enhance Credibility

To the average user, a post with high engagement signals that others find it valuable. This serves as social proof, boosting your brand’s credibility and authenticity. 

People are more likely to trust and engage with your brand when they see that others are doing the same.

Start Growing Your Instagram Engagement

These tips will provide a much-needed boost to your Instagram engagement. 

However, a one-time increase isn’t enough—you need to consistently apply these strategies to maintain high engagement levels over time.

Manychat’s Instagram automation can help by automatically liking and responding to every comment on your posts and sending more information, including product links, directly to your followers’ DMs. 

This frees up your time to focus on other ways to enhance your Instagram engagement. Give Manychat a try with their 4-day free trial today!