Instagram remains one of the top social platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. And likes are still an important signal to Instagram‘s algorithm about the quality and relevance of content. So how can you get more double taps and engagement on Instagram posts in 2024?
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll dive into up-to-date strategies and best practices for optimizing your Instagram content to earn more likes and reach a wider audience this year.
Why Do Instagram Likes Still Matter?
Even though Instagram has hidden public like counts, likes still matter a great deal. Likes are key signals that train Instagram‘s ranking algorithm what content to show higher up in feeds and on the Explorer page.
Posts with more likes in the first few hours tend to get pushed out more by Instagram to a wider set of users. So likes directly impact your reach and discovery.
Additionally, likes:
- Build social proof and credibility for your brand
- Show your followers resonate with your content
- Indicate to Instagram your content is engaging to push to more users
- Help you gauge the performance of different post types
In short, likes lead to more exposure, engagement, and ultimately followers and conversions. Optimize your content for likes, and Instagram will reward it.
Tips to Get More Likes on Instagram
Below are the top 12 strategies to get more double taps and engagement on your Instagram posts this year:
1. Post at the Best Times
Analyze when your target audience is most active on Instagram and schedule posts for those high traffic times. Late afternoons and evenings tend to perform best.
You can use free analytics tools like Instagram Insights and Sprout Social to determine your audience‘s top hours for engagement.
Scheduling posts in advance also helps ensure you consistently post during optimal times.
2. Use Relevant, Popular Hashtags
Include a mix of popular hashtags with 500K+ posts along with more niche hashtags in the 50K-500K range. This helps expand your reach while still targeting users more likely to engage.
Aim for a total of 10-12 hashtags – with 2-4 popular hashtags and 8-10 niche hashtags related to your post topic, industry, location, etc.
3. Optimize Visuals for the Feed
High quality, eye-catching photos and videos that stand out perform much better. Use bright contrasting colors, appealing graphics, and basic photo editing apps to enhance visual appeal.
Also take advantage of new Instagram post formats like carousels, Reels, and Stories to showcase richer media.
4. Write Engaging Captions
Great Instagram captions tell a story, evoke emotion, educate readers, and invite engagement.
Aim for longer 2-3 paragraph captions of 100+ words using storytelling, humor, questions, polls, fill in the blanks, and calls to action to get more comments and likes.
5. Post User-Generated Content
Consumer photos and videos show real people interacting with your brand. Ask followers to tag you in their posts using a campaign hashtag. Repost the best fan content.
UGC performs very well since it‘s authentic social proof. Offer incentives like free products to encourage participation.
6. Run Instagram Contests and Giveaways
Contests drive tons of engagement since users actively participate for prizes and discounts. Require liking, tagging friends, following, and sharing posts to enter.
Use third-party apps like Rafflecopter and Wishpond to easily create rules, collect entries, and pick random winners.
7. Collaborate with Micro Influencers
Partner with nano and micro-influencers in your industry with smaller, highly engaged audiences. Compensate them to create branded posts showcasing your products.
This expands your brand‘s reach to new targeted followers. Provide influencers assets, product discounts, and writing guidance to support.
8. Interact with Your Audience
Reply to comments, ask questions in captions, jump in on conversations in your niche, and engage followers in Instagram Stories.
This shows followers you care, helps form real connections, and might lead to likes, follows, and UGC. Dedicate 15 minutes a day to engaging.
9. Leverage Instagram Reels
Instagram heavily favors short form Reels video content, promoting trending Reels across Explore and feeds.
Create fun Reels showcasing products, behind the scenes, tips, branded challenges, meme trends, and more. Use music and effects to make them pop.
10. Promote Posts Across Other Channels
Cross-promote Instagram content on your other social profiles, email lists, paid ads, website banners, and external partnerships. Retarget followers and lookalike audiences.
Directing existing audiences to like and engage expands reach. Just remember to keep promotions authentic and relevant.
11. Analyze Performance and Iterate
Dig into Instagram Insights analytics to see which post types, topics, captions, filters, hashtags, and timings perform best.
Lean into what works and phase out what doesn‘t. Continually test new ideas informed by data to improve engagement.
12. Follow Instagram Best Practices
Stick to consistent branding and style across posts. Balance educational and promotional content. Credit creators and follow Fair Use guidelines.
Most importantly – build relationships, focus less on metrics, and bring your authentic self to Instagram. These foundations earn genuine loyalty and likes.
The Key Is Being Strategic With Engagement
Simply having a high follower count does not guarantee lots of likes and comments. You need to be strategic and put in dedicated work to drive authentic engagement on Instagram.
Take advantage of Instagram‘s built-in analytics along with third party social listening tools like Hopper HQ and Iconosquare to glean deeper audience insights.
Craft content that resonates with what your audience responds positively to – and what Instagram‘s algorithm rewards.
Pair insightful data analysis with consistent high quality content, community interaction, and smart cross-promotion. Do this diligently, and you will see the likes roll in.
What strategies have worked well for you to get more Instagram engagement? Let me know in the comments!
