20 Different Ways to Keep Your Audience Engaged in 2024
The engagement rate on Instagram is a crucial metric, representing the percentage of the platform’s audience that interacts with your content through likes, comments, shares, and saves. With over 2.4 billion active users, Instagram stands as a bustling hub where users are deeply engaged, spending an average of 53 minutes per day scrolling, liking, and interacting. This high level of engagement is a testament to Instagram’s ability to captivate and retain user attention, making it an invaluable tool for brands and creators – MrInsta Biz.
Over 100 million photos and videos are uploaded to Instagram daily. However, Video Posts receive more than double the engagement of photos. Besides, Understanding how users engage with content, from hashtags that boost visibility to the impact of different post formats, can empower creators and businesses alike to maximise their presence on Instagram.
Now let’s dive into 20 different ways to increase your Instagram engagement rate in 2024.
1. Optimise Your Instagram Profile for Immediate Impact
A well-optimised profile sets the stage for user engagement. Clear, recognizable profile elements (username, picture) aligned with your brand identity enhance discoverability – MrInsta Biz. Studies show that Users spend an average of 53 minutes per day on Instagram.
Example: The Turkish actress @Hazalkaya has optimised her Profile. Her Display has her own Picture and her Profile has her name, making it easier for her Fans to reach her.
2. Craft a Compelling Bio with Strategic CTAs on Instagram
Your bio should not only convey your brand’s identity but also include a clear call-to-action (CTA) and utilise branded hashtags to boost community engagement.
A concise, engaging bio with strategic CTAs and hashtags invites interaction and directs traffic effectively – MrInsta Biz. Additionally, a compelling bio acts as a prompt for action, whether visiting a website or participating in a community hashtag.
Example: @Versace has included the website link into its Bio which increases the Brand’s engagement. Users can directly tap on the link and shop.
3. Utilise the Power of Strategic Usage of Instagram Hashtags
Hashtags significantly increase your content’s reach, with posts using hashtags seeing a 12.6% uptick in engagement. Relevant hashtags extend your content’s reach and foster engagement by tapping into broader conversations.
Example: Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign brilliantly leveraged hashtags to encourage widespread user participation.
4. Invest in High-Quality Content on Instagram
Visuals are key on Instagram. Posts with compelling images or videos achieve 2.3 times more engagement than those without. Engaging, high-quality images and videos are fundamental, capturing attention and sustaining interest. Studies show that The average engagement rate for an Instagram post is 4.7%.
Example: Apple’s #ShotOniPhone showcases exceptional user-generated content, elevating both engagement and brand loyalty.
5. Share Relatable Memes for Increased Engagement Rate on Instagram
Incorporating memes into your content strategy can enhance relatability and shareability. With memes, 53% of users engage to react, while 74% share them to entertain others, showcasing their vast potential for virality.
Studies show that 42% of teens feel pressure to only share content that will get a lot of likes or comments.
Example: Netflix cleverly uses show-related memes to spark conversations and connect with viewers.
6. Optimal Timing for Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels receive 22% more engagement compared to regular video content. Posting Reels during peak hours, specifically between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., can maximize your content’s visibility and engagement by tapping into your audience’s most active hours.
Example: Celebrities like @taylorswift align Reel postings with peak activity times, significantly boosting engagement rates.
7. Regular Engagement Through Instagram Stories
Regularly Posting Stories on Instagram can significantly enhance your engagement rate. One-third of the most-viewed Instagram Stories are from businesses. Over 50% of brands on Instagram produce Stories.
You need to utilise interactive Stories features like polls and questions daily to maintain engagement and encourage audience interaction.
Example: The Top-Influencer Kylie Jenner’s strategy is to promote her Products through Stories. She actively Posts About her Brand @kyliecosmetics and often shared the product feedback through Stories which exemplifies direct brand-consumer interaction.
8. Master Your Posting Schedule on Instagram
Timing your posts to align with your audience’s most active periods, typically between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., can significantly enhance visibility and engagement. Analysing engagement patterns to determine the best times for posting can drastically increase visibility and engagement.
Example: Insights from Instagram Analytics enable brands to customise their posting schedule, aligning with their audience’s active periods.
9. Boost Interaction with Giveaways on Instagram
Organising giveaways incentivizes engagement and attracts new followers by rewarding interaction with your content, a direct method to amplify your engagement rate. These Giveaways invite active participation for the chance to win, boosting likes, comments, and shares.
Example: Fitness influencers collaborating with brands on giveaways attract engagement and gain followers interested in fitness products.
10. Leverage Instagram Live Feature for Further Engagement
Live videos receive three times more engagement than pre-recorded ones, offering a unique opportunity to connect with your audience in real-time and foster genuine interaction.
Example: Sephora’s live tutorials and Q&A sessions not only engage but also educate their audience, enhancing the brand’s interactive presence.
11. Maintain Consistency in Posting on Instagram
Regular posting at a balanced frequency ensures your visibility and can increase engagement rates. Striking a balance between quality and quantity is key to keeping your audience interested and engaged.
Example: National Geographic (@natgeo) posts multiple times daily, showcasing content from around the world. Their consistent posting schedule keeps the audience engaged and ensures a steady stream of high-quality content, which has helped them amass a large following.
12. Engage Actively with Your Instagram Followers
Responding to comments and engaging with followers’ content fosters a sense of community and encourages more interaction, proving your investment in the audience relationship.
Example: Glossier (@glossier), a beauty brand known for its direct engagement with its community, frequently responds to comments and features followers’ content. This approach has cultivated a loyal community around their brand, encouraging more interaction on their posts.
13. Utilise Carousel Posts for Deeper Narratives
Carousel posts which allow up to 10 swipeable images or videos, engage users longer and have a higher engagement rate 1.92% than single-image posts, offering a dynamic way to share more comprehensive stories.
Example: Airbnb (@airbnb) often uses carousel posts to Promote their services and show the serenic experiences of guests. This deeper narrative format allows followers to engage more extensively with their content, resulting in higher interaction rates.
14. Promote User-Generated Content on Instagram
Showcasing content created by your followers can enhance trust and encourage more users to share their experiences with your brand, leveraging the authenticity of user-generated content to boost engagement.
Example: GoPro (@gopro) excels at featuring user-generated content, showcasing the adventures of their customers using GoPro cameras. This not only validates the quality of their product but also encourages more customers to share their experiences, hoping to be featured on the official page.
15. Leverage Instagram’s Analytics for Insight-Driven Content
Utilising Instagram’s analytics helps identify high-performing content types and optimal posting times, allowing for a more strategic approach to content creation and scheduling.
Example: Fashion Nova (@fashionnova) uses insights from Instagram Analytics to understand what types of posts perform best, tailoring their content strategy to feature more of what their audience enjoys, such as influencer collaborations and customer testimonials.
16. Incorporate Videos in Stories for Dynamic Engagement
Videos in Stories add a real and engaging layer to your content strategy, allowing for spontaneous and less polished content that resonates with the audience, encouraging more interaction.
Example: @taarabysamiya makes excellent use of video content in their Stories, sharing and feeds, displaying their collection one by one in each video. This dynamic content keeps the audience engaged and encourages them to interact with polls and questions, deepening the connection.
17. Schedule Posts for Optimal Engagement
Using tools like Later, Buffer, and HubSpot to schedule your posts for peak engagement times ensures your content reaches your audience when they are most active and receptive.
Example: Later, an Instagram marketing platform itself (@latermedia), not only offers scheduling tools but also practises what they preach by posting their content at optimal times. This ensures high visibility and engagement from their target audience of marketers and businesses looking to enhance their Instagram presence.
18. Explore New Interaction Avenues with Your Community
Engaging with your community through behind-the-scenes content, takeovers, contests, and tutorials can significantly increase engagement by offering varied and interactive content formats.
Example: Sephora (@sephora) engages their community with a mix of behind-the-scenes content, makeup tutorials, and user-generated content. They also host contests and Q&A sessions, providing varied and interactive formats that increase engagement and build a stronger community feel.
19. Apply Trending Music to Your Instagram Stories and Videos
Incorporating trending music into your Instagram content can significantly enhance engagement. Music resonates emotionally with users, making them more likely to interact with your posts.
By tapping into current musical trends, you can increase the relevance of your content and encourage users to share your posts, thereby expanding your reach.
Example: A Travel explorer could share beautiful views with the latest pop hits playing in the background. This not only makes the content more enjoyable but also promotes the explored places. It extends the influencer’s reach to potential followers who enjoy both views and the trending music.
20. Buy Likes and Followers for Increased Reach
Purchasing likes and followers might offer a quick boost in perceived popularity, which in turn can influence real users to engage with your content due to the “bandwagon effect.” A higher follower count can make your account appear more credible and attractive to potential followers.
Example: An e-commerce brand like @cupshe launching on Instagram might be tempted to buy likes and followers to quickly establish social proof. Initially, this could make the brand’s profile appear more popular, encouraging real users to follow and engage with the brand’s posts.
Conclusion
To increase engagement, post consistently and at times when your audience is most active. Use high-quality, visually appealing images or videos, and engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages. Utilize Instagram Stories and Reels for more interactive and varied content. Experiment with different content types to see what resonates with your audience. Lastly, consider running contests or giveaways to encourage user interaction.
