13 Ways to Increase Instagram Engagement: Data-Backed and Expert’s Insights

Boosting social media engagement isn’t about the number of posts, but about aligning your content with a clear, purposeful strategy.

In this article, I’ll break down the key strategies behind Instagram’s most engaging accounts, based on my experience and some tips I got from marketing expert Emily Huffer. So, if you're looking for how to get more engagement on Instagram, you're in the right place. 

Without further ado, let me walk you through how to build a strategy that attracts followers and fosters authentic connections.

What counts as engagement on Instagram?

When you hear about engagement on Instagram, you should know it implies more than just liking photos (though we love that too). 

It’s all about the interaction that turns a passive scroll into active participation. 

Thus, understanding and leveraging engagement metrics is key to shaping a successful Instagram strategy. 

Here’s how they break down:

1. Likes: The classic. While likes may not carry as much weight as they used to, they still show up as one of the most straightforward signals of interest. If you want to get a sense of how appealing your post is, likes are a good starting point.
2. Comments: Comments are like the in-depth, personal reviews of your content. They show that people are thinking about what you posted and taking the time to reply. More comments? Your content is sparking conversation.
3. Shares: This one’s golden. When people share your post in their stories or send it to others, they’re doing your promotion work for you. Shares are a strong signal that your content resonates on a deeper level.
4. Saves: Another underrated gem. If users save your post for later, it means they see it as valuable enough to revisit. Whether it’s for inspiration or a quick reference, saves are a major indicator of long-term interest.

All of these are part of the broader Instagram metrics ecosystem, which gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what your audience loves. 

The more you understand what counts as engagement, the better you can tailor your content to keep people coming back for more. 

Top strategies to get more engagement on Instagram that work today

It’s time to get strategic. 

With insights from industry experts and real data, let’s break down proven Instagram engagement tips to help you create effective content for social media:

 1. Double down on your most engaging content pillars

To truly optimize your Instagram engagement, you need to focus on what’s already working first.

By analyzing your social media content pillars—those specific themes or types of posts that define your feed—you can identify which ones are generating the most interaction. 

The key? Double down on the content that’s hitting the mark.

Take a look at this example from Gatorade. 

By comparing the number of posts against the engagement each content pillar generates, they were able to spot their biggest opportunities. 

For instance, content around Fitness Challenges & Events and Nutrition & Healthy Habits drove significant engagement. Recognizing this, Gatorade can now invest more in these areas to fuel even more interaction.

This approach allows you to make smarter content decisions, increase your impact, and ensure your social media content is always evolving with your audience’s preferences.

2. Leverage more carousels

When it comes to social media tactics that really work, carousels are your best friend. 

Data from Socialinsider’s Instagram benchmarks report shows that carousels generate the highest engagement across Instagram, outperforming even Reels. 

This makes them a powerful tool for getting more Instagram engagement, as they are great for increasing time spent on your post. And the algorithm loves that.

Carousels are a great way to tell a story, showcase multiple products, or share a series of tips, all while keeping the audience hooked. 

And one key trend is the use of bold, vibrant colors paired with minimalist design. 

A prime example is Owala, a brand that knows how to use carousels to keep its audience engaged. 

In this carousel, they showcase a playful, relatable gift guide using vibrant visuals and witty copy that speaks directly to their target audience. 

My opinion? This keeps their followers engaged, making them swipe through to see more of what Owala has to offer, while subtly encouraging them to make a purchase with a time-sensitive call to action.

3. Post Reels between 60 and 90 seconds

When it comes to Instagram Reels length, data from Socialinsider’s social media video statistics shows that videos of 60 to 90 seconds see the highest engagement rates. 

Why does this time frame work so well? 

Well, because it balances viewer attention span and delivers enough content to keep them hooked. 

Videos that are too short may not provide enough value or context, while those that are too long risk losing the audience’s attention halfway through. 

The 60-90 second window strikes a perfect balance by offering enough time for storytelling or information delivery without feeling rushed or dragging on.

To leverage this, aim to keep your Reels concise but packed with value. Make every second count, engage your audience from the start, and deliver a clear message within that perfect time window.

4. Apply Instagram SEO best practices

One of the key ingredients in any Instagram success story is Instagram SEO, and it's not a one-time fix. It’s a collection of ongoing actions to ensure your content stands out and doesn’t get lost in the feed.

The goal? Make your profile and posts as discoverable as possible, so the algorithm pushes your content to the right people. 

Start by thinking like a search engine. 

Use relevant keywords in your captions, bio, and story highlights to ensure you're searchable. Don’t just rely on the most popular hashtags. Those are oversaturated. Instead, mix them with niche hashtags that speak directly to your target audience, increasing your chances of reaching the people who matter most.

But remember: social media optimization goes beyond hashtags. It’s about fine-tuning every aspect of your profile. 

Make sure your bio is keyword-rich and informative, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and use geotags to increase visibility in local searches. Keep your content diverse and interactive. And don’t forget to leverage alt text for accessibility and to further boost discoverability.

When these elements are aligned, your content becomes easier to find, making your engagement grow organically.

And since I mentioned earlier, I'll share some tips from a chat I've had with Emily Huffer, Account Lead at Creator Match, here's an insight she had in store for you:

Google started pulling Instagram posts into their search results this past July, so it's more important than ever to make sure you include relevant keywords because now, not only can people search and find your content within the social media platform, but your content also has the ability to be seen within Google's results now, too. A quarter of people GLOBALLY use social media as their primary search engine, so if you're not thinking about the performance of your posts' searchability, you'll be left behind. 

 5. Optimize your posting strategy

​​In the world of Instagram, timing and consistency are everything. 

To truly create engaging Instagram posts, make sure that content reaches your audience when they're most likely to interact with it:

Posting frequency

First, let’s talk about how often you should post. 

According to Socialinsider’s benchmarks data, brands typically post an average of 5 times per week on Instagram. 

This frequency strikes the right balance, ensuring that your content stays relevant without overwhelming your audience. 

Best time to post

Equally important is posting at the right time. 

Socialinsider makes it easy to track when your audience is most active with data that shows the ideal times to share your content. 

For Gatorade, for example, Monday at 7 PM consistently gets the highest engagement. 

This peak aligns with the habits of their audience, likely engaging post-workout or after a busy day. By posting at these optimal times, your content gets a higher chance of being seen and interacted with.

Ultimately, understanding these two key factors gives you the insight to optimize your strategy and drive measurable results. 

Here's my takeaway: by testing, tracking, and adjusting your approach, you’ll see higher engagement and stronger connections with your audience.

6. Engage with your community

​​If you ask me, I'd say that one of the most effective ways to increase engagement on Instagram is by actively engaging with your community. 

Social media is all about connection, and showing your Instagram target audience that you're listening can do wonders for building loyalty and driving interaction.

Respond to comments, engage with your followers' content, and ask questions in your posts and stories to spark conversations. When your audience feels seen and heard, they’re more likely to return the favor by interacting with your content more regularly. 

It's also essential to engage with your followers in real-time through Instagram’s interactive features, such as polls, quizzes, and the Q&A option on Stories. These features encourage participation and make your audience feel like they're a part of your brand's journey.

7. Leverage collaborations

I think that one of the most powerful Instagram engagement strategies is collaborating with other brands. 

When you team up with a brand that aligns with your values or aesthetic, you’re able to reach new audiences and drive buzz around your content. It's a great way to get in front of people who aren’t already following you, which leads to greater exposure and engagement.

Take Starface’s recent collaboration with Hello Kitty, for example. 

By partnering with a beloved brand, they tapped into an existing fanbase while creating a unique, limited-edition collection. 

The Hello Kitty x Starface collection featured playful, eye-catching designs and was marketed as a limited supply—an approach that not only draws in fans of both brands but also creates a sense of urgency. If you ask me, I think this is a great example of how to reach non followers on Instagram. 

The excitement generated by the collab encourages fans of Hello Kitty to interact with Starface's content, engaging in a way they might not have otherwise.

 8. Run strategic interactive campaigns

Here comes one of my all-time go-to for increasing engagement on Instagram: User-Generated Content (UGC). It’s hands down one of the best ways to connect with your audience and build loyalty.

And of course, I couldn’t go forward without mentioning Fenty Beauty, a brand that’s truly nailed UGC. 

They built an entire community by encouraging their followers to post using products and hashtags like #FentyFace.

When you share your followers’ content, you show them you value them, and that’s how a loyal, interactive community is built.

So, if you want to boost engagement, get your audience involved. Whether it’s reposting their content or running a fun hashtag challenge, UGC is the key to building a more connected and engaged community.

And here's Emily's take on the usage of UGS as well.

I love how Forbes describes the benefits of UGC, which is "the validation prospective buyers need and existing customers provide about a product or service. Put simply, social proof is someone else’s stamp of approval." Posting UGC can also encourage other customers to create content, tag the product, and add to the overall value that UGC provides in helping promote a brand or product from a more authentic/native perspective than a sterile brand ad.

 9. Integrate memes into your strategy

Okay, now my favorite part of a social media content strategy: memes! 

Seriously, they’re a game-changer. 

So if you’re still wondering how to create engaging content on Instagram, memes are one of the easiest and most effective ways to connect with your audience. 

They’re relatable, shareable, and, let’s face it, just plain fun.

Memes allow you to show off your brand’s personality and make your content feel less “stuffy” and more human. 

Plus, they’re a great way to tap into trends and pop culture, making your brand seem more current and in-the-know. Whether you’re using memes to make a point or just add some humor to your feed, they bring an authenticity that followers love.

Here's Emily's perspective as well:

Memes are a great way to convey relatability, humor, and provide a sense of humanization that is needed for many brands to connect with their audience. At the end of the day, most people are browsing social media to be entertained, so if your brand can find a way to do this through memes, I think it's a good idea to at least test it for most industries.

There will always be "more serious" brands whose tone of voice may not align perfectly with memes, and most likely an executive team that would be against posting memes, however, if performance is down and you have a team willing to test some new content ideas, I think you should (just make sure you're posting memes legally and not using celebrities!!!)

10. Use CTAs

If you want to increase Instagram engagement, using CTAs (Calls to Action) is a must. 

Simple and direct prompts like What do you think? or Tag a friend who’d love this encourage your audience to engage with your posts. 

The best part? When followers know exactly what you want them to do, they’re more likely to take action. 

So, make your CTAs clear and relevant to your content, and you’ll see the engagement come to life.

11. Get insights from top-performing posts

In my view, another powerful way to get more engagement on Instagram is by analyzing your top-performing posts. 

While engagement rates and comments are great indicators of success, don't overlook the value of shares and saves. 

These metrics often provide deeper insights into how your audience is interacting with your content. 

For example, a high share rate indicates that your followers find your content valuable enough to pass on to others, while saves suggest that your post resonates deeply with your audience, prompting them to revisit it later.

When looking at how to interpret social media analytics, it's essential to track these additional metrics as they reflect true content value and long-term engagement potential. 

For instance, in the image below from Socialinsider, we can see that Gatorade's posts with high views and comments also received impressive engagement in shares and saves. 

These metrics can help you discover patterns and content ideas that resonate with your target audience.

Thus, by focusing on these deeper metrics in your social media data collection, you can refine your strategy and create content that builds long-lasting engagement over time.

12. Use competitive data to get content ideas

One of the smartest ways to boost Instagram engagement is by analyzing competitive insights—essentially, taking a closer look at what your competitors are doing on the platform. 

Why is this important? 

Social media competitor analysis allows you to stay in the loop and see what trends, formats, and styles are getting the most interaction. Instead of guessing what might work, you can base your content strategy on real data. 

For example, you might discover that a certain type of content is getting a lot of attention, giving you direct Reels ideas to try out.

Luckily, tools like Socialinsider make this process even easier. 

They allow you to do competitive monitoring, so you can compare your posts with those of competitors in real time. With the competitive benchmarking feature, you can track how your content stacks up, uncover gaps in your own strategy, and adjust accordingly to boost engagement.

And Emily adds:

I keep up with competitors and check out what they're posting on a regular basis, but it can be hard to judge engagement rate and impressions when you don't know what has paid spend behind it. I also think it's even important to find inspiration outside of your respective industry. Let's not just be better than what our competition is doing, let's look at who is doing the best social media marketing and strive to be more like them. 

3. Leverage experiments to see what your successful recipe is

The best part of a social media campaign is experimenting. 

It’s the trial and error that helps you find the winning formula for engagement. Testing different content styles, formats, and strategies allows you to figure out what truly resonates with your audience. 

For instance, if you’ve had success on other platforms like TikTok, take a closer look at what made those channels work and try to adapt that for your Instagram audience.

Each experiment gives you valuable data on what your Instagram target audience enjoys, and over time, you’ll develop a more successful content strategy tailored to them. 

So, keep testing new ideas and learn from your results to find the right recipe for your Instagram success.

And lastly, but not least, Emily's one final insight:

Social media changes on a regular basis. You can't expect what worked six months ago still works today. Repurpose content into different post types, talk to your team about trying new formats or working with different types of creators (show examples to help sell your case), post on your own socials if you don't have full creative freedom to test what you want, and never stop learning.

One of the worst things a brand can do is limit their social team to following only what has been approved within a dated strategy doc. In the year 2025, social media strategies should be seen as guidelines, not guardrails.  

Final thoughts

So, we’ve unpacked the strategies to take your Instagram game to the next level. 

Now it’s your turn to make it happen. 

The key is to stay authentic, stay creative, and always keep your audience at the center of it all. 

Engagement is all about building real connections. Try out these tips, have fun with the process, and don’t be afraid to experiment. 

You’ve got this!

FAQs on how to boost Instagram engagement

What types of visuals are most engaging on Instagram?

Engaging visuals on Instagram are authentic, high-quality, and emotionally resonant. Bright, eye-catching images, relatable videos, and carousels with text overlays work best. Content that tells a story, evokes humor, or showcases real-life moments tends to spark more interaction and shares.

How to create shareable content?

To create shareable content, focus on relatability, humor, and inspiration. Think about how your audience can see themselves in your post, whether it’s through personal experiences, viral trends, or helpful tips. Content that resonates emotionally or sparks curiosity is more likely to be shared.

Emily Huffer even said:

When it comes to creating shareable content, I typically start with the question How can my audience see themselves in this post?

This often leads to posting something that leans more into relatability, humor, or travel inspiration. 

Earlier this year, Instagram provided great shareable content pillars that can create share-worthy content. This is how I use it:

• The gift "this is kinda your thing" - post example: a specific itinerary that focuses on a destination your best friend has always wanted to go to 
• The mirror "this is so us" - post example: the "type A and type B" viral trend that happened this year that depicts two polar opposites who travel together (one plans everything, the other shows for the vibes)
• The idea "we should do this" - post example: the best way to use your loyalty status to get the best deal on your next vacation
• The gossip "have you seen this" - post example: a travel hack that you didn't know you needed
• The mood "that's our vibe" - a carousel slide of where you should travel next year depending on personality type