Change is the name of the game…when it comes to Instagram, at least. It seems like as soon as you’ve got the algorithm figured out, and you’ve got your social strategy in place, Instagram changes it up again. Not sure how to go about boosting your Instagram engagement? This blog is for you.

You don’t need to worry, because we’ll always keep you updated with the latest tips on social media, including boosting your Instagram engagement. And with that being said, we’re here to bring you the scoop on what’s actually working. 

Here are five secrets to boosting your Instagram engagement—that actually work!

1. Be Present, Post Later (And Post Better)

Treat each social media post like a well crafted business offering. Take your time, slow down, and wait to post until you have time to post well. This means you’ll need to intentionally set aside time for social posting every day.

Not only will this prevent you from accidentally posting a photo that doesn’t match your feed or posting too many emojis rather than a well-thought-out caption, you’ll also get to experience the present moment rather than spend your time trying to capture it. 

Once you’re in that space you’ve set aside for posting, you can carefully edit your photos and videos, think about what value you want to provide through your caption, and be strategic about any tags you’re including. And most importantly, you’ll have the time to engage with your followers in real time. 

2. Be Yourself (All Parts Of Yourself)

With all of the perfectly curated feeds out there, it can feel tempting to try and do the same. While we absolutely value beautiful feeds, we want to see more than your polished business services and products. Show behind the scenes, share your personality, flaunt your quirks, and be relatable. 

We suggest picking five things that you love and making sure to post about these five things in addition to your offerings. Maybe choose one or two to post about and include the rest in your stories, then switch it up the following week. For example, you may want to feature your partner, your dog, your morning ritual, your outfit of the day, or your favorite recipes. Pick out hobbies or passions that set you apart from the crowd. 

3. Remember Your Call To Actions

A call to action is an essential component of every post if you want to boost engagement. Your call to action should encourage followers to comment, share, and most importantly save your post. While a call to action is typically a question that prompts users to like, comment, you’ll also want to start including “save this post for later!” or something similar that will remind people to save your post. If you’re using a phrase like this, you’ll want to make sure your post provides useful tips, a how-to, recipe, or valuable information that users will actually want to save. 

Don’t forget to promote your newsletter. While we’re big fans of social media here at Southern Social, we also know how important it is to build your email list. From time to time, let your call to action prompts followers to sign up for your newsletter. Our tip? Offer a freebie that comes from signing up for your newsletter.

Some other tips include saying things like “double tap if you agree”, or “tag your friend who…” to get new followers and ultimately increase engagement.

4. Be Purposeful With Your Hashtags (Yes, They Do Matter!)

You can increase your chances of engagement by 12.6% simply by including hashtags. You may find yourself getting in the habit of using the same handful of hashtags for every single post, but this technique is no longer doing you any favors. Be sure to use different hashtags every time you post, keeping in mind the kinds of things your ideal followers or clients would search for. 

We also recommend including both big and small scale hashtags. Don’t shy away from hashtags with a million tags, but also be sure to include plenty of smaller hashtags where you could rank high in an explore page.

5. Think Of Engagement As Building Community

Gone are the days where we mindlessly comment and “engage” with people we don’t know in hopes that they’ll follow us. And instead of getting on Instagram and simply scrolling through your feed for entertainment, hop on and intentionally spend some time encouraging those you follow and those who follow you. Build a community of supportive entrepreneurs and influencers who will not only engage with your page in return, but could also end up being part of your business network..and dare we say, your friend group!

See Instagram as an opportunity to connect with others rather than a place for you to gain followers. With this shift in perspective your network will grow faster than you could ever imagine, but with real people who are doing good things in our world and in your industry.