Have you ever posted something amazing on Instagram only to end up with 3 likes and 50 impressions? Unfortunately, I’ve been there as well, and more often than I’d like to admit!
That’s why, a few days back, I deep dived into how to increase Instagram engagement and tried to learn how the new algorithm works in 2025. What I found out wasn’t surprising at all. In 2025, the key to getting good views or impressions is dependent on outbound engagement and good content.
That means you need to encourage genuine engagement by commenting on trending posts in your niche. Otherwise, your account will eventually fail, no matter how pretty your grid looks.
In this guide, I’ll show you 15 effective ways to boost your Instagram engagement with real people (not bots). And no, we won’t talk about buying likes or followers! Trust me, there are plenty of authentic engagement opportunities, so let’s check them out!
Instagram engagement refers to the level of interaction and participation that users have with the content posted on the platform. This includes likes, comments, shares, direct messages, and other forms of interaction. The higher the engagement, the more active and involved your audience is with your content.
Why does this matter? High engagement means your audience actually cares about your content. It leads to increased visibility, more followers, and ultimately, more conversions or sales. Low engagement? Your content gets buried by Instagram’s algorithm.
Engagement on Instagram is typically measured through a variety of metrics that track how users interact with a post or account. The most common engagement metrics on Instagram include:
By monitoring these metrics, brands, and businesses can determine the effectiveness of their content strategy and make data-driven decisions to improve their engagement on the platform.
You can take the help of the “Vaizle free Instagram analytics tool” to calculate and analyze your engagement in seconds.
Track Your Instagram Engagement Metrics (FREE of COST!)
You must have noticed that your favourite accounts post like clockwork! That’s not by chance!
Consistent posting keeps your audience engaged and trained to look for your content. When you disappear for weeks then suddenly post five times in a day, you confuse both your audience and the algorithm.
Create a simple content calendar and stick to it. You don’t need to post daily—just be consistent with whatever schedule works for you.
To ensure your content lands on more FYPs and gets more overall visibility, you need to use hashtags strategically. They help users who’ve never heard of you find your content.
But don’t just use #love and #instagram on every post. Mix popular hashtags with niche ones specific to your content and industry. Aim for 5-10 relevant hashtags per post rather than maxing out at 30 generic ones.
For example, a fitness coach might use: #homeworkout #10minuteabs #beginnerfitnessjourney instead of just #fitness.
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Bonus tip: Read about the most Trending Hashtags for Social Media (Industry-Wise)
Everyone loves free stuff! Giveaways create excitement and encourage action.
If you check the data, “Instagram giveaways” is searched by 6.2K people every month globally–which could mean great things for your brand awareness.
As such, structure your giveaway to boost engagement by requiring users to like, comment, tag friends, or share your post. Just make sure the prize is worth their effort and relevant to your audience.
You don’t need celebrities to boost your Instagram engagement. Micro-influencers (with 5,000-50,000 followers) often have more engaged audiences than mega-stars.
For your influencer marketing campaign, pick influencers whose values align with your brand. You might do account takeovers, sponsored posts, or joint live sessions. Their audience becomes exposed to your content, and their endorsement lends you credibility.
For example: Let’s see what Ellos did. This online fashion and home furnishing brand wanted to boost engagement but wasn’t able to deliver results by investing in traditional influencer marketing campaigns. So, they moved to micro influencers and as predicted, they were soon able to achieve their targets.
This simple habit dramatically increases your engagement over time.
When you respond to comments, you double your comment count instantly. More importantly, you show followers you actually care about their input. This encourages them to comment again on future posts.
Try to respond within 24 hours when engagement is highest. Even a simple “Thanks!” is better than silence.
Stories create a sense of urgency and exclusivity that regular posts can’t match.
Use Stories to share behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, or time-sensitive announcements. The 24-hour limit creates FOMO (fear of missing out) that drives users to check your profile regularly.
For more such ideas, check out our blog: 20+ Creative Instagram Story Ideas for Photos!
When followers see you featuring other users’ content, two things happen:
First, the featured user feels special and becomes a super-fan. Second, other followers think “that could be me next” and create content hoping you’ll share it too.
Create a branded hashtag and encourage followers to use it. Regularly feature the best submissions in your posts or Stories.
Reels get pushed heavily by Instagram’s algorithm right now.
These short-form videos capture attention quickly and often reach beyond your existing audience. You don’t need complex editing or professional equipment—authenticity performs better than perfection.
Try creating a quick tutorial, behind-the-scenes glimpse, or trending audio Reel this week and watch your engagement hike.
Instagram Live creates real-time connections nothing else can match.
When you go Live, followers receive notifications—giving you an immediate engagement boost. Use Lives for Q&A sessions, product demos, or interviews with guests in your industry.
The interactive nature of Live videos, with comments appearing in real-time, creates conversations that continue long after you’ve ended the broadcast.
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Meta recently announced changes that they will no longer be storing live videos on their platform for more than 30 days. As such, if you’re planning to use Live video content again in future, remember to save it on your device!
When are your followers actually on Instagram? Posting at 3 AM when they’re all asleep won’t increase your Instagram engagement.
Check your Instagram Insights to see when your specific audience is most active. Schedule your most important posts during these peak times.
Or simply head to Vaizle’s free Best Time to Post on Instagram tool and fill your scheduling calendar already! It hardly takes 5 mins to be done with the entire process.
Outbound engagement is the key to Instagram success in 2025! That’s because the platform rewards accounts that participate actively in the community.
So, spend 15 minutes daily engaging with accounts in your niche. Leave thoughtful comments, share their content in Stories (with credit), and build genuine relationships.
This not only increases your visibility but often leads to those accounts returning the favour—bringing their audience to your profile.
Perfect, polished content doesn’t drive engagement like it once did. Today’s users crave authenticity.
Share the faces behind your brand, admit mistakes, celebrate small wins, and be vulnerable occasionally. This builds trust that translates directly into higher engagement.
Ask yourself: “Would I connect with this content if I were scrolling?” If it feels too corporate or artificial, rethink it.
Carousels are engagement magnets, averaging 3.1 times more engagement than standard posts.
These multi-image posts keep users swiping and spending more time with your content. The algorithm notices this extended engagement and rewards it with higher reach.
Try creating a carousel that tells a story, reveals a transformation, or teaches something step-by-step.
Want comments? Ask for them with thoughtful questions.
End your captions with questions that prompt responses beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” Make them easy to answer but thought-provoking enough to be interesting.
For example, instead of “Do you like these shoes?” try “Which color would you pick for your next adventure, and where would you wear them first?”
Instagram Stories offer built-in engagement tools many brands overlook.
Polls, question boxes, quizzes, and countdown stickers all encourage direct interaction. They give followers a low-effort way to engage with your content while providing you valuable insights about their preferences.
Try rotating through different interactive features throughout the week to keep your Stories fresh and engaging.
You might wonder if all this effort on how to boost engagement on Instagram is really worth it. The answer is absolutely yes. Here’s why:
I’ve shared 15 powerful ways to increase your Instagram engagement, but here’s the real secret: temporary engagement spikes won’t transform your account.
To maintain high engagement, you need to consistently apply these strategies over time. Think of engagement as a relationship you’re building with each follower—it requires regular attention and genuine interaction.
Which of these 15 strategies will you try first? Start with two or three that seem most doable for your current situation, master them, then add more as they become habits.
Your Instagram engagement won’t transform overnight, but with consistent effort, you’ll build an engaged community that genuinely connects with your content.
A good engagement rate on Instagram in 2025 ranges from 2-7% for regular accounts. Micro-influencers (5,000-50,000 followers) typically see rates of 3-8%, while large accounts (100,000+ followers) average 1-3%. Your engagement rate is calculated by dividing total interactions (likes, comments, saves, shares) by your follower count, then multiplying by 100. Rather than focusing solely on industry benchmarks, aim to improve your own rate consistently over time.
For optimal Instagram engagement, post 3-5 times per week on your main feed, with daily Stories updates. Quality always beats quantity—posting high-value content consistently is more effective than posting mediocre content daily. Many successful accounts find that posting every other day provides enough consistency without content fatigue. Monitor your Insights to identify when your specific audience engages most, then adjust your posting schedule accordingly.
Sudden drops in Instagram engagement typically happen for several reasons: algorithm changes, shadowbanning from using banned hashtags, content inconsistency, or posting during low-activity hours. The platform regularly updates its algorithm, which can temporarily affect reach.
Check if you’ve recently used potentially flagged hashtags, significantly changed your content style, or posted outside your audience’s active hours. Engaging with your audience through comments and Stories can help recover your visibility.
Yes, Instagram Reels currently receive 22% more engagement than standard photo posts according to 2025 data. The Instagram algorithm heavily favors Reels content to compete with TikTok, often showcasing them to users who don’t follow you.
For best results, create 15-30 second Reels that deliver quick value, incorporate trending audio, and include text overlays for accessibility. Accounts that post Reels 2-3 times weekly see the highest sustained engagement boost.
Siddharth built two bootstrapped companies from the ground up: Vaizle and XOR Labs. He’s personally managed over Rs 100cr in ad budget across eCommerce, D2C, ed-tech, and health-tech segments. Apart from being a full-time marketer, he loves taking on the challenges of finance and operations. When not staring at his laptop, you’ll find him reading books or playing football on weekends.
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