When it comes to building your Instagram community, engagement is a major component.
But how do you increase your Instagram engagement in 2023?
From creating memes to hosting giveaways, we're breaking down 11 tactics to help boost your engagement — so you can watch those metrics soar!
How to Get More Engagement on Instagram in 2023
Here are 11 tried-and-tested ways to increase your Instagram engagement in 2023:
Engage Through Stories Stickers
Create Relatable Memes
Create Shareable Graphics
Share Information in Carousel Posts
Include Call-to-actions
Let Your Personality Shine on Stories
Host a Giveaway
Collab on Instagram Reels
Use the Add Yours Sticker
Post When Your Audience Is Engaged
Use Relevant Hashtags
#1: Engage With Your Audience Through Instagram Stories Stickers
Instagram Stories stickers can be the first step in building a loyal community that feels connected to your brand.
On stories, there are a number of quick and easy stickers to use — like polls, questions, and quizzes to name a few.
One of the most engaging uses of Instagram Stories stickers is the question sticker.
The feature allows you to have direct conversations with your followers — prompt them to ask you questions, or open the floor entirely.
Our advice? Use it to host an AMA (ask me anything).
Once you’ve collected all of the questions, don’t forget to hop on your stories to answer them.
Each time a follower interacts with a sticker, it counts as engagement! So, why not tap on a sticker for your next Instagram Story?
#2: Create and Share Relatable Memes
Simply put: Memes are the way to every user's heart.
They're funny, creative, and relatable — and in 2023, relatability is where it's at.
With the right meme, your audience will be liking, commenting, and sharing your post — regardless of your niche or industry.
For example, you can use branded text and a trending photo that ties into your content pillars, like Melanie Laurene:
Or, source on-brand user-generated content (UGC) and credit the original creator like Later:
Whether someone reposts your meme to their Instagram Story or sends it to a friend, the more your post is shared, the more engagement you'll see.
Wondering where to start? Bookmark this blog post: How to Make Instagram Memes That Go Viral
#3: Create Shareable Graphics
Quotes, graphics, and repurposed tweets are everywhere on Instagram — and they're perfect for driving engagement.
You’ll find that Instagram users love to share quotes on their stories — especially if they’re moving and aesthetically pleasing.
A recent trend is repurposing tweets into Instagram feed posts, and it's just as engaging as it is popular.
Simply screenshot your tweet of choice and pop it on a visually appealing background using an editing app like PicsArt.
Designer or not, you’ve got this!
#5: Include Call-to-actions In Your Captions
Call to actions (CTAs) continue to stand the test of time.
Including a CTA, more specifically, a direct question, in your caption is a sure way to get more Instagram engagement:
Get creative with your questions. Ask for advice, recommendations (restaurants, vacation spots, books), or what type of content they want to see from you.
Another way to drive engagement with CTAs is by encouraging your audience to click the link in your Instagram bio.
Since you can’t include direct links in your Instagram feed post captions, using a link in bio tool, like Later’s Linkin.bio, is a great way to combat this.
With Linkin.bio, you can build a clickable version of your Instagram feed:
When users click the link in your bio, they’ll be able to tap on any image or button and be directed straight to the links you’ve provided.
This can be a landing page for a product launch, a blog post, your YouTube channel, and so much more!
Ready to drive more traffic from Instagram? Join Later today to turn your Instagram feed into a clickable landing page!
#6: Let Your Personality Shine Through on Instagram Stories
If you want to drive engagement on Instagram, letting your personality shine is a great place to start.
Stories are the perfect format for chatty, informal interactions — share a personal anecdote, ask questions, and show your face!
The popular podcaster and influencer Alexandra Nikolajev frequently jumps on Instagram Stories to talk with her community:
Likewise, Later’s social team shows up on stories with tips or behind-the-scenes content:
Even as a brand, it’s important to show your face every once in a while. Your followers want to see that you’re more than a logo.
Looking to level-up your Instagram Stories strategy? With Later’s Instagram Stories scheduler, you can prep a whole week’s worth of stories in one go — create an account today:
#7: Host an Enticing Giveaway
Everyone loves free stuff.
And with this knowledge, it only makes sense to include giveaways in your Instagram strategy —but not just any giveaway.
In 2023, giveaways need to be intentional, enticing to your existing and target audience, and authentic to your brand:
Whether it’s a product, service, or experience, with the right prize up for grabs, you’ll be sure to rack up engagement.
TIP: The tag, follow, and share entry requirement giveaway format is a straightforward and clear way to gain tons of engagement on a single post.
#8: Collab on Your Instagram Reels
Instagram Collabs are a new way to boost engagement on Instagram.
The Collabs feature allows you to invite someone to collaborate on a Feed post or Reel, so that they can share the content with their followers:
Essentially, you can co-author content with a fellow Instagram user, and the post will appear on both of your profiles.
This way, you’ll be able to share views, likes, and comments — allowing you to leverage and engage with each other’s communities.
#9: Inspire Your Community With the Add Yours Sticker
With the introduction of the Add Yours sticker, it’s now easier than ever to create a viral challenge with your audience.
From summer highlights to creators encouraging users to share embarrassing childhood pictures, the Add Yours sticker could be your ticket to engagement success.
If you’re a skincare company, try asking your followers to share their morning routine. Or if you’re a photographer, ask your audience to share their favorite photos:
The sky’s the limit with this trendy feature – you could reach hundreds of new accounts from one single sticker. Talk about engagement score!
#10: Post When Your Audience Is Most Engaged
Posting when your audience is most engaged is a great tactic for boosting engagement.
At Later, we analyzed over 11M posts, and found that the best time to post on Instagram is 4 AM.
However, your own personal best time will vary based on your audience's behavior. So, how do you know when your audience is most engaged?
With Later’s Best Time to Post feature, the tool automatically calculates your top posting times based on your best performing posts from the recent month:
Your best times will be highlighted in your weekly content calendar, making it easy for you to schedule Instagram posts for when your audience is most likely to engage.
That way, you can capitalize on audience engagement without thinking twice — game-changer!
Later’s Best Time to Post feature is available on all paid plans. Upgrade now to find the best days and times to post on Instagram for maximum engagement.
#11: Use Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags are, first and foremost, a reach tactic — but greater reach typically equals higher engagement levels.
In a recent Later study, results showed that posts with 30 Instagram hashtags received the highest engagement rates, on average.
The trick to encouraging the most engagement possible? Make sure your hashtags are tapping into niche communities that resonate with your content.
TIP: If you're struggling to come up with hashtags, use Later’s Instagram hashtag tool, Hashtag Suggestions, to help find relevant hashtags.
And there it is — 11 ways you can creatively increase your Instagram engagement in 2023.
Next time you’re planning and strategizing your content, try to incorporate these tips and watch the engagement roll-in!
Sign up to Later and start scheduling your Instagram posts today! Your Instagram engagement will grow in no time.
