*updated for 2022!*
So, let’s have some real talk.
Instagram has been around for over a decade now and so many of us are still confused about how to keep up with all of the changes they make each year. They’re making updates to their design, platform, and algorithm all of the time.
In order to increase your engagement, it’s important to understand how Instagram changes. Here are some of the top updates Instagram has made recently:
Instagram’s 2022 Updates
Planoly came out with a fabulous article about IG’s new updates and a recap on 2021 updates. I’ll include a few here, but the full list is on their blog.
For example, IG showed us how to improve engagement and reach more people in 3 ways:
- “Post Reels often
- Use fewer hashtags
- Prioritize video and shopping”
Another update:
- EVERYONE can share links on stories now (no longer the 10K threshold – say what?!)
*Insider tip from Planoly: Apparently, Adam Moressi, Head of Instagram, posts on his IG profile often about updates and new initiatives at IG. Follow him to keep up with the news!
Instagram Updates Constantly
Instagram is making useful updates like this all of the time. The more they keep users on the app, the more they succeed. They keep users on their app by:
- Finding meaningful content to show on posts and stories
- Making the platform easy to use for users, both business and non-business account
Despite their best efforts to be helpful, SO many of us lose sleep over trying to figure our Instagram’s engagement algorithm. And we’re all over here focusing on trying to get our posts seen by a smidgen of our following. I mean, Instagram has its algorithm for engagement and visibility down to a science.
As of right now, it’s pretty simple – if your posts are not getting engaged with (liked, commented, shared, etc.), Instagram will not show it on people’s feeds unless they are scrolling for days.
So, our main goal is to get people to see and engage with our posts!
You DO NOT do this by asking your mom to comment every time you post or join engagement groups. You DO NOT do this by playing the follow/un-follow game to increase the audience size you have.
Instead, you can do this by creating relevant, valuable content for your followers. It takes a butt-load of work for some of us. Others, it seems to come easily. But for those of you who are ready to put in some work, let me give you 3 tips to boost your engagement and visibility on Instagram!
1. Use the Collab Feature (2022 addition)!
The Collab feature is new and allows anyone on IG participating in a collobartion to share the same post at the same time rather than everyone doing it separately. This encourages networking and building relationships with others, which in turn will help your account interact with new users.
This is an upper funnel activity in the marketing funnel – the users you want to gain with a collab are brand, spankin’ new and the best way you’ll reach them is through someone else they trust. You will easily show to new profiles and when you collaborate with people in the same industry as you (or you both target the same audiences), they will be people who want to interact with you and your brand.
2. Emoji in the First Line of Post Copy
Using emojis in the first line of copy brings higher engagement on your Instagram posts because people can easily identify with a small emoji than a bunch of text. Just like the classic saying goes… “emojis speak a thousand words…” so use them to describe what your post is about! Find the best emoji that will help people resonate with your post and image. Kelsey Floyd has a great example with her launch of her presets using a hands-up emoji (Kelsey is a fun influencer to follow, by the way!).
3. USE CAPITAL LETTERS
WAIT, WHAT?! Did I just get your attention there? Capital letters make people stop and re-read what was stated. This might seem a bit odd – and I would use this sparingly– but, use capital letters in a word, phrase, or sentence to generate a HUGE call to action. People will stop and look at the post because the text is larger than what they’ve previously seen in their feed. This is something that definitely works, BUT if it’s overused, it will not stand out amongst the crowd.
So, there you have it! I hope this helps you boost engagement on Instagram – and actually, on all of your social media platforms. These engagement tips can be used on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. Let me know if you use them by using #almarketing and tagging me on Instagram @annaloaderphoto.
I can’t wait to hear how increasing your engagement on Instagram goes.
Need more ideas to up your Instagram game? Check out my free guide: 5 Ways to Boost Instagram Engagement
