The Ultimate Guide to Getting More Likes on Instagram

As an Instagram user, gaining more likes and increasing your popularity is likely one of your top priorities. While amassing followers and likes may seem like an uphill battle, with the right techniques and strategies you can start gaining more traction and increase your social proof. In this guide, you'll discover the key steps to gaining more likes on Instagram so you can elevate your account, reach more people, and become an influencer. From choosing the right hashtags to engaging with your audience to running contests, these tried-and-true methods will help you gain more visibility and get your photos and posts in front of new audiences. Get ready to take your Instagram to the next level and become an online sensation.

Use Popular Hashtags to Get Discovered

To gain more likes and increase visibility of your Instagram posts, utilizing popular hashtags is key. Hashtags allow your content to be discovered by new potential followers who are searching for specific topics or interests.

Carefully consider the hashtags you use for each post. Do some research to find the most popular hashtags for your niche or industry that have a high potential of being searched. A good rule of thumb is to use a mix of large, medium and small hashtags.

For example, a large hashtag like #sunset could have millions of posts, a medium size one such as #ig_sunsetlovers has hundreds of thousands and a smaller niche one like #westcoastsunset only tens of thousands. You want to find the right balance of popular yet not too saturated hashtags.

Keep your hashtag list to around 5 to 10 per post for the best results. Using too many hashtags can seem spammy to followers and not using enough reduces your chances of being found. Update your hashtag list regularly based on trending topics and themes in your industry.

Pro tip: Do some research on the best times to post for maximum engagement and utilize those optimal posting times in conjunction with popular hashtags. Posting when the majority of your target audience is active on Instagram will lead to greater visibility and more likes.

In summary, strategic use of popular and niche hashtags allows you to increase likes by gaining new followers and reaching new potential audiences. Curate a list of the top hashtags for your industry and update regularly. Keep your posts optimized by using the best times to post in addition to the most effective hashtags. With regular use of these techniques, you'll gain more likes and followers in no time.

Post at the Best Times for Maximum Likes

To gain more likes on Instagram, posting at optimal times is key. By scheduling your posts during peak engagement periods, you'll maximize your reach and increase the likelihood of attracting likes.

Instagram's algorithm favors recent posts, so aim to post at least 1-3 times per day, spaced out over peak periods. According to recent studies, the best times to post on Instagram are:

• Weekdays during lunchtime, between 11 am to 1 pm. People are on their phones and have some downtime to scroll social media.
• Weekday evenings, between 5 pm to 6 pm. Most people have left work for the day but haven’t started making dinner yet.
• Weekends in the morning, between 9 am to 11 am. People are relaxing, drinking their coffee and catching up on social media.

Of course, your target audience and their habits should guide your posting schedule. You may need to do some experimenting to determine the optimal times for your unique followers. Some additional tips:

•Use an Instagram scheduler like Hootsuite or Later to pre-schedule posts during peak times. This ensures you never miss an opportunity to post at the best times.

•Post on weekdays (especially Mondays and Thursdays) for the most engagement. Weekends see a slight dip in activity.

•Pay attention to what times your own followers are most active and engaged. You can see this information on your Instagram Insights page. Cater to their habits.

•Stay consistent with your posting schedule so your followers know when to expect new content from you. Consistency is key to success on Instagram.

By following these best practices, you'll gain valuable exposure, increase engagement, and ultimately attract more likes on Instagram. Posting at the right times, regularly and consistently is a strategy that simply works. With time and practice, you'll be an Instagram scheduling pro in no time.

Take High-Quality, Engaging Photos

Choose High Quality Photos

To get more likes on Instagram, post eye-catching, high-quality photos. Low resolution, dark, blurry or poorly framed photos will not garner much engagement from viewers and followers.

Make sure your photos are:

• Well-lit. Use natural lighting when possible or proper lighting equipment. Consider how lighting impacts mood and emotion.
• In focus. Keep your subject sharp and clear. Double check that the details of key focal points are crisp.
• Interesting composition. Apply the rule of thirds, frame your shot in an intriguing way, capture unique angles and perspectives.
• Vibrant and colorful. Choose filters and edits that make your photos pop, or capture naturally vivid colors. Our eyes are drawn to bright and bold hues.

-Candid and authentic. While staged photos have their place, viewers tend to prefer raw, genuine moments. Capture people being truly happy or pensive.

Optimize Your Photos

Once you have a high-quality photo, make a few optimizations to maximize likes:

• Enhance lighting and color. Make small adjustments to brightness, contrast, warmth, and saturation. Subtle edits are best.

-Crop and straighten. Cut out excess background space and use the grid to properly straighten horizontal and vertical lines. An uneven, off-kilter photo can be off-putting.

-Apply a filter (if needed). Choose a filter that enhances the mood and complements the photo’s colors and lighting. Make sure the filter looks natural and not overly manipulated.

-Write an engaging caption. A descriptive yet concise caption that sparks interest or tugs at heartstrings can motivate people to double tap. Use emojis and questions to increase comments.

-Tag relevant locations and people. If there are identifiable places or people in your photo, tag them. This makes the photo more discoverable and helps those tagged see it. They may share the photo with their own followers, increasing potential likes.

-Post at optimal times. The hours just after work and dinner are when most people are scrolling through social media. Post between 5 to 7 p.m. for maximum visibility and likes.

With high-quality, well-optimized photos and an effective posting strategy, you'll be raking in the likes on Instagram in no time. Consistency is key, so keep practicing and improving your photos with each post.

Run an Instagram Contest to Increase Likes and Engagement

Running an Instagram contest is an effective way to increase likes and engagement on your posts. By offering an enticing prize related to your brand or industry, you can attract more attention and participation. Here are some tips for running a successful Instagram contest:

Choose a Contest Theme

Select a contest theme that aligns with your brand and will resonate with your target audience. For example, if you sell clothing, consider a fashion-themed photo contest. If you're a restaurant, host a recipe contest. The contest theme should inspire and excite your followers.

Determine the Prize

Offer a prize that your followers will find valuable and want to win. It could be a free product, service, gift card or unique experience. The bigger and better the prize, the more participation and engagement you'll receive. But don't offer something so expensive that it cuts into your profit margins. Find the right balance.

Set the Contest Rules

Establish clear rules to avoid confusion and frustration. Specify who can enter, how to enter, the start and end dates, how a winner will be selected and how the prize can be claimed. Also include any rights you maintain to photos or details submitted as part of the contest. Be transparent and concise.

Promote the Contest

Announce the contest on Instagram and other social media platforms, and include details in your email newsletter. Create an eye-catching graphic with all pertinent info to use in social posts and on your website or blog. Tag influencers and brands related to the contest theme and ask them to help spread the word to their followers. Repeat announcements and updates to keep the contest at the top of viewers' minds.

Select and Announce the Winner

Once the contest closes, select a winner at random or based on the highest number of likes. Double check that they followed all rules. Announce the winner on Instagram, congratulate them publicly and contact them directly with details on how to claim the prize. Be sure to thank all participants for their entries and engagement.

Running a well-designed Instagram contest can provide a boost in likes, follows, shares and overall engagement. Stay active in the contest discussions and engage with participants by liking and commenting on their entries. Successful contests today can lead to even more successful contests tomorrow.

Conclusion

As you work to build your Instagram following and increase engagement, keep experimenting with different types of content and times of posting to see what resonates most with your audience. Play around with popular hashtag trends but also create your own branded hashtag to build community. Engage actively with your followers by liking and commenting on their posts, and replying to their comments on your posts. Stay authentic to your brand's voice and values, post with consistency, use high quality visuals, keep your captions concise yet compelling. With time and practice, you'll gain valuable insights into how to get more likes and grow a dedicated following on Instagram. The key is simply to start posting, learn as you go, and have fun with the process! With the right content and social strategy, you'll be well on your way to becoming an Instagram influencer.