How to Get Instagram Likes in 2026

It’s no secret that Instagram influencers can make decent money. But if you’ve spent any time on this platform posting content without a plan, you also know that getting the likes you crave isn’t as easy as you’d like. It takes a bit more than just taking a picture and posting it with a catchy caption.

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How to get Instagram likes in 2026

If you want to get more likes on Instagram, you need to have a strategy for Instagram worked out. If you’re wondering how to get more likes on Instagram, you’re in luck – you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do to get more likes and engagement on your Instagram posts, Stories, Reels, and IGTV.

1. Find your target audience
2. Research the competition
3. Try different content
4. Share catchy posts
5. Share more video content
6. Use Instagram Stories
7. Write catchy captions
8. Add a call-to-action option
9. Post consistently at the right time
10. Use the right hashtags properly
11. Promote through ads

What are Instagram likes and why do they matter?

Likes on Instagram are essentially other people telling you they like your content. And let’s face it, it’s nice to open the platform and see all those lovely little notifications letting you know that your content is resonating with people, right? Of course, it’s nice when your posts get likes, but these hearts mean quite a lot for Instagram influencers who are hoping to increase their reach and authority on this platform. Instagram likes are one of the ways the Instagram algorithm decides which content gets to a larger audience and which creators have an easier time sharing their content. Think of them as rating signals similar to what search engines look for when determining how to index and rank web pages.

And just because Instagram plays around with hiding the number of likes a post receives doesn’t mean you should think they matter less. Although the number of likes is not public, the number of likes is still an important signal of influence for the platform, so it’s essential that you create an Instagram marketing strategy aimed at getting more likes and engagement with your content. Keep reading and check out our tips for getting more likes!

How to get more likes on Instagram: 11 tips

Getting more likes and followers on Instagram isn’t easy. Just ask any of the top Instagram influencers how much time and energy they’ve invested in building their followers – and how much time and energy it takes to continue growing. But just because it’s not easy doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, there are three areas you can focus on and start your journey to getting more likes right now:

Create better Instagram content: What you publish on Instagram matters. Because Instagram is such a visual social media platform, it’s important that your content is visually appealing. The content you publish has a major impact on who you attract to your account, and if it’s not great, people won’t stick around.
Promote your content: Once you create great content, you need to promote it using cross-posts, hashtags, and other tools.
Collaborate with other creators: Taking over brand accounts, partnerships, and even just engaging with content posted by other creators can significantly help your content get more likes and engagement.
Now that we’ve covered three key areas to focus on, let’s dive deeper into what exactly you can do in each of these areas to increase the number of likes and engagement you get on your Instagram content.

1. Find your target audience early

One of the most important things you can do to get more likes on Instagram is to find your target audience. You don’t need to be everything to everyone, and you shouldn’t try. Your target audience is your people, those who are interested in what you care about. Write your Instagram profile with this target audience in mind and build your content marketing strategy around reaching them. This type of targeting practically guarantees that you’ll get the genuine likes you’re after.

2. Research your competitors

Just as you should know who your target audience is, you need to know and understand your competitors too. This can also help you get new ideas for content you want to create and share on your own Instagram account. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll copy them. But definitely look at what they’re posting, and pay special attention to content they share that excites their audience. Adapt this content to your own style. You can even look at who their most engaged followers are and start following them and engaging with their activities to attract them.

3. Test different content

While Instagram started as a place to share beautiful photos, it has gradually evolved into a multidimensional platform that offers lots of opportunities to experiment with the content you provide. Testing different types of content will keep your content fresh and keep your audience engaged. Over time, you’ll discover what types of content really resonate with your audience, so you can focus more on them. Here are a few ideas for different types of Instagram content you can try:

Action quotes

Yes, we know. Posting quotes on Instagram can be boring. However, we’re not talking about “Live, laugh, love”. We’re talking about quotes that directly relate to your brand and your industry, like fitness influencer Hayley Madigan does:

Behind-the-scenes photography

Users are increasingly interested in the everyday lives of influencers and brands they follow on the platform. Your audience follows you for a reason – usually because they like you, your products and services, or the content you provide. Sharing what goes on behind the scenes is an easy way to connect with your followers on a deeper level. This is why corporate influencers like Chalene Johnson are so popular. She regularly shares what’s happening in her life, giving her followers great value even if they’re not members of her marketing academy. If you’re not excited about the idea of sharing information about every aspect of your personal life, you can take a page from the Lobmeyr Lighting page and only show behind-the-scenes content from your business operations:

Using carousels (multiple images)

Carousels are a great way to share collections of images with your followers. You can showcase multiple products, a collection of photos from a photo shoot or event, sets of user-generated content, or even tell a story using carousel posts. Comic creator Alec With Pen uses carousel posts to share different panels of a single comic:

4. Share compelling photos

Instagram is a highly visual social media platform. If you want more people to view your content and achieve more likes, which result from reaching a wide range of people, you need to share visually appealing content. To make your content stand out, you can do two simple things: take high-quality photos and use filters consistently.

If you have a smartphone, you’re fortunate to already have a high-quality camera at your disposal that’s ideal for taking amazing shots. To get the most out of your smartphone camera, choose a location with great natural light for photography, and make sure there isn’t too much happening in the background. Additionally, choose a filter that will make your photos stand out, and stick with it. While it can be fun to play around with filters, using the same filter on all your photos contributes to your visual identity and makes it easier for your followers to identify your photos in crowded feeds because they “look” like you.

Travel influencers are excellent at both taking beautiful shots and consistently using filters.

5. Post More Video Content

Video is incredibly engaging and stands out amid the endless static images in crowded Instagram feeds. We recommend posting more video content, especially content that doesn’t rely on sound. Tutorial videos are particularly popular on Instagram. Including captions is important for reaching users who don’t listen to audio while browsing (and there are plenty of them). Plus, captions are great for accessibility, which is rightfully becoming a hallmark of brands and influencers who post content not just to boost sales.

6. Use Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are one of the marketing trends on Instagram whose usage continues to grow. They offer brands and influencers the opportunity to be more authentic and genuine. You don’t need video production for this popular Instagram content. You can also now highlight Stories that you want to keep available for longer than the standard 24 hours. This is incredibly useful if you find yourself constantly answering the same questions from followers, or if you want to draw attention to user-generated content or share promotional offers.

7. Writing Engaging Captions

If you want to get more likes on Instagram, your captions need to be engaging and interesting. While a beautiful image is enough to catch attention, your followers will expect something more. We recommend sharing a story in your caption, your thoughts or feelings associated with the image, and making it personal – either share something about yourself with your followers or relate the image and caption to them. You can also ask your followers questions to encourage their engagement. Your images will make users slow down their scrolling, but your captions are what will make them engage.

8. Include a Call to Action

Your Instagram posts should include a simple call to action. It can be something as simple as asking followers to “double-tap” if they agree, or to follow the link in your bio. There are also plenty of accounts that use a call to action to expand their reach by asking their followers to tag a friend.

9. Post Consistently (at the Right Time)

For your content to have the best chance of reaching your target audience, you need to post it when your audience is most active on Instagram. While the best time to post on Instagram can vary depending on the type of content you’re posting, your niche, and who your target audience is, research can provide you with some good starting points:

HubSpot research found that the best time to post is on Thursday between 2 and 3 p.m.
According to Sprout Social, the best times to post are Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday between 10 and 11 a.m.
Expert Voice also found that the best days are Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Later doesn’t specify a day, but found that the best time of day to post is 9-11 a.m. Eastern Time.
We recommend testing engagement at different times and days to find what works best for your specific audience. This doesn’t mean you can never post outside the best time you’ve found, but your most important content should be posted at that time. You’ll likely be posting more than once a week anyway.

10. Use the Right Hashtags the Right Way

Hashtags carry significant weight on Instagram. They are a great way to reach potential followers and customers, and if you operate in a specific location, you can even use targeted local hashtags to reach customers near you. Although the optimal number of hashtags to use tends to change, Chalene Johnson recommends using 10-20 hashtags, including your own branded hashtag.

You’ll want to include a mix of hashtags that are relevant but not too narrowly focused. And while it’s important to follow trends and trending hashtags, don’t use them unless they relate to what you’re posting or are relevant to your brand and niche. Using unrelated hashtags can get your content in front of more Instagram users, but that doesn’t mean they’re your target audience.

We also recommend adding hashtags to your Instagram profile to help users find you in search and increase brand awareness. Since the bio itself is not searchable, hashtags are a great way to show visitors what you’re about.

11. Promotion Through Paid Ads

If you have the budget for it, Instagram ads can be a great way to reach people who don’t yet follow you on this platform. Instagram and Facebook share the same advertising platform, which allows for highly targeted ad campaigns that can really expand your reach for little money. Using a combination of organic content and paid ads is one of the best ways to reach people who are interested in your products and services but may not have heard of your brand or know that you’re on Instagram.

Get More Instagram Likes Easily and Quickly

Getting more likes on Instagram can help your brand grow and reach a wider audience. While the 11 ways to get more Instagram likes we’ve outlined here are an excellent starting point, it’s not the only option available to you. Another great way to expand your audience and gain more likes on the platform is to connect with influencers and other brands.

There is also great value in engaging with your followers when they comment on your content, as well as collaborating with other influencers and brands on their own content. After all, it’s social media, so a big part of achieving success is being social. You can tag important accounts in your content, comment on popular content from others, and follow more people in your field to increase your own followers – and an increased follower count brings more opportunities to gain likes!

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