How to Get Instagram Likes in 2026

It’s no secret that Instagram influencers can make decent money. However, if you’ve spent any time on this platform posting content without a plan, you also know that getting the coveted likes isn’t as easy as you’d wish. It requires 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 fortunately in the right place. In this article, we’ll guide 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 your 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 option
9. Post consistently at the right time
10. Use the right hashtags correctly
11. Promote through ads

What are Instagram likes and why do they matter?

Likes on Instagram are clearly other people telling you that they like your content. And admit it, it’s nice to open the platform and see all those cute little notifications letting you know that your content resonates with people, right? Of course, it’s nice when your posts get likes, but these hearts mean quite a lot to Instagram influencers who hope to increase their reach and authority on this platform. Instagram likes are one of the ways Instagram’s algorithm decides which content reaches 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, don’t think they matter less. Although the number of likes isn’t 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 on your content. Keep reading and check out our tips on how to get more likes!

How to get more Instagram likes: 11 tips

Getting more likes and followers on Instagram isn’t easy. Just ask some of the best Instagram influencers how much time and energy they’ve devoted to 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 on your journey to getting more likes right now:

Create better Instagram content: What you post on Instagram matters. Because Instagram is such a visual social media platform, it’s important that your content is visually appealing. The content you post 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: Brand account takeovers, partnerships, and even just engaging with content posted by other creators can go a long way in getting your content more likes and engagement.
Now that we’ve covered three key areas to focus on, let’s dive deeper into exactly what 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 to be. Your target audience is your people, those who care about what you have to say. Write your Instagram profile with this target audience in mind and build your content marketing strategy around reaching them. This kind of targeting practically guarantees that you’ll get the real likes you’re looking for.

2. Study your competitors

Just as you should know who your target audience is, you also need to know and understand your competitors. 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 the 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 multifaceted 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 find out what types of content really resonate with your audience, so you can focus more on them. Here are some ideas for different types of Instagram content you can try:

Action quotes

Yes, we know. Posting quotes on Instagram can be boring. But 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 photos

Users are increasingly interested in the daily 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’s happening behind the scenes is an easy way to connect with your followers on a deeper level. This is why business 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 thrilled about the idea of sharing details about all aspects of your personal life, you can take a page from Lobmeyr Lighting and only show behind-the-scenes content of your business operations:

Using carousels (multiple images)

Carousels are a great way to share collections of images with your followers. You can show multiple products, a set of photos from a shoot or event, user-generated content sets, 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 engaging photos

Instagram is a highly visual social media platform. If you want more people to look at your content and achieve more likes as a result of 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’s camera, choose a location with great natural light for your photography, and make sure there isn’t too much happening in the background. Additionally, select a filter that will make your photos striking, 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 amazing at both taking beautiful shots and consistently using filters.

5. Post More Video Content

Video is incredibly engaging and stands out among 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 sound while browsing (and there are many 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, and their usage continues to grow. They offer brands and influencers the opportunity to be more honest and authentic. You don’t need video production for this popular Instagram content. You can now also 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 grab attention, your followers will expect a little more. We recommend that you share a story, your thoughts, or feelings associated with the image in your caption, and make 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 get users to slow down their scrolling, but your captions are what will get them to engage.

8. Include a Call to Action

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

9. Post Consistently (at the Right Time)

To give your content 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 may vary depending on the type of content you’re posting, your niche, and who your target audience is, there is research that can provide you with several good starting points:

HubSpot’s research found that the best time to post is on Thursdays between 2 and 3 p.m.
According to Sprout Social, the best times to post are Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Fridays between 10 and 11 a.m.
Expert Voice also found that the best days are Wednesdays at 11 and 3 p.m.
Later doesn’t specify a day, but found that the best daily time to post is 9-11 a.m. Eastern Time.
We recommend testing engagement for 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’re likely to be posting more than just once a week anyway.

10. Use the Right Hashtags the Right Way

Hashtags carry a lot of weight on Instagram. They’re 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. While the optimal number of hashtags to use tends to change, Chalene Johnson recommends using 10-20 hashtags, including your own brand hashtag.

You want to include a mix of hashtags that are relevant but not too narrowly focused. And while it’s important to track 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 isn’t 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 advertising 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 covered here are an excellent starting point, they’re not your only option. Another great way to expand your audience and get more likes on the platform is to connect with influencers and other brands.

There’s also great value in engaging with your followers when they comment on your content, and also 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. In your content, you can tag important accounts, comment on popular content from others, and follow more people in your industry to increase your own followers – and increased followers bring more opportunities to get likes!