How to Increase Your Reach on Instagram in 2026
Instagram is perhaps the busiest and largest social media platform. It is the sixth most popular mobile app with more than a billion active users. However, it is not just the large audience that makes Instagram a perfect marketing platform for growth.
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Instagram is a highly targeted visual marketing platform that allows you to build a consistent audience. But how can you get the lion’s share when so many companies are competing for post engagement?
Instagram Engagement and Reach
Before we find out how to gather real Instagram followers, let’s consider what Instagram engagement actually is.
On social media platforms, engagement rates are considered a way of measuring follower loyalty to your brand. But did you know that it’s not about how large your audience is — what matters more is the engagement rate with your specific brand? Their interaction with your content is key. Your followers’ interactions with and interest in your videos, stories, and photos are what count toward success. Data metrics such as engagement rates are useful when you spend on paid campaigns. How?
If your brand has a high engagement rate, you will be in a better position to negotiate with brand ambassadors and influencers who can advertise on your behalf at lower rates. Similarly, influencers who have engaged followers can request higher rates from potential clients.
Now let’s explore how to increase Instagram engagement.
Here are 14 strategies that can increase your Instagram followers and likes:
1. Use hashtags.
Hashtags are a powerful weapon on platforms like Instagram. Relevant and accurate hashtags will help your business reach the right audience and increase Instagram likes. However, for the best impact, you still need to use the right hashtags. You can use research tools like Hashtags For Likes. This tool will help you find hashtags for your niche and brand. Simply enter a hashtag into the search box and instantly receive useful statistics. This is an AI-powered tool that can also find the top hashtags without any manual effort — it simply needs your Instagram username. The hashtags you use must be relevant to your posts, products, brand, and the message you want to convey. Tools like HashtagsForLikes will organically help you reach your target audience.
2. Post meaningful content.
Posting useful content is the best way to gain real Instagram followers. This type of content motivates users to interact with your brand. It’s not just about compelling captions and images — it’s also about the type of content. You want to create and share content that demonstrates real product value to your users.
Example: If you run a pet grooming salon, you can share before-and-after photos of pets that have used your salon’s services. You can also add your clients’ success stories to the photos.
3. Host contests and giveaways.
One of the best things on Instagram is when a user tags their friend in a comment. These comment tags work wonders for increasing your Instagram likes and, consequently, engagement. They instantly add new members to your following. You can take advantage of these comments by regularly hosting contests and giveaways.
But how do you plan and post giveaways?
Fortunately, there are tools for this as well. VYPER is one such tool. On VYPER, you can design a landing page for your contest or giveaway. With a drag and drop page builder tool, you can create your landing page without any prior coding knowledge. It allows you to easily accumulate potential customers.
Example: You can host regular giveaways where you ask users to tag others in exchange for the giveaway items.
4. Make use of Instagram Stories.
Did you know that approximately 300 million people use Instagram daily? These users spend nearly thirty minutes on the Instagram Stories page. What better way to engage your Instagram followers than by sharing blooper videos and behind-the-scenes photos with them?
Example: The car brand Renault used Instagram Stories to promote its Twingo Midnight model for millennials.
5. Use geotags.
Using geotags and hashtags, you can make your stories and posts discoverable. Local businesses can make the most of geotags by adding them to their posts. Using geotags allows you to engage with posts from users located in the same physical vicinity. Geotags are especially beneficial for businesses offering services.
6. Use Instagram Feed Themes.
They help add visual appeal to your Instagram posts. This feature gives your brand additional appeal and is sure to increase Instagram likes and followers. Options range from a simple black and white theme to something very colorful and elaborate.
If your business focuses on a recurring product, you may opt for a mono theme.
7. Find the right filters.
The platform is about attracting an audience with visual appeal. A simple way to achieve this is through Instagram filters. Each filter has its own design appeal. This will add a new dimension to your posts. Some popular filters are:
- Valencia
- X-Pro 2
- Juno
8. Use Story Highlights on your profile.
Once a visitor comes to your page, there are only a few seconds left in which you can convert them into an Instagram follower. The “Highlights” feature will allow you to do this. An Instagram Story will only last 24 hours. However, Highlights will extend the duration of the story and reach your visitors.
9. Connect with followers through comments.
An effective way to increase engagement is to interact with users who comment on and like your posts. Take time each day to post comments and “talk” with your audience.
How will this help you?
First, when you respond to a user’s comments, they will feel special. This increases the likelihood that they will remain loyal to you and subsequently engage with your Instagram account on a regular basis. This method continuously boosts Instagram engagement.
10. Interact with similar accounts.
This is a smart tactic that will help you closely monitor competitors. It goes a step beyond simply “spying” on competitor accounts. Interacting with similar accounts allows you to keep track of the types of content they post. It also allows you to engage with their audience.
To use this technique, find Instagram accounts that are similar to yours. “Talk” with their followers, including users who frequently add comments to their images and posts. The type of relationships you can build this way will pay you back. They will also find your content interesting and engaging.
11. Experiment with posting times.
One strategy that can boost real Instagram followers is posting on your business page at the right time. You can maximize engagement by publishing content when most of your followers are likely browsing their post feeds.
How do you find out the right time to post?
You can use Instagram’s analytics tool. This will give you a clear picture of when your audience visits you online. When you post at that moment, you will gain additional engagements within minutes of publishing. This counts more than engagements gained later. You can take a proactive step and use a tool like Sprout Social’s Social Media Publisher. This tool allows you to schedule posts to be published later.
12. Pay attention to follower engagement
Instagram is not about interactions and micro-conversions. That’s what Twitter is about. Instead, it’s about publishing high-quality content. What can you do?
Keep your posting limit to one or two videos or photos per day. If you post more, you risk damaging your engagement rate due to follower fatigue. You will lose Instagram followers if they assume you are spamming frequently. This will ultimately lead to a decrease in engagement.
13. Add a call to action to your post.
This is a simple action where you ask your audience to leave comments. You can then invite them to interact with you. This is very beneficial. That is why it is very important to include a call to action in your captions.
What can CTAs achieve?
They encourage visitors to engage through comments. They invite them to spend more time on your post. This is a simple yet effective way to boost Instagram engagement and subsequent growth. Use this tactic on your giveaway page.
14. Measure and optimize.
To ensure you are doing everything correctly, continuously analyze your data. Then optimize accordingly. Knowing what you are doing wrong will allow you to improve your Instagram engagement rate.
What steps can you take?
Use Instagram’s tool to check the performance of your content. It will also give you a picture of your audience’s behavior. However, you need a business Instagram account for this. You can also evaluate your brand’s engagement rate by entering your profile name into an engagement calculator.
Are you ready to boost engagement on Instagram?
To increase the number of likes and followers on Instagram, you need to improve the engagement rate on the Instagram platform. Experiment with the strategies mentioned in this blog. Let us know how it goes!
Tools to improve your reach can also be found here
If you want results right away, you can get an Instagram followers and likes package right now.
Michal Záruba je specialista na digitální marketing a konzultant v oblasti sociálních médií a SEO. Více než 8 let pomáhá značkám růst online prostřednictvím strategického obsahu, optimalizace pro vyhledávače a efektivní komunikace na platformách jako LinkedIn, Instagram a YouTube.
Na svém blogu sdílí praktické tipy o tom, jak propojit SEO, sociální sítě a brand building do jedné funkční strategie. Zaměřuje se na to, jak firmy mohou využít moderní nástroje a algoritmy k tomu, aby jejich značka nezískala jen dosah, ale i důvěru.
Když zrovna netvoří obsah, přednáší o digitálním marketingu, školí týmy a sleduje nové trendy v AI a vyhledávání.