Instagram. It’s where my morning coffee gets its 15 seconds of fame, and where I’ve spent an embarrassing number of hours curating captions that would make Hemingway proud. It’s the platform where you can feel like an influencer one day—riding high with a steady stream of likes—and completely invisible the next. (Seriously, where did all the comments go on that post I spent 45 minutes perfecting?)

For anyone who’s tried to grow their presence on Instagram, you know it’s not just an app; it’s a full-on relationship. And like all relationships, it takes work—consistent, thoughtful, and sometimes painstaking work. You can’t just post a picture and call it a day. Sure, we all dream of that viral moment, but the reality is that real growth comes from engagement—the kind that goes beyond hitting the heart button. It’s about building connections, sparking conversations, and making your followers feel something—whether it’s laughter, nostalgia, or that “Oh, I needed to hear this today” vibe. That’s the magic of Instagram.

When I first started on Instagram, I thought it was all about pretty pictures. Don’t get me wrong—those perfectly staged, minimalist photos were beautiful, but they weren’t enough to build a thriving community. The real secret? Engagement. It took me a while to realize that the real value on Instagram comes from understanding why people click that like button or take the time to comment. It’s not about the algorithm—it’s about connecting with your audience in a way that resonates with them.

Once I cracked the code, everything changed. Suddenly, posts weren’t just images—they were conversations. Posts became invitations for my audience to share their thoughts, tag a friend, or even slide into my DMs to keep the conversation going. Once I saw that spark of engagement, I knew I was onto something.

In this article, I want to share not just the strategies that turned my Instagram game around, but the secrets behind some of the most engaged accounts on the platform. From influencer marketing moguls like Chiara Ferragni, who seamlessly blends personal branding with style, to meme accounts that get people talking with nothing but a quick, hilarious caption, there’s a treasure trove of wisdom to learn from.

Take Glossier, for example. The beauty brand has made engagement an art form—consistently responding to comments, reposting UGC (user-generated content), and involving their followers in the conversation. It’s no surprise that they’ve built a loyal community of passionate brand ambassadors. Or look at Nike, whose Instagram account isn’t just filled with motivational quotes but encourages followers to share their own stories, turning their community into a global movement.

But it’s not just the big players. Small accounts, too, have cracked the code. I follow a small business that sells quirky socks (because I’m obsessed with socks). Their feed isn’t about perfect product shots; it’s about interaction. Their captions are filled with playful questions, and they engage with every single comment. The result? A loyal following that feels like part of the brand, not just customers.

So, how do you build that kind of engagement? How do you turn your followers into a community that cares? In the next sections, I’ll break down some proven strategies to help you skyrocket your Instagram engagement. These aren’t just random tips; these are the exact tactics used by some of the most successful accounts to connect, converse, and create thriving communities. Let’s dive in.

INSTAGRAM ENGAGEMENT – 10 TOP STRATEGIES

1. Mood Marketing

2. Use Stories to Spark Conversations

3. Embrace Carousels for More Depth

4. Collaborate with Creators Who Get Your Vibe

5. Post When Your Audience is Awake

6. Keep Reels Relatable

7. Respond Like a Human

8. Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC)

9. Slide Into DMs (Nicely)

10. Be Consistent, Not Perfect

2. What is Instagram Engagement? (It’s Not Just Likes and Comments)

Ask most people what Instagram engagement is, and they’ll likely respond, “Likes and comments.” And while that’s not entirely wrong, it’s far from the full story. Engagement isn’t just about surface-level interactions; it’s about how your audience connects with your content on a deeper level. It’s the difference between a casual observer and a loyal fan who saves your post, shares it with friends, or sends you a heartfelt DM.

Let’s look at how some of the most successful Instagram influencers and brands define engagement beyond likes. Take Emma Chamberlain, for instance. Her quirky and relatable style has earned her millions of followers, but her true success lies in how deeply her audience interacts with her content. People don’t just double-tap her posts; they comment detailed responses, tag friends, and share her videos and memes. When she posts a carousel of her daily outfits or a behind-the-scenes coffee-making process, her fans flood the comments with genuine questions and funny observations. Emma’s connection with her audience goes beyond admiration—they feel like they’re part of her world.

Another prime example is beauty mogul Huda Kattan of @hudabeauty. Huda’s engagement strategy goes beyond showcasing her stunning makeup looks. She frequently asks her followers for input—polls on which shade they prefer, questions about their beauty struggles, or even requests for product reviews. These tactics invite her audience to be co-creators, giving them a sense of ownership in her brand. When her followers respond to her Stories or vote in a poll, that’s engagement.

Let’s break down what real Instagram engagement looks like, beyond just likes and comments:

1. Saves: The Hidden Gold Mine

When someone saves your post, they’re saying, “This is valuable, and I want to revisit it.” It’s one of the most underrated forms of engagement. For example, fitness influencer Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) often posts quick workout routines and meal ideas that her followers can save for later. These saves signal that her audience finds her content practical and useful, and it keeps them coming back for more.

2. Shares: The Ultimate Compliment

Getting shared to someone’s Story or DMs is like a virtual high-five. It’s the ultimate form of endorsement because your audience is essentially saying, “This content is so good, I want my friends to see it too.” Meme accounts like @tank.sinatra thrive on this kind of engagement. Every time someone shares a funny meme with a friend, it expands the account’s reach and solidifies its relevance.

3. DMs: Where Real Conversations Happen

Direct messages are one of the most overlooked forms of engagement. Influencers like Chiara Ferragni (@chiaraferragni) often use DMs to deepen their connection with followers. When she shares a behind-the-scenes moment from her glamorous life, fans slide into her DMs with reactions, questions, or personal anecdotes. These interactions may not be visible to the public, but they’re a testament to how deeply engaged her audience is.

4. Polls, Quizzes, and Stickers: Interaction Made Easy

Interactive Stories are engagement powerhouses. Consider an influencer like James Charles (@jamescharles), who frequently uses polls and “Ask Me Anything” stickers in his Stories. Whether he’s asking followers to choose his next makeup look or answer questions about beauty trends, these tools make engagement easy and fun. Every tap is a micro-interaction that strengthens his bond with his audience.

5. Profile Visits and Link Clicks: Curiosity Equals Connection

When someone takes the time to visit your profile or click a link in your bio, they’re showing more than casual interest—they’re intrigued. Food bloggers like Half Baked Harvest (@halfbakedharvest) are experts at using stunning visuals and captions to drive traffic to their profiles and recipe links. These actions translate into deeper engagement and even conversions, whether it’s signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a cookbook.

6. Comments That Spark Conversations

It’s not just about the number of comments—it’s the quality. Take Brandon Stanton from Humans of New York (@humansofny). His posts regularly receive thousands of thoughtful comments because they tell real, emotional stories. People don’t just comment; they pour their hearts out, sharing similar experiences or offering words of encouragement to the people featured in his posts.

3. Why Does Instagram Engagement Matter?

Let’s get one thing straight—Instagram engagement isn’t just a vanity metric. It’s not just a number to show off to your boss, your clients, or your friends. It’s the heart and soul of your account. Without it, your content is basically a whisper in a crowded room—faint, unnoticed, and quickly forgotten. And yes, I learned this the hard way.

A few months ago, my engagement took a nosedive. Posts that used to bring in a steady flow of comments and likes suddenly felt like they were invisible. My reach tanked, my motivation took a hit, and I found myself Googling, “Is Instagram dead?” (Spoiler: it’s not, but sometimes it feels that way.) I blamed the algorithm, like we all do, but when I really sat down to analyze things, I had to admit something painful: the problem wasn’t Instagram. The problem was me. I had lost touch with my audience.

And that’s the thing about engagement—it’s not about tricking the algorithm or finding the perfect posting time (though that helps). It’s about connection. When your followers engage with your content, they’re not just boosting your metrics—they’re telling you they care. And when people care, amazing things can happen.

Engagement Boosts Visibility

First and foremost, engagement gets your content seen. Instagram’s algorithm is like a dog with a treat—if people are interacting with your post, the algorithm says, “Oh, this must be good!” and serves it to more people. It’s a virtuous cycle: engagement drives reach, and more reach brings in more engagement.

Let’s look at someone like Chiara Ferragni (@chiaraferragni), who basically wrote the handbook on Instagram engagement. Her posts aren’t just beautifully shot; they’re relatable and interactive. Whether she’s sharing moments with her kids or behind-the-scenes clips from her fashion empire, her followers are all over it. They’re tagging friends, commenting with heart emojis, and saving her posts for future outfit inspiration. Chiara’s engagement levels mean her posts reach even more people, keeping her at the top of the fashion influencer game.

Engagement Builds Trust

This is where things get a little more emotional. Engagement isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust. If people are liking, saving, or commenting on your posts, it means they feel a connection to you. It’s like they’re saying, “I trust you to entertain me, inspire me, or solve my problem.”

Take Negin Mirsalehi (@negin_mirsalehi). If you’ve ever scrolled through her feed, you’ll notice it’s not just aspirational—it’s interactive. She asks her followers questions about her outfits, polls them on new product ideas for her brand Gisou, and genuinely replies to comments. When she posts a behind-the-scenes look at her day, her DMs light up with reactions from her fans. This back-and-forth creates a sense of loyalty, turning casual followers into die-hard fans.

Engagement Drives Conversions

Now let’s talk about the money. At the end of the day, we’re all on Instagram for a reason, and for many of us, that reason is business. Engagement is what turns your audience from followers into customers.

I’ll give you a great example: Danielle Bernstein (@weworewhat). She doesn’t just post pretty pictures of herself wearing her clothing line. She makes her audience part of the process. She’ll post polls asking which color they prefer for a new design or share a Reel showing multiple ways to style one piece. This creates a sense of investment—followers feel like they’ve had a say in the product, and when it launches, they’re more likely to buy. And yes, every like, save, and DM also makes her post more visible, which ultimately drives more sales. It’s all connected.

Engagement Creates Community

This is probably my favorite part of engagement—it’s not just about growth or sales. It’s about building a community. When your followers feel like they’re part of something, they’re not just interacting with your content; they’re rooting for you.

One of my favorite examples is Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines). Her account isn’t just about fitness; it’s about empowerment. She doesn’t just post workout videos; she asks her followers to share their progress, their struggles, and their wins. When someone comments about how they completed one of her workouts, Kayla often replies with a heartfelt, “Amazing job!” That small interaction makes a huge impact. It turns followers into fans and fans into advocates.

Engagement Is Feedback in Disguise

Here’s the thing about engagement that most people overlook: it’s feedback. If a certain type of post gets tons of comments or saves, it’s your audience saying, “More of this, please!” Conversely, if a post flops, that’s also valuable information.

Matilda Djerf (@matildadjerf) is a pro at this. She regularly tweaks her content based on what her audience responds to. If her neutral outfit photos get more saves than her colorful ones, she knows to lean into that aesthetic. Engagement isn’t just about boosting your numbers; it’s about learning what your audience loves—and giving them more of it.

10 TOP Strategies to Improve Instagram Engagement (and Real-Life Examples)

Instagram is like a puzzle, and engagement is the piece that holds everything together. If you’ve ever wondered how some influencers consistently get thousands of comments and shares while others struggle, it comes down to strategy—and not the complicated, overproduced kind. Real engagement is about being personal, relatable, and interactive. Here are 10 tried-and-true strategies to boost your Instagram engagement, with examples from some of the best influencers in the game.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #1. Mood Marketing: How Emotional Captions Drive Instagram Engagement

Let’s kick things off with one of my all-time favorite strategies: mood marketing. Emotional mood captions for Instagram can turn a casual scroll into a moment of connection. They don’t just encourage a double-tap—they invite people to feel something.

Take Danielle Peazer (@daniellepeazer), a fitness and lifestyle influencer. Instead of just posting a workout picture with “Leg day!” as the caption, she shares personal insights, struggles, or uplifting messages. One recent post featured her mid-yoga pose with the caption:
“Some days it’s not about nailing the pose, it’s about showing up. What’s one thing you’ve shown up for today?”

The comments were flooded with heartfelt responses, from people sharing their small victories to others thanking her for the reminder. According to captions app by Dubs.io, the power of an emotional caption is tremendous—it builds a dialogue, not just a feed.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #2. Use Stories to Spark Conversations

Stories are the casual, no-pressure side of Instagram. You don’t have to be polished; you just have to be present. They’re the perfect place to ask questions, run polls, and share behind-the-scenes moments.

Look at Negin Mirsalehi (@negin_mirsalehi). She uses Stories to engage her audience by asking for their opinions on upcoming Gisou products or even simple things like, “Which outfit should I wear today?” It’s not just about clicks—it’s about making followers feel involved. When Negin shared a poll asking followers to choose between two potential honey-infused lip balm flavors, not only did it create engagement, but it also gave her valuable feedback for her business.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #3. Embrace Carousels for More Depth

Carousels let you tell a story, dive deeper into a topic, or share multiple angles of the same idea. They’re Instagram’s version of “swipe for more.”

Fashion influencer Matilda Djerf (@matildadjerf) does this brilliantly. She often posts carousels showing one outfit styled in five different ways, with captions that explain her thought process for each look. Not only do her followers save these posts for future inspiration, but they also comment with their own ideas or preferences, sparking even more engagement.

Pro tip: Don’t just use carousels for photos. Use them to share tips, tutorials, or “before and after” transformations.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #4. Collaborate with Creators Who Get Your Vibe

Collaborations are Instagram gold. Partnering with creators who share your aesthetic or values can introduce your brand to a whole new audience while boosting engagement.

Lifestyle influencer Aimee Song (@aimeesong) frequently collaborates with other creatives, whether it’s through joint posts or Story takeovers. For instance, her partnership with a sustainable jewelry brand wasn’t just about showcasing the product—it was about sharing why she personally connected with their mission. Her followers responded with thoughtful comments, and the brand gained visibility.

The key? Collaborate with creators who feel like an authentic extension of your brand, not just someone with a big following.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #5. Post When Your Audience is Awake

Timing can make or break your post’s engagement. The best time to post is when your audience is actively scrolling—and this varies depending on your niche and location.

For example, fitness influencer Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) knows her audience is most active in the early mornings and evenings (probably before and after their workouts). She times her posts and Stories accordingly, ensuring her content appears when her followers are most likely to engage. Use Instagram Insights to identify your peak times and plan your posts around them.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #6. Keep Reels Relatable

Reels are Instagram’s current darling, and they’re perfect for creating quick, relatable, and shareable content. The trick is to balance trendiness with authenticity.

Take Chriselle Lim (@chrisellelim), who mixes humor and real-life moments into her Reels. One viral Reel showed her struggling to pack for a family trip, with the caption: “POV: Packing for 4 people but only have time for 1 suitcase.” It was short, funny, and completely relatable—earning her thousands of likes, shares, and comments.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #7. Respond Like a Human

Engagement is a two-way street. If someone takes the time to comment on your post, don’t just reply with a heart emoji. Make it personal.

Chiara Ferragni (@chiaraferragni) is a master of this. If you scroll through her comments, you’ll notice she often replies to her followers with genuine, thoughtful responses. If someone compliments her outfit, she might share where she got it or say thank you in their native language. These small touches make her followers feel valued and seen, which keeps them coming back.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #8. Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content is a win-win: your followers get the thrill of being featured, and you get authentic content that boosts engagement.

An example? Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard , twin fashion influencers, often encourage their followers to tag them in outfit recreations. They frequently reshare their favorites in Stories, creating a loop of engagement. When your followers know they have a chance to be featured, they’re more likely to interact with your content.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #9. Slide Into DMs (Nicely)

Direct messages are where the magic happens. Whether it’s responding to a follower’s question or thanking them for sharing your post, DMs allow for deeper, more personal connections.

Jessica Wang (@jessicawang), a fashion and tech influencer, often uses DMs to interact with her audience. After posting a tutorial on using smart gadgets in her home, she encouraged followers to DM her with questions. This sparked hundreds of conversations, turning followers into loyal fans who felt like they had direct access to her.

Instagram Engagement Strategy #10. Be Consistent, Not Perfect

Instagram rewards consistency, not perfection. It’s better to show up regularly with authentic content than to wait for the “perfect” post.

Take influencer and entrepreneur Jenna Kutcher (@jennakutcher). She’s open about her journey as a mom, business owner, and creative, sharing both wins and struggles. Some of her most engaging posts are the ones where she admits she doesn’t have it all figured out. Her followers connect with her realness, proving that you don’t need perfection to make an impact—you just need to show up.

Conclusion: Connection Over Perfection

At the heart of it, Instagram engagement isn’t about mastering some secret algorithm hack or crafting the most aesthetically pleasing grid. It’s about something much simpler and infinitely more powerful: connection. People don’t come to Instagram to admire perfection—they come to feel something. Whether it’s a caption that makes them laugh, a story that makes them think, or a post that inspires them, engagement is born from emotional resonance, not flawless execution.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of trying, failing, and finally figuring it out, it’s this: People don’t just want content. They want connection. They want to feel seen, heard, and understood. And the best part? You don’t need to be perfect to achieve that. You just need to be you.

Your Followers Want to Know the Real You

Think about the influencers you engage with the most. Chances are, they’re not the ones with the most polished posts or the most curated feeds—they’re the ones who feel authentic. They’re the ones who aren’t afraid to share the messy parts of their journey, the behind-the-scenes chaos, or even their mistakes.

Take Matilda Djerf, for instance. Her content isn’t just a showcase of perfectly styled outfits—it’s a window into her life. Whether she’s sharing the ups and downs of running her fashion brand or simply posting about her morning coffee, her followers feel like they’re part of her world. That’s why they engage.

You don’t need to have a perfect aesthetic or the most expensive camera equipment to connect with your audience. What you need is realness. Show your followers who you are, quirks and all. Let them see the human behind the account. That’s what builds trust—and trust is the foundation of engagement.

Consistency Over Perfection

Consistency is far more important than perfection. Your audience isn’t expecting you to have it all figured out; they just want you to show up. Regularly posting content, engaging in conversations, and sharing pieces of your life—these small actions add up over time and create a sense of reliability that keeps your followers coming back.

Take Kayla Itsines as an example. She doesn’t post perfectly edited videos of her workouts; she posts what’s achievable for her audience. Her captions are a mix of encouragement and relatability. Whether she’s sharing her favorite recipes or her toughest workout days, her followers feel like they’re on the journey with her.