When you look at the list of the most-liked Instagram posts of all time, some themes start to emerge. Soccer players show up a lot. So do Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (often together, even though they broke up literally a decade ago).
One thing you don’t see much of on the “most-liked post” list is small businesses. Weird, right? You know who could change that? You could. After reading this list.
So what if Lionel Messi got over 75 million likes on his post about winning the World Cup, and your posts about sales and new products average, well, six. Dream big or don’t dream at all, am I right?
Social media these days is full of voices vying for attention. And for entrepreneurs and business owners, standing out in such a crowded space can feel daunting, especially among such voices as the Grammy-winning one responsible for crooning “Never Say Never” and “Beauty and a Beat.”
So among the millions of posts uploaded daily —and the billions of likes being slung around —how do you make sure your content doesn’t get lost in the noise? We’re here to help you navigate the Instagram algorithm and boost your likes. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear roadmap to increasing engagement, building a loyal social media community,and maybe even posting the next most-liked post on the platform. World Record Egg, look out.
Are Instagram Likes Important?
You might be wondering if likes still hold the same weight they once did, especially since Instagram started hiding them on some posts. Yes, they do still matter in 2024 — and they should be part of your social media strategy.
Instagram began experimenting with hiding likes in 2019 to promote mental well-being among users. The goal was to reduce the pressure and anxiety associated with the number of likes a post receives, shifting the focus back to content quality and authentic engagement.
Even though likes may not always be visible to the public, they still play a crucial role in Instagram’s algorithm. Here’s how:
- Posts with higher engagement (likes, comments, shares, and saves) are more likely to appear at the top of your followers’ feeds.
- Popular posts have a better chance of being featured on the Explore page, reaching users who don’t yet follow you.
- Likes still serve as validation, signaling to others that your content is valuable and worth their time.
Plus, some posts still do have visible likes. That means when users can see them, they offer the same benefits they always have. Humans are inherently social creatures who often look to others for cues on how to behave. When users see a post with a high number of likes, they’re more inclined to view it favorably and engage with it themselves. This phenomenon, known as social proof, can amplify your content’s reach and impact.
Understanding Instagram’s Algorithm in 2024
To outsmart the algorithm, you first need to understand how it works. Instagram’s algorithm determines what content appears in users’ feeds based on several key factors:
- Engagement: Posts that receive more interactions (likes, comments, shares, and saves) get prioritized.
- Relevance: The algorithm predicts how much a user will care about a post based on past behavior.
- Relationships: Content from accounts that a user interacts with frequently is more likely to appear in their feed.
- Timeliness: Newer posts are favored over older ones.
By creating content that fosters engagement and building strong relationships with your audience, you increase the likelihood of your posts being seen and liked.
Instagram Metrics That Really Matter
While likes are important, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Let’s explore other critical metrics that help give you a holistic view of your Instagram performance:
Engagement Rate
Engagement rate measures the level of interaction your content receives relative to your follower count. It’s a key indicator of how well your content resonates with your audience.
How to calculate it:
Example: If your post has 200 likes and 50 comments, and you have 5,000 followers:
Engagement rate = (200 + 50 / 5,000) x 100 = 5%
Follower Growth Rate
A steady increase in followers indicates growing brand awareness and potential reach.
How to calculate it: Track the percentage increase in followers over a specific period.
Example: If you had 1,000 followers last month and have 1,100 this month:
Follower growth rate = (1,100 – 1,000 / 1,000) x 100 = 10%
Comments and Shares
Comments and shares signal deeper engagement, showing that your content sparks conversations and is worth sharing with others.
How to measure it: Monitor the average number of comments and shares per post, and look for trends over time.
Example: A spike in comments on a particular post may indicate that the content resonated strongly with your audience.
Reach and Impressions
Reach refers to the number of unique users who see your content, while impressions count the total number of times your content is viewed.
How to measure it: Use Instagram Insights to track these metrics for each post.
Example: High impressions but low reach might mean your content is being viewed multiple times by the same users, indicating strong interest.
Story and Reel Metrics
Stories and Reels offer additional avenues to engage your audience. Key metrics include:
- Views: Number of times your Story or Reel has been watched
- Replies and reactions: Direct feedback from your audience
- Completion rate: Percentage of viewers who watched your Story or Reel from start to finish
Example: A high completion rate on a Story suggests that your content is captivating and holds viewers’ attention.
12 Proven Strategies To Boost Your Instagram Likes
Ready to elevate your Instagram game? Here are 12 actionable tips to help you get more likes, grow your online community, and enhance your overall engagement.
1. Perfect Your Profile
Your profile is your digital storefront. It’s often the first impression new visitors have of your brand.
Start by adding a high-quality profile picture. Choose a high-resolution logo or a professional headshot that represents your brand, and make sure your profile picture is consistent across all social media platforms for better brand recognition.
Then, optimize your bio text. Craft a compelling bio that conveys your brand’s mission and values. Incorporate keywords that describe your business to improve discoverability. And encourage visitors to take action, such as visiting your website or checking out your latest product.
2. Create High-Quality Content
Content is king on Instagram. High-quality posts are more likely to attract likes and followers.
Use these professional photography tips:
- Natural light often yields the best results.
- Use the rule of thirds to create balanced and engaging images with professional composition.
- Use editing apps to enhance your photos, but avoid overdoing it. Studies show that edited photos (especially those that use filters) get fewer likes.
When it comes to your grid, create a consistent aesthetic by posting photos with color schemes that represent your brand. Decide on a visual theme (e.g., minimalist, vibrant, or vintage) and maintain it across your posts. For example, a bakery might use warm tones and close-up shots of their pastries to create an inviting, mouthwatering feed.
3. Use Instagram Features Effectively
Leveraging Instagram features like Reels, Stories, and IGTV can increase your content’s visibility.
- Reels are the place for short, engaging videos. Create 15- to 30-second clips that entertain or educate your audience and use popular sounds and filters, like trending songs, to increase their reach.
- Stories are a great place for sharing things like behind-the-scenes content. Post glimpses of your daily operations to humanize your brand, and use polls, quizzes, and question boxes to engage followers.
- IGTV is similar to Reels but built for long-form videos. Post videos longer than one minute to dive deeper into topics, and create episodic content to keep viewers coming back.
4. Engage With Your Audience
Building relationships with your followers encourages loyalty and boosts engagement.
Encourage more engagement, including likes on your posts, by responding to comments. Aim to respond within 24 hours to show you value people’s input, and personalize your responses with the user’s name and by addressing specific points they mention.
Sweets brand Milk Bar nails it when it comes to chatting with fans.
There are also other ways to boost engagement. End captions with open-ended questions to prompt comments, or use a call-to-action to encourage followers to tag friends or share their thoughts.
5. Utilize Hashtags Strategically
Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing your content’s visibility if you use them correctly. Start by doing your research. The goal is to find hashtags relevant to your business, but look for niche tags. Targeted hashtags have less competition and attract a more engaged audience. Then, on your posts, use a mix of broad, popular (#SmallBusiness) and specific (#OrganicSkincareTips) hashtags to get the best of both worlds.
When using hashtags, be sure to stay up-to-date. Regularly check lists of banned hashtags, as using them can limit your post’s reach. And focus on quality over quantity. Use a maximum of 10 relevant hashtags per post.
6. Collaborate With Others
Partnerships can expose your brand to new audiences. Seek out influencers and cross-promotion opportunities to expand your reach and gain new likes.
When working with influencers, choose partners that make sense for your business. Collaborate with influencers whose followers align with your target market, and make sure the partnership feels genuine to maintain trust with both audiences.
The same goes for cross-promotions. Team up with brands that offer complementary products or services. When you find the right collaborators, hosting giveaways or events can double your reach and engagement — and your partner’s.
Here’s an example of Instagram influencer, @jacimariesmith promoting some of @primallypure’s skincare line.
7. Run Contests and Giveaways
Everyone loves freebies! Contests encourage likes, comments, shares, and other engagement, which gives your brand a big, natural boost across platforms. And if you run a contest that requires participants to tag friends or share the post, it can increase your brand’s visibility and expand your reach. Win-win!
Just remember that if you’re going to run a contest or giveaway, use these tips to make sure it goes smoothly:
- Set clear rules: Outline how to enter and what the prizes are.
- Make sure you comply with Instagram’s policies: Follow Instagram’s promotion guidelines to avoid penalties.
For example, “Like this post, follow our account, and tag two friends for a chance to win a $50 gift card!” Now, you can sit back and watch the likes roll in.
8. Post at the Right Times
Timing can significantly impact any social media post’s performance. You can use Instagram Insights to analyze when your audience is most active. This metric will be under the “Audience” section. You can also test different times by posting and seeing what gets the most engagement.
While optimal times can vary by industry, location, and other factors, studies often suggest posting during lunch hours (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) or evenings (7 p.m.–9 p.m.).
9. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)
UGC showcases real customers enjoying your products or services. This can be effective because it builds trust. Authentic content from customers serves as social proof and encourages your followers to build a community. By involving your followers in this way, you make them a part of your brand, which can help them feel like something bigger than themselves.
To implement this strategy, create a brand hashtag and encourage your followers to tag their posts showing themselves using your products. Let them know that any posts using the hashtag may be used on your feed. Then, feature UGC on your brand’s Instagram account, making sure to credit the original creator.
In the example below, @hitechsurf is tagging GoPro using the hashtag they created to spread the word about a new product.
10. Tell Compelling Stories
Stories captivate and connect with your audience on a deeper level, and your Instagram captions are a great place to tell them. Be authentic in your posts, sharing your brand’s journey, challenges, and victories. When possible, use emotional triggers to evoke feelings that align with your brand’s message.
You may also experiment with different storytelling formats, like carousel posts (Instagram posts that use multiple images or videos to tell a sequential story) or video content. Visual storytelling can be more engaging than text alone.
11. Use Calls to Action
Guiding your audience on what to do next can be a straightforward way to increase engagement. Here are some examples of calls to action that may be effective on Instagram:
- “Double-tap if you agree!”
- “Tag a friend who needs to see this.”
- “Share your thoughts in the comments below.”
This works because it increases interaction by giving your followers a direct prompt that encourages the next action they should take. It can also help boost your posts’ visibility. As more followers see the CTA and do what it says, that increases engagement signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable, and in turn, Instagram puts it in front of more users.
12. Analyze and Adapt
Our last strategy is to evaluate how your methods are working and stay agile, ready to shift strategies when needed. After all, continuous improvement is key to long-term success.
Instagram Insights offers several metrics to keep an eye on. You can:
- Identify your top-performing posts: See which content types get the most likes and engagement.
- Understand your audience: Analyze your follower demographics to tailor your content better.
- Set goals: Define what you want to achieve (e.g., increase likes by 20% in three months).
- Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try new content formats or topics.
- Monitor results: Regularly review performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.
What To Avoid on Instagram
While knowing what to do on Instagram is crucial, understanding what not to do is equally important. Avoiding common pitfalls can protect your brand’s reputation, maintain your engagement levels, and foster genuine connections with your audience. Below are some practices that can harm your Instagram presence.
Buying Likes or Followers
In the quest for rapid growth, purchasing likes or followers is a tempting shortcut. After all, a higher follower count can give the impression of popularity and success. However, that’s all it is– an impression, and this practice can backfire in significant ways.
Purchased likes and followers are often from bots or inactive accounts. These fake profiles don’t comment, share, or make purchases. This lack of genuine interaction skews your engagement metrics, making it difficult to assess your real audience’s preferences and behaviors.
Instagram’s algorithms are sophisticated and continuously updated to detect and penalize artificial inflation. If the platform identifies a sudden spike in followers or likes that doesn’t align with typical engagement patterns, it may reduce your content’s visibility or, in severe cases, suspend your account.
Plus, savvy users can spot inflated numbers. When a profile has thousands of followers but minimal engagement on posts, it raises red flags. This discrepancy can erode trust, making potential customers skeptical of your brand’s authenticity.
Instead, focus on building your follower base organically. Engage with your target audience through meaningful interactions, collaborations, and high-quality content. While it may take more time, this strategy leads to a loyal and active community that genuinely supports your brand.
Ignoring Engagement
Social media is a two-way street. While it’s essential to post compelling content, it’s equally important to engage with your audience. Ignoring comments, messages, or mentions can have detrimental effects on your relationship with followers.
When followers take the time to comment on your posts or send you messages, they’re initiating a conversation. By not responding, you miss valuable opportunities to build relationships, answer questions, and receive feedback. This engagement can lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Ignoring your audience makes your brand seem unapproachable or uninterested. Over time, this lack of interaction can make followers feel unappreciated, leading them to disengage or even unfollow.
Instagram’s algorithm favors accounts with higher engagement rates. By failing to interact with your audience, you may inadvertently decrease your content’s visibility on followers’ feeds.
Dedicate time each day to respond to comments and messages. Even simple acknowledgments like a “thank you” or a smiley face can make followers feel valued. Encourage discussions by asking open-ended questions and fostering a community around your brand.
Overusing or Misusing Hashtags
Hashtags are powerful tools for increasing your content’s visibility, but misusing them can have the opposite effect. Excessive or irrelevant hashtags can lead to decreased visibility. Instagram may flag your content as spammy, resulting in a “shadowban” where your posts don’t appear in hashtag searches.
Overloading captions with too many hashtags can deter users. It can make your posts look cluttered and unprofessional, potentially turning away potential followers. Additionally, some hashtags are banned or restricted due to inappropriate content associated with them. Using these can harm your account’s standing.
Use hashtags strategically. Research and select relevant, popular, and niche hashtags that align with your content. Limit your hashtags to 5–10 per post to maintain a clean appearance. Regularly update your hashtag lists and avoid copying and pasting the same ones every time.
Posting Inconsistently
In the fast-paced world of social media, out of sight often means out of mind. Posting sporadically can hinder your ability to build a loyal following and diminish your brand’s presence on Instagram.
Instagram’s algorithm favors accounts that post regularly. Inconsistent posting can result in your content being shown less frequently, reducing engagement. Plus, irregular updates make it hard for followers to stay connected. They may forget about your brand or assume the account is inactive.
Try using a content calendar to plan and schedule your posts. Aim to post at times when your audience is most active. Scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can also help maintain consistency, even during busy periods.
Posting Poor-Quality Content
Instagram is a visual platform where aesthetics matter. Posting low-quality images or videos can significantly detract from your brand’s appeal. Blurry images, poor lighting, or sloppy editing can turn off followers. Users are less likely to engage with content that doesn’t meet their visual expectations. And low-quality content reflects poorly on your professionalism. It can make your brand appear careless or amateurish, which may deter potential customers.
Invest in quality content creation. Use good lighting, compose your shots thoughtfully, and edit images to enhance their appeal. If photography isn’t your strength, consider hiring a professional or using high-quality stock images that align with your brand’s aesthetic.
Ignoring Instagram Guidelines
Instagram has clear community guidelines that all users must adhere to. Violating these can have serious consequences for your account: Posts can be removed by Instagram, disrupting your content strategy and reducing visibility, and repeated violations may lead to temporary bans or permanent deactivation, causing significant setbacks for your brand. Sharing copyrighted material without permission or engaging in deceptive practices can even result in legal action.
Familiarize yourself with Instagram’s Community Guidelines and make sure all your content complies. This includes respecting intellectual property rights, avoiding prohibited content, and being transparent in promotions or partnerships. When in doubt, err on the side of caution or seek legal advice.
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Your online presence is more than just social media. It’s a comprehensive ecosystem that includes your website, email marketing, and more. By unifying these elements, you create a stronger brand and more opportunities for engagement.
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