How to improve your engagement rate on Instagram?

Focus on video and stories

Videos are a huge success on social networks. In fact, the average engagement of videos is increasing faster than that of photos. And Instagram is no exception. The consumption of video on Instagram continues to grow considerably. Moreover, the algorithm of this social network prioritises this kind of content. That's why it's a good idea to focus on video for your content strategy on Instagram. 

This is an opportunity not to be missed. What's more, Instagram has easy-to-use editing features to create videos that are fun and shareable. You can even create several types of videos such as :

• A slide show
• A practical video
• An interview for a FAQ
• A fun and funny video
• A video showing the use of a product, etc. 
  

Like videos, stories are also experiencing an unparalleled craze. According to studies, most of the most viewed stories on Instagram come from corporate accounts. This means that prioritizing this type of content is essential for a brand to increase its engagement rate. They help to increase brand visibility tenfold.  

Interacting with subscribers

The more engagement you generate, the more importance Instagram gives you. Moreover, the network promotes brand posts to users with whom you have a relationship. This is why it is essential to interact with your followers. To do this, don't hesitate to reply to the messages you receive, like their comments or ask questions. Also, choose the captions under your posts carefully to start the conversation, without forgetting the quality of the visuals! 

In addition, try to maintain a dialogue with your community of subscribers. Show them that you're listening to them, and take their comments on board, whether positive or negative. It's up to you to engage your community if you want it to stay active. It's the best way to increase your engagement on Instagram.

Use the right hashtags

On this social network, the use of a hashtag is very trendy. It is a very common element used by most brands and influencers to increase the visibility of posts. It is just advisable to use them intelligently to be effective. On Instagram, hashtags are an essential feature. If you want to increase your engagement rate, use them in a relevant way. In fact, you can use up to 30 hashtags, but focus more on quality than quantity. By using a hashtag, you'll be making yourself known to a well-targeted audience.

Choose your hashtags carefully, and avoid being too generic. Bear in mind that the more they're used, the less time you'll spend appearing in the top post on that hashtag. You'll find it much easier to be visible on a niche hashtag that's much less competitive, so you'll appear in the top 9 of the hashtag's first posts. Pay particular attention to its quality, length and interpretation. It's one more way toattract new followers and boost engagement on Instagram.

Careful descriptions

The quality of content is very important on social networks. This is based on well-crafted descriptions. Captions of 241 characters and 3 emojis are the most effective. Increasing your Instagram engagement also depends on an attractive description. 

A neat and attractive caption should encourage your subscribers to take action. For example, you can tell a compelling story. This will help to create a bond with your subscribers. To increase your chances, you can ask your community questions. Describe your post briefly and write short captions. And finally, write a text that urges your followers to act while maintaining a consistent style (Call to action). But don't force the conversation. Your description should be able to summarise to your community of followers who you are and what you do. This is how you will create quality content that is sure to boost your engagement rate on Instagram. 

Don't forget the competitions

Organising competitions on social networks is of particular importance. It will vary your strategy. You will need some time to launch and manage your contest. The engagement generated by the competitions will certainly live up to your expectations. To launch a competition, it is advisable to create a simple game where you give away a product or service to the lucky ones. This strategy is essential to broaden your audience and increase your engagement. Most of the time, contest strategies work with likes, comments, shares, tagging a friend or photo challenge.

Make sure the contest meets the expectations of your community to encourage them to participate in the game. To enable your game to engage your audience, use the power of Instagram - the visual.   

Instagram currently has over a billion users. It is therefore normal to see the tenacity of the competition. In order to cope with this, you need to adopt the right strategies.

Moreover, My Name Is Bond is at your disposal to assist you in these steps and in particular to increase your rate of engagement on Instagram.