How to Boost Your Engagement on Instagram and Linkedin

Last Updated on November 14, 2024 by Bharat Saini

Engagement is a crucial metric for social media success. Whether you aim to build brand awareness, promote products, or grow your audience, maintaining a steady stream of interaction is essential. This article outlines platform-specific strategies to increase engagement on Instagram and LinkedIn, providing examples, data-backed insights, and actionable tips to help you thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Respond to Comments and Messages in Real-Time

Why It Matters:

Timely responses to comments, direct messages (DMs), and questions help build meaningful connections with your followers. According to Hootsuite, posts with conversations in the comment section tend to rank higher on social feeds due to increased interaction signals.

Action Tip:

• Set up notifications to monitor comments and DMs in real time. Aim to respond within 24 hours to keep followers engaged and signal that you care about their input.
• Use FAQs and templates for faster replies to common inquiries on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Leverage Carousel Posts for Higher Engagement

Carousel posts allow users to share multiple images or videos in one post, capitalizing on curiosity and engagement. According to a study by Later.com, carousel posts generate up to 1.4x more engagement than regular photo posts on Instagram.

Best Practices for Carousel Posts on Instagram:

1. Create a Hook in the First Slide: Immediately capture your audience’s attention.
2. Use a Clear Call to Action (CTA): For example, encourage users to “swipe left to learn more” or “tag a friend.”
3. Mix Images and Videos: Using a mix keeps the audience engaged throughout the slides.

Example:

A product-based brand can highlight multiple features or before-and-after comparisons in a carousel. NikeBasketball, for instance, uses carousels to showcase customer testimonials, enhancing trust and encouraging interaction.

LinkedIn Carousel Posts:

While LinkedIn doesn’t allow video-based carousels, you can upload PDF documents that function similarly.

Pro Tip:

• Include a CTA on the final slide, such as inviting users to comment, download a resource, or follow your page. Avoid creating long slides without meaningful actions—they can discourage engagement.

Memes: The Power of Relatability

Memes have become a popular engagement tool, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. According to HubSpot research, meme-based content tends to get more shares and likes, making it an excellent way to connect with younger audiences.

Tips for Using Memes Effectively:

• Keep It Relevant: Make sure the humour aligns with your brand voice. A meme that feels off-brand or tone-deaf may alienate your audience.
• Monitor Trends: Use tools like KnowYourMeme to stay updated on viral trends.
• Examples of Success:
• Brands like Denny’s have gained recognition by cleverly integrating memes that reflect their brand personality, making them more relatable.

Action Tip:

• Use memes as conversation starters. Ask your followers to respond with their favourite memes or caption suggestions for higher engagement.

Utilize Instagram’s Question Stickers for Deeper Engagement

Instagram’s Question Stickers are an interactive way to engage your audience through stories. These stickers allow followers to ask questions or provide feedback, which fosters a sense of community and strengthens your relationship with them.

How to Use Question Stickers:

1. Drive Engagement by Asking your audience for opinions, preferences, or feedback. For example, “What topics would you like us to cover next?”
2. Showcase Personality: Respond to questions publicly to reflect your brand’s unique voice and personality.
3. Boost Traffic: Use question responses to redirect followers to your bio link, encouraging clicks on crucial landing pages or product links.

Paid Instagram Ads: A Strategic Investment

While organic strategies are essential, paid Instagram ads can significantly boost engagement by targeting specific user segments. According to Sprout Social, paid ads increase visibility and interaction by allowing businesses to reach users who may still need to follow them.

Best Practices for Paid Ads:

• Target with Precision: Use Instagram’s audience filters (e.g., demographics interests) to narrow your target audience.
• Test Ad Variations: Experiment with different versions (A/B testing) to find the most effective ad creative.
• Promote Top-Performing Content: Boost posts that already perform well organically to maximize reach.

Pro Tip:

Ensure your ads blend naturally into users’ feeds and contain clear CTAs, such as “Learn More” or “Shop Now.”

Create a Sustainable Social Dialogue with Your Followers

Engagement isn’t just about posting content—it’s about building relationships. A long-term engagement strategy involves initiating conversations and keeping them alive.

• Use LinkedIn polls or Instagram quizzes to start discussions and gather insights.
• Share user-generated content (UGC) to acknowledge your followers’ contributions and foster loyalty.

Track Engagement Metrics and Optimize Continuously

Success on Instagram and LinkedIn requires continuous monitoring of your engagement metrics to understand what works and what doesn’t.

Key Metrics to Track:

• Engagement Rate: (Likes + Comments + Shares) / Total Followers
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): Useful for tracking traffic from bio links or ads.
• Follower Growth Rate: How quickly your audience is growing over time.

Use analytics tools like Instagram Insights or LinkedIn Analytics to monitor your performance.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Social Media Presence in 2025

Building engagement on Instagram and LinkedIn requires a combination of timely responses, creative content formats, and strategic ads. Tools like carousel posts, memes, question stickers, and paid ads will help capture audience attention and encourage meaningful interactions. Track your metrics, respond promptly, and experiment with new trends and strategies to stay ahead.

By implementing these best practices and keeping your audience’s interests at the core of your strategy, you can boost engagement, foster brand loyalty, and achieve your business goals on these platforms.