How to Increase Engagement on Instagram in 2025 (Proven Strategies That Work)

1. Understanding Engagement: What It Is and Why It Matters

Engagement on Instagram refers to all the interactions your content receives: likes, comments, shares, saves, story replies, polls, and even DMs.

The most important metric to track is your Engagement Rate (ER). Unlike follower count, which only shows potential reach, engagement rate proves how much your audience interacts with your content.

How Engagement Rate Is Calculated

Engagement Rate (%) = (Average Reach of last 5 Reels ÷ Followers) × 100

• Average Reach = Total reach from your last 5 reels ÷ 5
  
  

• Reels uploaded in the past 48 hours are excluded to keep data accurate
  
  

• Followers = Your current follower count

High engagement tells Instagram’s algorithm that your content is valuable, which boosts reach and discoverability. It also helps you land more brand collaborations, since brands care more about active audiences than just big numbers.

👉 Curious? Try our guide on Instagram Engagement Calculator to measure your ER.

2. The Foundation: Content and Audience Strategy

Know Your Audience

Use Instagram Insights to track follower demographics like age, gender, location, and active times. Content that aligns with these insights always performs better.

Create Valuable and Authentic Content

• Authenticity matters: In 2025, audiences prefer transparency and relatability over perfect aesthetics.
  
  

• Value-driven posts: Tutorials, infographics, relatable memes, or quick hacks get saved and shared the most.
  
  

• Visual consistency: Maintain a clear theme or aesthetic so your profile is recognisable.

3. The Top Tactics: Content and Posting Strategies

✅ Lean into Instagram Reels

Reels remain Instagram’s biggest growth driver.

• Use trending sounds and formats
  
  

• Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
  
  

• Add captions for accessibility and watch time

✅ Use Carousel Posts

Carousels often have the highest engagement rates.

• Start with a strong first slide to stop scrolling
  
  

• Share lists, tips, or short stories across multiple slides
  
  

• Mix photos and short clips for variety

✅ Master Instagram Stories

Stories keep your audience connected daily.

• Use polls, quizzes, and “Add Yours” stickers
  
  

• Share behind-the-scenes content to feel relatable
  
  

• Host Q&A sessions to build real connections

✅ Write Engaging Captions

Captions are underrated but powerful for building relationships.

• Begin with a hook to grab attention
  
  

• Ask questions to encourage comments
  
  

• Add clear calls-to-action (e.g., “Tag a friend” or “Comment your thoughts”)

✅ Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags are still relevant for discovery in 2025.

• Mix broad, niche, and branded hashtags
  
  

• Research trending tags in your category
  
  

• Place them in the first comment to keep captions clean

4. Community-Building and Active Engagement

Engagement is not one-sided. To boost your own numbers, you need to engage actively too.

• Reply to comments: Respond quickly and thoughtfully to show you value your followers.
  
  

• Engage with your audience’s posts: Like and comment on their content to build loyalty.
  
  

• Encourage UGC: Create a branded hashtag and reshare follower posts with credit.
  
  

• Go Live: Live sessions build real-time trust and deepen community bonds.

5. Consistency and Timing

Stay Consistent

Consistency trains both your audience and Instagram’s algorithm to expect your content. Stick to a posting schedule you can maintain, even if it is three times a week.

Post at the Right Times

Use Instagram Insights to check when your followers are most active and schedule posts around those times. Posting during peak hours increases the chance of higher engagement.

6. Tools That Help Boost Engagement

Boosting engagement is not just about content, but also about using the right tools.

How Platforms Help Influencers Grow Engagement

• Verified paid Collabs: Apply to real, verified brand collabs that help you monetise your content
  
  

• Meta API-backed security: Connect Instagram safely without ever sharing your password
  
  

• OTP-backed contracts: Protect you legally in every paid collaboration
  
  

• In-app insights: Track engagement rates and performance in real time & make it easy to pitch brands

Platforms like INFLUISH combine these features to help influencers boost both collaboration opportunities and their organic engagement. Brand-led campaigns tend to perform better than casual posts, which helps small influencers grow faster.