Keep reading for more tips to gain free Instagram post likes this year.
7. Run a like-to-win contest
Contests can take a bit of planning… or a lot. However, a like-to-win contest is one of the easiest ways to gain engagement in a given time period.
Remember to create a prize that is desirable to your followers, but also specific enough that you’re attracting real ones, not opportunists (i.e., don’t give away cash, iPhones, or a big trip).
Daring diners could win a lot of experience dangling above London’s O2 stadium with this giveaway from Design My Night.
We now have more ideas for Instagram contests here, along with step-by-step instructions on the way to pull one off effectively and successfully.
8. Post good photos
Lest we forget that photography was art before it was a tool for marketing. We all have to own up to the truth that sometimes our taste exceeds our skill.
There’s no room for “good enough” photographs on a visual platform like Instagram. Time to level up.
Instead of posting only a construction shot of an ongoing project, Sturgess Architecture arranges a carefully posed group photo in front of the eye-catching exterior that takes advantage of the natural light.
Whether that means taking a photography course to develop your eye or devoting some budget to better your equipment, find out what the pros do differently than the hobbyists.
To get you started, here are some ideas and tools for editing photos to gain Instagram post likes as a pro.
9. Engage outside your feed
In its ongoing try to provide people with what they need, the algorithm prioritizes Instagram posts from accounts that it thinks are “close.” How does it measure closeness? By monitoring the number of accounts that interact with each other.
So, if you want to boost your reach, and therefore gain the chances of getting likes, don’t be a wallflower: go forth and interact. Get generous with the likes and comments.
10. Publish user-generated content
Sharing content from your followers is a sure-fire method to generate engagement. It’s a thrill for the user to be featured by a brand they like, for starters. However, it also seems like you have strong social proof, confirming for your other followers that it’s more than okay to be an excellent fan.
It also shows off your authenticity and connection to the community.
TV show At Home with Amy Sedaris does a “Fan Art Friday” each week, posting drawings (or, in some circumstances, stop-motion animations with Barbie) from its audience.
11. Post behind the scenes content
Be a bit vulnerable and show the less-than-glossy finished product — you’ll be rewarded.
People love seeing how something gets made, taking a glimpse behind the scenes of a photoshoot, and learning about the actual struggles behind the glamor pictures elsewhere in your feed.
In the lead-up to a sample sale, design brand Ilana Kohn shared a charming impromptu video of an employee roller skating via the warehouse. If that’s not enough to compel you to click that heart button and then buy a drapey linen jumpsuit, we can’t find anything else.
12. Ask people for their opinions
“Ask a question in the caption” is a common recommendation for bumping up engagement for a reason: it’s a direct call-to-action for followers to add a comment.
And if they’re already engaging, the chance that they’ll throw alike your way in the process increases. TLDR: It never hurts to ask!
Skincare brand Summer Fridays embody its chill vibe by pairing dreamy clouds with an enormous question that prompted both likes and comments.
13. Host a takeover
If you’re comfortable handing over the keys to your account to a collaborator, Instagram takeovers are an effective way to lure a new audience over to your page.
Of course, the brand or influencer taking over for you need to be aligned with your values. You want any fans who migrate over to your page to like what they see and scroll through.
Multi-platform artist community Panimation is a good instant: they invite a rotating cast of illustrators and animators to hop onto their account to share their work with its audience of 65,000-plus.
14. Watch what works for your opponents
If you do have your Instagram set to see likes, you could get a glimpse at what’s working (or flopping) for your opponents again. Keep your eyes peeled… or better yet, do a competitive analysis.
Make social listening a part of your social media marketing strategy to gauge sentiment and determine trends across the industry. You don’t want to be left behind, or miss a chance to choose where your competition may have dropped the ball.
15. Ask people to tag their friends
Doing this all the time gets a bit old… but the initiation to “tag a friend” paired with the best post can result in a flurry of activity.
The key is to offer them a reason to tag a pal, whether that’s a funny punchline or a giveaway.
16. Embrace the memes
There’s a reason Instagram is filled with memes and aggregation accounts: people can’t help but like and share funny gifs, poignant sayings, or goofy gags.
Though some can definitely skew juvenile, there are wonderful ways for brands to jump on the meme bandwagon in a strategic, successful way — just keep the jokes appropriate for your voice, content, and audience, but don’t overdo it. A bit of sprinkle of the meme goes a long way!
Vancouver-based dog rescue Fur Bae mixes in photos of their foster and up-for-adoption pups in with cheeky, text-based “real talk” meme format. Almost as cute as the dogs themselves, really.