How do you increase more Instagram post likes?
It just takes time and effort to create high-quality posts that are worthy of real Instagram post likes from real people.
The final purpose of Instagram is to show your greatest side by sharing content that people value. It takes work, however, if you’re ready to up your game, we have a ton of tricks to get you started.
Users can now hide Instagram-like counts. Do they still matter?
The answer is yes, of course. If you’re using Instagram, likes matter as much as ever.
In case you missed it: in mid-2019, Instagram started experimenting with not displaying the number of likes a post has received (a.k.a. ‘like counts’) in the feeds of certain areas.
Based on Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, the move was part of the company’s efforts to protect the mental health of the platform’s community. The idea was to make the entire experience healthier and less competitive for users. Instagram explained: “We want your friends to concentrate on the images and videos you share, not how many likes they get.”
The move had mixed success: some people liked being free of the pressure to stay up with the competition, while others felt they’d been left in the dark about what was popular.
Instagram’s solution was to announce in May 2021 that it would now give people the choice to hide public like counts — either hiding likes on all posts or just on your feed so others can’t see.
However whether we are able to see Instagram likes or not, the Instagram algorithm continues to work as it always has, based on the platform. So whether they’re visible to the world or not, here are the most effective ways to encourage people to tap the heart button.
16 clever ways to gain more free Instagram post likes
1. Use the relevant hashtags
Hashtags are an important key to gain more Instagram audience. Use a hashtag, and your post (or Story!) will be shown on the page for that hashtag.
People can even select to follow hashtags, which means you could be showing up in a total stranger’s news feed. Surprise!
Illustrator Joe Taylor tagged this post with the likes of #illustration and #characterdesign to appear in those topic searches. 1,800-plus likes later, it’s looking like that was an amazing idea.
Whether you’re using services or products hashtags, seasonal hashtags, acronym hashtags, or location hashtags, the consensus is that keeping it under 11 hashtags is the greatest practice.
2. Tag relevant users
Whether you’re tagging a collaborator, a brand new acquaintance, or your childhood hero, the purpose is to show how much you value them and share that value with your audience.
And if it just so happens that their viewers are likely to see your value in the process? Well, so be it.
Cool Ruggings — an account devoted to documenting cool rugs from all over the world, of course — clearly tagged the designers of these hip, Brazillian-made camping chairs. It was an opportunity to share the love, but with the bonus of a bit of potential attention from these Instagram users and their own fan bases.
3. Write compelling captions
Whether you’re better off writing a novel that maxes out Instagram’s 2,200 characters or keeping things mysterious and compelling with a one-liner depends on your brand voice and message. However long or short, captions are an important ingredient in a post’s success.
Great Instagram captions add context and personality and encourage your followers to take action. Don’t rush this part! Take a look at these amazing examples of compelling Instagram captions from Hootsuit and find some inspiration before you start typing.
Here, fiber artist H. H. Hooks shares the inspiration behind her work. (Sure, it’s another rug. We’re sorry, we’re in a mood right now!) It gives context to her cocktail image and sparks conversation and engagement at an identical time.
4. Tag your location
More than only a humblebrag about your excellent taste in breweries or coworking spaces, geotagging your location is a method for more people to seek out and like your photos.
It’s much more helpful if you’re a brand with a brick and mortar location, as you build up a way of community with your regulars and… potential regulars. (Just keep in mind to ensure your physical coordinates are right so that you’ve shown on the map.)
The Keefer Bar made sure to tag its location in this post about its new enjoyable outdoor mini-putt — who knows what lucky {golfing} boozer will stumble across it?
5. Get on the Explore page
Behind that little magnifying glass icon, the Explore page is a cornucopia of gorgeous, entertaining content customized for you by Instagram. Brands that appear there get lots of eyeballs.
However, how do brands get featured on the Instagram Explore tab in the first place? In short, you need a great engagement rate and an active community — and it doesn’t hurt to embrace whatever new feature Instagram is currently boosting in the algorithm. (Have you noticed that Reels are everywhere? That’s no coincidence!)
6. Post at the right time
Instagram doesn’t show posts chronologically, but its algorithm does favor “recency.” This means if you want to get in front of eyeballs, it’s essential for you to know when your audience is definitely looking at the app.
Which is… uh… when, exactly?
Well, every brand has its own sweet spot, based on its unique audience, so your own analytics will provide you with some guidance.
However, we did a bit of number crunching and ran a few experiments to find the overall best time to post to Instagram, and it seems that generally, 11 a.m. on Wednesdays is a pretty great time to aim for. Start there, and explore what’s working for your specific followers!