Instagram has grown to become the second most popular social media site, with nearly 700 million users worldwide. It’s no surprise, then, that businesses are flocking to Instagram in droves to connect with their customers and build their brands. But just because your business has an Instagram account doesn’t mean you’re making the most of it. If you really want to make your posts engaging and get the most out of them, you need to follow these 10 tips for an engaging Instagram post.

1) Add a Caption

Adding a caption to your picture can be a great way to engage with your followers and encourage them to comment on and like your photo. This is also a great place to expand on the content you’ve posted or direct viewers to your website for more information. By adding captions you not only engage with followers but also allow people viewing your photos to leave comments.

2) Try Out Different Filters

If you’re posting a photo that shows off your product, try using a filter that brings out its colours or shows off its texture. If you’re posting a funny meme, try using a black and white filter to make it look more professional and serious.

3) Try Playing With Angles

We live in a world of selfies, a sure-fire way to make your photos stand out is to play with angles. While most people are used to seeing faces at eye level, try taking some high-angle or low-angle shots to put a fresh spin on things. A content scheduler can help you plan and map out the content you want to post and when you can use it as a visualising tool to ensure there is variety in your content.

4) Play With Lighting

Switch up your photo style every once in awhile to add some variety to your feed. You can also use editing apps like VSCO Cam or Snapseed to edit your photos after you’ve taken them. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take good pictures—just play around with angles, lighting, and filters until you find something you like! Experimenting is key.

5) Use Hashtags

Hashtags will allow you to engage with other users who may share your interests. Use relevant hashtags in every post, but use them sparingly (one or two hashtags is generally plenty). Not only are too many hashtags annoying and overwhelming, they can also make your post seem like a sales pitch and drive away potential followers. Whenever possible, include a hashtag that incorporates your brand name. This will get you noticed by users who may be interested in your company.

6) Tag People

To ensure that your post gets seen by as many people as possible, be sure to tag users who might want to engage with it. Tagging high-profile users or influencers on your topic could also help you get more engagement, so don’t be afraid to throw a few of those in there too.

7) Use Location Tags

People love knowing where your photo was taken. Tag your location to spark curiosity and increase engagement. It also helps people find local businesses in their area, which is always a plus!

8) Use Emojis

The use of emojis is on the rise. The pictorial representation of a facial expression or concept can make your social posts more fun and engaging.

9) Post in the Right Time of Day

If you want to get more likes and comments on your posts, make sure you post them at times when your audience is most active. For example, if you’re targeting college students, then mornings and afternoons are probably your best bet. On weekends it’s probably better to steer clear of weekend evenings as many users will be busy socialising. This isn’t always true (it depends on what time zone they live in), but it can give you a good general rule of thumb.

10) Share Your Favourite Resources

Feel free to share your own favourite resources in your post. It can be helpful for readers who are just starting out on Instagram and don’t know where to begin.

Understanding how to create engaging Instagram posts is just the first step, it can still be difficult to get started and understand effectiveness by interpreting the data provided in the Analytics. We’re here to make your life easier! Try a free demo of GrowMOFO’s automated digital marketing platform to put our advice into action and automate your ads.