Social media is constantly evolving; algorithms change, websites reconstruct, and if we’re being honest, we don’t always love it. Popular Instagram users and businesses are constantly wondering why their likes and views are decreasing, causing them to lose engagement from their followers. On January 22nd of this year, Instagram stated on their Twitter account that what shows up first in your feed is primarily based on your own activity. The feed is personalized to each individual and evolves based on how you use the app. So how do you make sure that your business’s posts are reaching the majority of your audience?

Excellent Content

It is no question that engagement will be stronger on a high-quality photo that catches the eye of users scrolling on Instagram. Bold colors, great focus, and eye-popping graphics will cause users to stop scrolling at 100 miles per hour when they’re just trying to catch up on their feed from the day before. Here’s a tip: if you don’t own a fancy camera, use the “Portrait Mode” on your iPhone for a dramatic depth effect.

Creative Captions

A compelling caption is a sure-fire way to garner attention from followers. Whether it’s a punny joke or a clever play on words, captions are half the reason that followers double-tap your posts. To get people talking and to spread the word about your business, caption your photos with questions that followers can answer or encourage them to tag a friend to win a giveaway or a shoutout.

Get Involved

Conversations encourage more interactions. Respond to your followers’ comments; a simple “Thank you!” or “We appreciate your input!” will suffice. But more importantly, generate conversation with your followers to show them that you truly appreciate them. Ask them questions too! Customers are bound to feel important when their favorite business communicates with them directly.

#Hashtags

Hashtags will generate an outreach that stretches even farther than just your followers. When users search a certain hashtag, your public photo will appear in the mix of photos they see. To optimize your outreach, hashtag your photos with your top performing tags and watch your level of engagement rise.We hope these simple tips can help you take your social media to the next level. Engaging your customers with your brand is key to gaining followers and building brand loyalty. Start building your Instagram presence today!