Although Instagram started as a simple platform for sharing photos with friends and followers, it has transformed over the years into a powerful tool for brands, creators, and businesses. What started as a casual social network has evolved into a dynamic space for engagement, community building, and business growth. With countless posts published every second, grabbing attention requires more than just creating great posts, it demands a smart strategy. 

For some, Likes may seem like an overly simple metric to judge success on Instagram. However, Likes still are an important Instagram KPI for showing how well your content resonates with your audience. For this reason, understanding how to get more Likes on Instagram posts is essential for those looking to expand their audience, whether you are an influencer, business, or really anyone who wants to improve their presence on Instagram. 

This guide will walk you through proven techniques to increase Likes on Instagram. From optimizing content formats to leveraging analytics and collaboration, we will explain how our diverse list of techniques can play a role in strengthening performance on the platform. We will go beyond just mentioning what some techniques are but, in several cases, highlight how data-based insights can take your Instagram performance to the next level. 

Do Likes Still Matter on Instagram?

While comments, shares, and saves are important indicators of engagement that many social media managers talk about, Likes remain a straight-forward and visible way to measure a post’s success. Likes can be a helpful measure of how your audience feels about your content, while also signaling to the algorithm that a post is worth showing to more people. In terms of analyzing your Instagram performance, tracking Likes can offer valuable insights into what resonates with different audiences. 

Whether for organic reach or paid campaigns, Likes continue to be a fundamental part of Instagram’s ecosystem since they are a good indicator that people are not simply scrolling past your post but are also taking time to interact with it. This means that understanding which posts attract more engagement can help shape content strategies and ensure that campaigns are optimized for performance. 

11 Techniques to Get More Likes on Instagram

Growing engagement on Instagram isn’t about luck. Rather, it is about finding out what techniques and strategies are best suited for your content and then implementing what works best. The more Likes a post receives on Instagram, the more likely it is to reach a wider audience, gain traction in the algorithm, and encourage further interaction.

With this in mind, you might be wondering how to get more likes on your Instagram posts? The key is to focus on content that resonates with your audience while optimizing every element of your posts. In the sections below, we will walk you through 11 actionable techniques that can help you to improve your overall engagement and get more likes on Instagram:

1. Research what your Audience Wants to See
2. Try Different Content Formats 
3. Use Instagram Collab Posts
4. Share your Posts in your Stories
5. Use the Right Hashtags
6. Ask your Audience to Interact
7. Find your Best Times to Post
8. Tag your Post´s Location
9. Optimize your Captions
10. Create Interactive Stories
11. Run a Poll with Likes and Comments

1. Research what your Audience Wants to See

Creating content that attracts Likes starts with understanding what your audience actually wants to see. People engage with posts that align with their interests, emotions, and expectations. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes content, inspirational Reels, or informative Carousel posts, knowing what works best for your audience can ensure that your audience interacts with the content you post.

A great way to see what topics relate best to your audience’s interests is by analyzing past performance, not only of your own profile but even from your competitors’ profiles. Looking at which posts received the most engagement (and Likes) provides a clear indication of audience preferences. This is where social media analytics tools come into play because these can you uncover trends, emerging topics, and content formats that are currently resonating in your niche. By using benchmarking and competitor analysis techniques, you can find the most successful posts in your content niche and see which ones get the most Likes.

2. Try Different Content Formats

Instagram allows you to use various content formats, including Stories, Reels, Carousels, or simply posting photos. Understanding how to get more Likes on Instagram Reels is particularly important because there may be some specific content formats that your audience prefers.  This means that testing different formats can reveal what works best for your audience and help maintain an engaging and diverse content strategy.

Analyzing different content formats helps identify which formats drive the most engagement. Specifically, you can use content optimization analyses to find out which content formats are correlated with the highest number of interactions in general or Likes specifically. This involves looking not only at your own profile’s past performance, but also other profiles that have a similar target audience. With a social media tool that allows you to track dozens or more profiles, you can create large data sets to analyze, which helps you more accurately determine what content formats your target audience wants to see. This may help you increase Likes in the long term.

You should also be aware of the different uses for each content format. For example, Reels are great for short, engaging videos that can go viral, while Carousels allow for deeper storytelling with multiple images or slides. On the other hand, Stories provide a more casual and interactive way to connect with followers, and static posts remain effective for visually appealing content. Always make sure the content format you use fits the type of content you are posting.

3. Use Instagram Collab Posts

Instagram Collab Posts are an easy way to get more likes on Instagram since they allow the same content to be shared across multiple profiles, amplifying reach and engagement. By pooling the audiences of two creators, these posts generate more visibility, engagement, and social proof. Instead of relying solely on your audience, this feature lets multiple profiles share the same post, meaning that Likes, comments, and shares are combined. This creates an opportunity to engage a wider audience, since the post benefits from multiple communities interacting with it.

You can create a high-quality post that appeals to all collaborators’ audiences. When publishing, select ‘Tag People’ and choose the ‘Invite Collaborator’ option. Once the invited account accepts, the post will appear on both profiles, sharing the same engagement metrics. Partnering with brands, influencers, or industry peers ensures the best results, increasing reach, engagement, and hopefully, Likes.

4. Share your Posts in your Stories

Not every follower will see your post in their feed, but Stories provide a second chance to grab their attention. Stories increase the visibility of your posts, making it more likely that users engage with your content. Adding interactive elements such as polls, stickers, and call-to-actions enhances audience participation.

After posting, share your post to your Story with a compelling call-to-actions such as “Tap to Like” or “What do you think?”. Use Instagram’s engagement features, for instance questions and emoji sliders, to make your Stories more interactive and increase the likelihood of earning Likes on the original post and at the same time in your Stories.

5. Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are a powerful tool for expanding the reach of your content. By categorizing posts and making them discoverable to the right audience, they increase the likelihood of engagement and more Likes. However, simply using the most popular hashtags you may see on Instagram isn’t enough. Instead, we recommend using data-based techniques for finding which hashtags have the highest probably to drive interactions.

6. Ask your Audience to Interact

Sometimes all it takes to increase the engagement is a simple request. Encouraging your audience to interact with your content by asking them to tag a friend or like your post can significantly increase reach and visibility. This is because people naturally share content that resonates with them because it is relatable, funny, or informative. Adding a call-to-action like “Tag a friend who needs to see this” or “Double-tap if you agree” helps remind users to take action. Since tagged users are likely to engage with the post, this can create a chain reaction of increased interactions.

If you’re wondering how to get more Likes on Instagram after posting, remember that encouraging engagement after your post has gone live helps maintain momentum and signals to Instagram’s algorithm that your content is still relevant. The easier you make it for users to engage, the more likely they are to do so, helping your content spread further and attract more Likes.

7. Find your Best Times to Post

8. Tag your Post’s Location

Adding a location tag to your posts can help boost their visibility and engagement. This is because, when users search for a place or explore location-based content, your tagged posts can appear in their results, even if they don’t follow you. Location tags help attract new audiences interested in a specific area, whether it’s a trendy café, a tourist hotspot, or a local business. For brands and creators, this feature is a simple way to reach more people organically.

When publishing a post, select a relevant location tag that aligns with your content. For businesses, tagging storefronts or event locations can help attract nearby customers. Influencers and creators can use location tags to appear in popular search results, increasing the likelihood of receiving more Likes and engagement.

9. Optimize your Captions

Captions play a crucial role in encouraging engagement and helping posts gain more Likes on Instagram. A well-crafted caption can add context, spark curiosity, or invite interaction, making it more likely that users will engage with your content. Captions can enhance discoverability, especially when they include relevant keywords that align with audience searches. Just like hashtags, keywords in captions can help surface your posts in Instagram search results. Conducting keyword research allows you to understand the terms and phrases your target audience is using, increasing the chances of your content being found.

There are a few things to keep in mind here to make this technique work. First, you need to identify relevant keywords. Start by researching trending keywords using a social media analytics tool. You should identify terms that drive interactions in your content niche and incorporate them naturally into captions, bios, and alt-texts for improved searchability. Second, you should avoid keyword stuffing and instead blend keywords smoothly into your storytelling to maintain readability and engagement. Third, regularly updating your keyword strategy ensures your content remains relevant as trends evolve.

10. Create Interactive Stories

Instagram Stories offer a unique opportunity to engage your audience in a more dynamic and interactive way. Unlike static posts, Stories allow for real-time interaction through polls, quizzes, emoji sliders, and Q&A features. These tools encourage users to participate, making them more likely to engage with your content, so you can gain more Likes on Instagram over time.

Interactive Stories keep your audience engaged by providing them with a reason to interact. Whether it’s a simple “This or That” poll, a quiz about your brand, or an open-ended question, these features create a two-way conversation rather than a passive viewing experience. The more engagement your Stories receive, the more Instagram prioritizes your content in users’ feeds, increasing visibility and the chances of attracting more Likes.

To implement this strategy effectively, mix interactive elements with regular Story content. Use engagement stickers strategically, ask thought-provoking questions, and encourage users to take part in decision-making. By fostering engagement within your Stories, you build stronger relationships with your audience while boosting overall interaction on your profile.

11. Run a Poll with Likes and Comments

Polls are a fun and effective way to boost engagement while encouraging your audience to interact. Running a poll with Likes and comments allows followers to express their preferences in a quick and effortless way. By asking a question where one option is represented by a Like and another by a comment, you create a simple yet powerful engagement tool.

This tactic works well because it reduces friction in engagement. Users don’t have to think too much, since all they need to do is react. For example, a brand might ask, “Which product do you prefer? Like for A, comment for B.” This invites participation while increasing both Likes and comments, which can help get more Likes on Instagram posts and improve overall reach. Integrating this strategy regularly in your content plan can help keep your audience engaged by making them feel involved in decision-making. It also signals to the Instagram algorithm that your content is valuable, ensuring it reaches a wider audience and keeps engagement levels high.

Last Thoughts on How to Get More Likes on Instagram Posts

As we have shown above, there are a number of answers to the question of how to get more likes on an Instagram post. There are many different techniques you can use to optimize your Instagram strategy to gain more Likes on Instagram, and these are accessible to anyone willing to analyze performance and apply best practices. Importantly, you should always be tracking your performance to see if your activities are helping you to gain more Likes. While manually tracking engagement trends is a possibility, using a social media analytics tool can streamline the process by helping you detect patterns, track competitor performance, and refine your content approach more effectively. 

If you’re searching for a tool that provides advanced insights that will help you implement some of the techniques above, we encourage you to try Fanpage Karma’s free 14-day trial. Fanpage Karma is an “all-in-one” social media tool can help you gain content optimization insights, learn from your competitors, and help you research social media trends. In this way, Fanpage Karma can help you make data-driven decisions to maximize your engagement and get more likes on Instagram. It also comes with monitoring, publishing, and community management features. 

Additionally, you can participate in the free weekly webinar that explains how you use the tool for all aspects of social media management.