No one likes watching their Instagram post sit there gathering no likes while others seem to amass them effortlessly, and that can be very disheartening. Luckily there are ways you can quickly increase likes on your posts without feeling like everyone is laughing at them or feeling left out!
What gives? After spending 20 minutes capturing and editing an incredible photo, another 10 creating what seemed to be an eye-catching caption and hitting post... nothing. Meanwhile, someone posts an unstylized mirror selfie and gets 200 likes within an hour! What gives?
However, getting likes on Instagram doesn't depend on luck or having thousands of followers; rather, it requires understanding how the platform actually operates and making smart moves that most people overlook.
Strategic Instagram engagement tactics can dramatically increase your post likes and visibility
GTR Socials has spent years helping businesses and creators increase their Instagram presence, so I know what works and what doesn't. You don't require a complicated plan or expensive tools--just know the appropriate tactics--and put them into action!
Let's cut through the noise and discuss 10 effective strategies for getting more likes on Instagram posts starting now.
- 1Why Instagram Likes Still Matter in 2025
- 2Post When Your Audience Is Active
- 3Write Captions That Engage
- 4Utilize Hashtags Strategically
- 5Craft Content Worth Saving
- 6Engage With Others Before Posting
- 7Post Carousel Posts for Maximum Engagement
- 8Leverage Instagram Stories
- 9Work With Others Through Tags
- 10Give Posts an Initial Boost
Why Instagram Likes Still Matter in 2025
Before we dive in with how-to instructions, let's address a key concern: "Don't likes no longer matter?" Since Instagram hid them away, have they lost any significance?
Instagram did introduce an option for users to hide like counts in 2021, yet nothing much changed when it comes to likes still having a tremendous effect on its algorithm. Though they might appear anonymous to users on the surface level, Instagram still tracks engagement behind-the-scenes and will show an accurate count when viewing analytics data.
As soon as your post gets lots of likes quickly after posting it, Instagram understands it as "people really appreciate this content" and shows it to more users. With increased visibility comes increased likes and eventually even greater popularity - creating an exponential effect!
Once someone visits your profile and sees posts with strong engagement rates, they're far more likely to follow you and take you seriously - social proof hasn't gone anywhere, it has simply evolved!
Understanding Instagram's algorithm is key to maximizing your post engagement and reach
Post When Your Audience Is Active
Though it might seem obvious, many people neglect this step. Posting at 3 AM when all your followers are sleeping would be like hosting a party and sending invitations afterwards. Instagram rewards posts that generate engagement quickly--within an hour ideally--so posting when nobody's online can be considered an unfair advantage.
Take a look at your Instagram Insights (you will need a business or creator account, which are free to switch over), tap "Total followers," then scroll down the Insights screen until you find when most of your followers are most active; there should be a breakdown by day and hour.
For most accounts, the ideal targets tend to be:
- Weekdays from 11 AM - 1 PM is perfect for lunch break scrolling
- Evenings 7 PM to 9 PM can provide post-dinner relaxation time
- Weekends from 9 AM to 11 AM is ideal for lazing over coffee scrolling!
But your target audience might require something different; for example, posting at 2 PM on Tuesday could work wonders; while late evening posts may prove more successful.
I've witnessed accounts double their likes by simply shifting posting time by two hours; it really works that easily!
Write Captions That Engage
A photo may get someone's attention for half a second; however, the caption is what will engage them fully and keep scrolling!
Problematic is that most people treat captions like an afterthought; they quickly post their photos with generic emojis or halfhearted sentences slapped on top and wonder why no one likes or comments on them.
Instagram only shows the first two lines before pressing "more", so if your first paragraph fails to engage readers quickly they are likely to keep scrolling past it. Try one or two of these openers as examples of hooks:
Bring up an unpopular or thought-provoking statement: "Unpopular Opinion: Instagram Reels Are Superior To TikTok - Can Anyone Change My Mind?"
To get their audience's attention quickly and ensure success with Instagram ads: I spent $500 before learning this one thing...
Tell a microstory like "So, there I was, standing in line at Starbucks when it dawned on me..." Or bring up sensitive topics: Can we discuss why everyone seems to act as though their life is perfect on here?"
Compelling captions are essential for stopping the scroll and driving engagement
Once they're hooked, keep the caption conversational - like texting with an old friend instead of writing an essay for college admissions. Use short sentences. Break up paragraphs. Make it scannable.
Finish each post with a question or call-to-action that encourages people to engage. A simple statement such as, "Tell me your thoughts!" or "Comment below if you agree" gives users an easy, low-effort way of engaging, which increases likes and comments significantly.
Utilize Hashtags Strategically (Not Just Randomly)
Hashtags remain one of the best free ways to spread content to new audiences, yet most people misuse them completely.
No longer do they use 30 random hashtags like #love #instagood #photooftheday or nothing at all because they heard somewhere that hashtags were dead; neither approach works effectively in 2025.
Here's what actually works in 2025: Mix three types of hashtags together.
- Big hashtags (500K to 1M+ posts): While these may provide initial visibility, they quickly fade out quickly as soon as people post. Limit to no more than 2-3 big hashtags per post.
- Medium hashtags (50K - 500K posts): Medium-sized hashtags offer much longer lasting visibility if used 5-7 at a time.
- Niche hashtags (5K - 50K posts): Niche hashtags offer highly targeted communities that generate the highest engagement. Utilize three or four for maximum impact.
Take for instance if you posted a photo of homemade pasta dish you made. Instead of:
❌ #food #foodporn #yummy #delicious #instafood
Try:
✅ #homemadepasta #pastarecipes #italianfoodlover #pastafromhome #cookingtiktok #recipeoftheday #pastagram #foodblogger
See the difference? The second set is much more targeted and will reach people interested in your content. Research hashtags before using them: click any hashtag and Instagram will show related ones; an ideal way of discovering new, useful tags!
Mix it up. Don't use the same 30 hashtags on every post; Instagram might flag them as spammy. Create 3-4 unique sets and alternate them when posting to Instagram.
Craft Content Worth Saving (Not Just Liking)
Instagram's algorithm favors saved posts over likes, as this action signifies to users they find something so worthwhile they want to return later - an immense engagement signal!
Saved posts reach even more people through the algorithm, increasing visibility and leading to more likes and shares. But what kind of content gets saved?
Save-worthy content provides lasting value and signals quality to Instagram's algorithm
- Educational posts: Step-by-step tutorials, how-to guides, tips and tricks as well as original or lesser-known quotes should be shared to increase knowledge.
- Inspirational quotes: Should be utilized but original or less well known quotes should not be repeated endlessly on social media.
- Resource lists: Like "10 apps every content creator needs" or "5 books that changed my perspective" would also be great additions.
- Before/After Transformations: From fitness, home decor and graphic design to recipes and food content creation
- Templates & Swipe Files: Offer tremendous savings potential for those interested
Think about what you save on Instagram; chances are, it's usually content you want to revisit later: recipes you want to try, workout routines you want to follow or travel itineraries as motivational reminders. Posts should serve a specific function. Every so often, create something save-worthy to boost engagement and train the algorithm to display more of your posts to more people.
Engage With Others BEFORE Posting
Contrary to what many would assume, this strategy can be extremely effective. Most users post their content and wait for likes and engagement to come flooding in; but Instagram rewards accounts that actively participate on the platform rather than simply broadcasting their own stuff.
Spend 15-20 minutes before posting engaging with content related to your niche. Like posts, leave genuine comments (not just "Great post! 🔥"), respond to stories, and engage with those who've used hashtags you plan to use in future posts.
Why does this work? For two reasons.
First, by engaging with Instagram's algorithm regularly and showing that you are an engaged, active user--not just someone posting occasionally and then ghosting--instagram will recognize this and offer more reach to active users.
Second, by engaging these people you increase the likelihood that they'll check out your profile and see your post when it goes live - some may even reciprocate the engagement!
"That sounds like a lot of work." You could be right; but 15 minutes invested in engaging with others could double or even triple your likes, which represents an excellent return on investment.
Genuine engagement requires authenticity: don't just spam popular accounts with generic comments hoping for attention; rather, look for posts you resonate with and make meaningful contributions. It will work far better and won't feel forced or spammy.
Post Carousel Posts for Maximum Engagement
If you want more likes with minimal extra effort, consider creating carousel posts instead of single image posts.
Data shows that carousel posts (those you can swipe through) receive greater engagement than single image ones, likely because they keep people on your page longer and Instagram interprets that as being "engaging content worth showing to more people."
There's also a psychological element: people become drawn in by their urge to see all the images; having done so, they are more likely to like or comment upon your post.
Here's what to post as carousels:
- Before/After Sequences: Demonstrate transformation or process
- Step-by-Step Tutorials: Simplify complex tasks into digestible slides
- Behind-The-Scenes: Images or Footage from One Event
- Lists or Tips: (each tip per slide)
- Story Progression: Integrate images together into an evolving visual story
Carousel posts consistently outperform single images in engagement metrics
Ideal slides would include between 5-8, as this number ensures engagement without becoming so monotonous and disengaging that people click away in droves. Make your first image stand out enough to stop people scrolling, while perhaps teasing something within ("Swipe now to see before!" or "Slide 3 will amaze you"). Give people something other than just looking at pretty pictures to engage with!
Leverage Instagram Stories to Drive Traffic to Your Posts
Stories and feed posts work hand in hand to form one coherent strategy. Once you post something to your feed, quickly share it to your Story with some playful stickers, questions or intriguing statements like, "Just posted something I'm really excited about - tap to view!"
People who see your Story are your warmest target audience; they already follow you and are engaged with what you're up to, making them ideal candidates for driving early engagement on new posts - which in turn signal Instagram that this new content deserves more exposure.
By targeting these individuals specifically when creating posts or ads on Instagram Stories you can:
- Use the Poll sticker: "Should I post more content similar to this?"
- Use the Quiz sticker for creating a fun quiz around your post topic
- Use the Question sticker to get people's opinions about something related to the post
- Use Countdown Stickers: "New post coming in 3 2 1..." to gauge peoples opinions
Story-to-feed funneling is one of the most underutilized tactics. Your Story views are usually higher than initial post reaches; take full advantage of that fact! One more bonus: when people engage with your Stories (voting in polls, answering questions), they're more likely to see and engage with your feed posts too - the algorithm recognizes this relationship and prioritizes your content towards those people.
Work With Others Through Tags and Mentions
Instagram is a social platform, yet too often people treat it like a broadcast channel. Want to expand your reach and gain more likes instantly? Tag and mention other accounts strategically - here's how:
- Collaborator Posts: If you create content with someone, use the "Collaborators" feature so it shows up on both of your feeds.
- Tag Products or Locations: When relevant, tag brands you are wearing or locations you visit--they might reshare you!
- Attribute other creators: If your content was inspired or inspired you by someone, mention them (they might engage or share).
- Credit photographers or stylists: If someone helped produce this content, tag them.
Tagging others exposes you to their followers; when brands or larger accounts repost your content, thousands of potential new fans might discover you! However, and this is crucial: don't be spammy about it. Only tag accounts that genuinely apply; random tagging just annoys people and makes you look desperate.
I've seen posts go from 50 likes to 500+ because a brand or influencer shared them to their Story - that kind of exposure you simply can't purchase (well, technically you can through partnerships).
Use Geotags to Get Noticed Locally
Add a location tag to your posts is such a straightforward step that most people neglect it; but they're missing out on opportunities for engagement!
Tagging locations makes your post visible in that location's feed, enabling anyone searching posts from that area to discover you; geotags can be especially beneficial if you are targeting specific regions or communities in general.
Geotags help you connect with local audiences and increase post discoverability
Here are some best practices for geotagging:
- Use specific neighborhoods or landmarks instead of simply the city to help target a wider audience
- Combine geotags with local hashtags to reach even more potential viewers
- When visiting popular venues (restaurants, parks or events), visitors checking in will see your post as they check in themselves
Geotagging can be a huge asset to businesses. If you own a coffee shop and tag its location, locals searching for coffee will discover you more easily. Even if you're not running a business, geotagging helps connect people in your community. I have witnessed travel creators garner hundreds of likes from people exploring destination tags - travelers actively planning trips who seek inspiration in that exact locale.
Provide Your Posts With Initial Lift Through Strategic Services
Let's be honest here - most growth articles won't tell you this: sometimes an algorithm needs a hand getting going.
Remember how earlier I said Instagram rewards posts with early engagement? While that is certainly true, starting from scratch or having a small following makes getting that initial momentum difficult - it's the classic catch-22: engagement = reach, but reach = engagement.
Strategic services provide this critical element - not by buying fake bot likes but through engaging real users to give your post the initial momentum it needs to thrive organically.
GTR Socials has helped more than 35,000 clients overcome the same challenge with our Instagram engagement services, providing that vital early boost that proves your content's value to Instagram and its algorithm. We deliver real likes from real accounts that show Instagram that your post deserves promotion.
Strategic engagement boosts help overcome the cold-start problem and trigger organic growth
Imagine hosting a party. When guests arrive, having some people already there makes everyone more relaxed; no one wants to be the first one there. The same principle holds true on Instagram posts: when people see an engaging post already receiving engagement they're more likely to engage themselves as well.
After posting carefully-crafted content, within an hour it gains authentic likes from users who appreciate its message. Instagram recognizes this engagement and thinks, "people like this," pushing it further out to more viewers who will likely engage with it themselves -- creating a snowball effect of likings that grows exponentially over time.
It's key to combine this strategy with everything we've discussed so far--posting at an appropriate time, using strategic hashtags, and producing saveable content--to achieve maximum effectiveness. A boost just helps overcome any initial cold starts associated with starting up new accounts.
Affordable packages starting from just a few dollars give your quality content the visibility it deserves while not replacing organic growth - only speeding it up. As part of our Instagram growth solutions, we provide services tailored specifically for your goals.
The Real Secret: Consistency + Strategy
I just shared 10 tactics that work to bring in more likes - in fact I've witnessed these methods work across thousands of accounts!
But here is the truth no one wants to hear: none of this matters if you only post once every month.
Instagram favors consistency. The algorithm rewards accounts that post regularly and keep their audience engaged; you don't have to post three times every day (please don't!) but do establish a rhythm.
Choose something sustainable - such as every day, three times weekly, or even twice a week- and commit. And when posting, use these strategies strategically; not on every post (that would be too overwhelming). Instead, try rotating between them - one post could focus on hashtag research, another could create an saveable carousel, while still another could collaborate with someone in your niche.
A winning formula would look something like this:
- Quality content (delightful photos/videos and thought-provoking captions)
- Strategic timing (post when your audience is active)
- Smart hashtags (research and use them regularly)
- Active engagement (show up for others not just yourself)
- Consistency (be there regularly)
- Optional boost (give worthy posts the initial momentum they deserve)
Start slowly and implement just 2-3 of these tactics until they feel familiar to you, adding on as necessary. Remember: growth on Instagram doesn't happen overnight but is achieved when deliberate effort is applied towards its development.
Your Next Steps
You are already far ahead of most people if you have read this far. Most readers of similar articles simply nod along and then do nothing differently as a result of what they read.
Stop being that person!
Simply select one tactic from this list--one that seems manageable--and implement it into your next post. Maybe researching better hashtags; maybe spending 15 minutes engaging before sharing; maybe creating your first carousel; whatever makes most sense for you!
Measure what happens. Did it yield more likes than usual? Excellent! Continue doing it while adding another tactic. Didn't work? Try something else instead. Instagram growth requires constant experimentation, learning, and optimization. What works for one account may not necessarily work equally for another; however, these fundamental principles still apply regardless of where an account sits in terms of growth.
GTR Socials' Instagram growth services may help accelerate your growth; we have years of experience helping creators and businesses conquer Instagram's algorithm, so let us put that experience to work for you too!
At the end of the day, you're producing valuable content and it should be seen. Sometimes all it needs is some strategic assistance in getting out there.
Now stop reading and post something great; your future followers are waiting!
📚 Additional Reading & Resources
Learn more about Instagram marketing from these trusted sources:
- 🔗Instagram for Business Official Blog - Latest features and best practices
- 🔗Social Media Examiner: Instagram Marketing - Expert insights and strategies
- 🔗Later Blog: Instagram Algorithm Guide - How the algorithm works in 2025
- 🔗Hootsuite: Instagram Statistics - Data-driven marketing insights
- 🔗Sprout Social: Instagram Engagement Guide - Proven tactics for better engagement
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Use 10-15 highly targeted hashtags that mix big, medium, and niche categories. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity. Avoid using the same 30 hashtags on every post as this can appear spammy to Instagram's algorithm.
The best time varies by audience, but generally 11 AM-1 PM and 7-9 PM on weekdays perform well. Check your Instagram Insights to see when your specific audience is most active and test different posting times to find your optimal window.
Yes, absolutely. While Instagram hid public like counts, likes remain a crucial engagement signal for the algorithm. Posts that receive quick early engagement (especially within the first hour) get significantly more reach and visibility.
When you purchase from reputable providers like GTR Socials that deliver real engagement from authentic accounts, it's safe. Avoid services offering bot-generated likes or fake accounts, as these can harm your account. Our services provide genuine engagement that complements your organic growth strategy.
Organic growth typically takes 3-6 months of consistent posting and engagement to see significant results. Using strategic growth services can accelerate this timeline by providing the initial momentum needed to trigger algorithmic promotion, often showing results within weeks when combined with quality content.
Both matter, but saves signal higher value to Instagram's algorithm. Saves indicate your content is worth revisiting, which carries more weight than a quick like. Ideally, create content that earns both—engaging enough for immediate likes and valuable enough to save for later.
Comments (0)