5 Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Instagram Engagement Rates
Are you experiencing decreased engagement on Instagram because of the latest algorithm changes? You’re not alone!
Nowadays, Instagram users and brands look past follower and like counts towards other engagement metrics to signify whether or not an account is credible and follow-worthy. Ironically, the algorithm has also made it harder for organic posts to be seen and this has resulted in decreased engagement metrics for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the board.
The good thing, however, is that increasing Instagram engagement and building an authentic online community might not be as hard as you think! Here are five mistakes that you might be making that are hurting your engagement rates, and five alternative techniques that you should implement instead.
Mistake #1: Leaving basic, bot-like comments
Try This Instead: Leave authentic comments and responses with four or more words
Think about this: do you make friends in real life by giving someone a thumbs up when they take the time to compliment you?
No. Why? Because that’s just plain rude…
The same social rules apply to the online space. A simple like on a comment or responding with an emoji is not going to cut it. People are on social media because they crave connection and basic responses read as inauthentic and disconnected. If you’re engaging with your community that way, it should be no surprise when they respond with that same energy.
Leave a thoughtful comment with four or more words that responds to not only the image but also the caption. It helps to build a sense of connection and before you know it, you’ll have an authentic, long-lasting connection with that individual.
Mistake #2: NOT engaging with people at all
Try This Instead: Respond to every comment that you get thoughtfully
We get it, it can be a lot to respond to every single comment (especially if they’re redundant), but taking the time to reply really does help to foster a sense of community. Not only does it signify to the Instagram algorithm that your accounts have a relationship, but on a deeper level, it builds rapport with that individual and shows that you care. Every single person who lands on your page and takes the time to comment should be treated as a potential lead because after all, it only takes 1000 true fans to build an empire.
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Mistake #3: Never reply to DMs
Try This Instead: Use DMs as an intimate way to spark a personal conversation
Again, we get it, DMs can be a lot to manage but they’re actually one of the most intimate ways to start a meaningful connection with your followers. DMs can be a great function for providing one-on-one value and increasing the know, like, and trust factor that is so crucial when converting leads.
Mistake #4: Not asking questions in the comments on your photo
Try This Instead: Use comment replies to spark conversations within the community
Rather than replying with a simple response, the comments section under your photo is another opportunity to build relationships and community. It’s a space in which you can connect deeper with followers by providing additional value through engaging replies or tease future products. Make the conversation about them by asking thoughtful questions or offering new insights; it’ll make a stronger impression.
Mistake #5: ONLY engage with your existing community & not branch out
Try This Instead: Spend at least half of your time engaging with new individuals in similar communities
In order to grow your engagement and to get more eyes on your content, you have to bring new leads in. One of the best ways to do this is to go into existing circles where your ideal followers congregate and engage with those people. Visit a specific hashtag or even reply to comments left on others’ posts within your niche to bring more eyes to your account. That being said, make sure that you’re actually providing value rather than simply spamming. The former will give you authority and recognition and the latter will take away from your value.
Identifying these five mistakes and making adjustments to them is only the beginning to build a more engaged Instagram community. Engagement, however, is only one part of a cohesive Instagram strategy. To build an online presence that gives you authority AND converts, you need more than just that.
Instagram Bootcamp is an all-encompassing course that I’ve created to help you uplevel your Instagram presence for business. In this 10-day course, you’ll learn not only the simple, applicable steps that you can take to grow your community (the same ones that I took to grow my community from 0 to 35k) but also the strategy behind what content to share and how to utilize the platform’s different functions to convert.
The course starts on September 27, 2021, and features 10+ modules, multiple downloadable PDFs, a life-stream Q&A, unlimited support via a Facebook group, lifetime access to the content, and more. Hear what past students have said about the course or learn more at https://danielleabele.com/instagram-bootcamp.
