Having a good engagement rate on Instagram helps you reach your marketing goals faster.

But first, you must learn how to press the gas pedal on that engagement rate efficiently.

You’re reading the right article because you’ll learn:

  • 12 effective strategies that can increase your engagement levels
  • The science behind these methods
  • Real-life examples that move the needle
  • Pro tips

This information will help you choose the right tactic for your audience, business goals, and brand. Keep reading below.

1. Ask questions

Engaging your followers through questions is the gateway to a good engagement rate on Instagram because:

  • It shows your followers that you care.
  • People want to talk about themselves, so they’re more likely to respond.

Pro tip: You can then use the insights from these responses to tweak your future content calendar.

And that will improve your engagement rate even more.

Taylor Moran offers a good example of starting a conversation, which you can see from the in-depth comments below:

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But you can also try other tactics, such as:

  • AMA sessions (Ask Me Anything)
  • Quizzes in Instagram Stories or Reels
  • Polls
  • Interactive features, such as the emoji slider

Career coach Rosie uses quizzes in her Instagram Stories to get essential feedback from her audience:

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2. Do live streams

Studies show that 82% of people prefer live videos from brands rather than posts.

And you can achieve a slew of objectives with your live streams:

  • Interact with your followers by responding to their comments.
  • Present behind-the-scenes moments.
  • Tease a new launch or feature update.
  • Run a giveaway.
  • Create a tutorial or how-to.

Whatever your goal, live streams work because they:

  • Create a sense of urgency.
  • Feel more intimate and personal than posts.

Even Kim Kardashian runs live makeup tutorials, which help her engage with her wide Instagram community better.

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Notice how people watching these lives feel compelled to comment.

This live stream makes them feel more a part of the loyal community of followers that Kim Kardashian has created.

3. Make unbeatable offers

Dan Ariely outlines the “zero price effect” in his Predictably Irrational book.

According to the author, people cannot refuse free perks, which is why discounts, giveaways, and freebies work so well in advertising.

Pro tip: You can use the same principle to obtain a good engagement rate on Instagram.

Career Coach Rosie is a case study in Instagram engagement by herself.

She typically has unbeatable offers in all her information-packed posts. For example, the post below is an excellent salary negotiation response.

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Notice: Rosie promises a free negotiation template to people who will comment “BANK” on her post.

This tactic is an excellent lead magnet because only interested prospects will contact her.

Rosie uses this tactic quite frequently.

But one of her Instagram Stories takes it one step further:

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Rosie asks her followers to send their resumes directly so she can evaluate them during a live resume review.

This tactic can turn a good Instagram engagement rate into an excellent one because:

  • Rosie will showcase her expertise, thus increasing her views and comments.
  • Her followers will spread the word about this event, thus increasing participation even more.

4. Offer relevant information [in concentrated bits]

One way to increase your engagement rate on Instagram is to offer relevant information that your audience can’t get anywhere else.

That way:

  • You underline your expertise.
  • Your audience is likelier to respond in the comments, especially if they have an a-ha! moment.

And for that a-ha moment to happen, you need to offer relevant information in concentrated bits.

Licensed therapist Jason VanRuler offers a good example.