How to Get More Likes on Instagram in 2023 (They Still Matter)

Likes are just one of Instagram’s many metrics that can be used to measure your success. Seeing how many likes a post, carousel or Reel has is one of the quickest ways to tell how well you’re doing.

But just how important are they? Do subconscious likes still count? Should you buy likes on Instagram?

To wordplay that last question: No. Don’t do it. Buying likes on Instagram won’t work. The good news is, we’ve compiled tons of strategies for getting those hearts the legit way — the weightier things in like are free.

If you’re short on time, this video summarizes the most important tips from the list below:

Do Instagram likes still matter, plane if they’re hidden?

They sure do! Likes matter as much as ever.

In specimen you missed it: Instagram spoken in May 2021 that it would give people the option to hibernate public like counts.

Ever since, there have been two ways to go well-nigh hiding likes:

• You can hibernate like counts in your personal Instagram feed (so that you don’t see how many likes others are getting)
• You can hibernate likes on your own posts (so others can’t see how many likes you’re getting)

But whether we can see Instagram likes or not, the Instagram algorithm continues to work like it unchangingly has, equal to the platform — and likes are one of the success metrics that help it decide whether a piece of content should be displayed to increasingly people.

How to get increasingly likes on Instagram: 24 tactics

1. Use the right hashtags

Using Instagram hashtags will help get your post in front of increasingly users, leading to increasingly likes. Once you use a hashtag, your post will towards on the page for that hashtag. That makes it easier for people to find you (and like your content).

This post from Indochino uses the hashtags #Indochino, #IndochinoWeddings, #WeddingWednesdays and #BlackFriday2022, making it very easy for users searching for wedding content (or Black Friday content) to find them.

2. Tag relevant users

Tagging other users in your IG posts will send those users a notification—and not only will tagged users usually like the post, they’ll moreover probably share it. Increasingly visibility = increasingly potential likes.

This super ungifted post required a collaborative effort from a poet, stylist and several ceramicists, and each of the creatives involved are tagged (and mentioned in the caption). This expands the post’s regulars to all of the followers of all of the collaborators.

3. Write compelling captions

Instagram is a very visual platform, but it’s still a good strategy to use your words (after all, text is far easier for the algorithm to read than images are). Take time to write thoughtful captions to tell your regulars increasingly well-nigh your post — it helps to showcase a increasingly well-rounded perspective of your brand. And Instagram users like that.

This reworked suit maker puts a lot of work into her products, and she shares stories well-nigh the items in many of her captions. Her regulars not only sees the final product, but moreover learns well-nigh the megacosm process (for example, that the stratify whilom took over 8 hours to make).

4. Make a Reel

Even if videos aren’t your thing, try making an Instagram Reel. Reels are quickly taking over the platform, and have a higher Instagram engagement rate than still posts (and likes count as part of that engagement).

At first glance, this painter’s work would be largest suited to a photo than a video — but instead of just posting a picture of the finished work, the artists showed their process in an interesting and engaging Reel.

5. Run a like-to-win contest

Appeal to the universal human love of self-ruling stuff and run a like-to-win races to really get those <3s rolling in. There’s lots of spanking-new strategies for running a successful IG contest, but no matter what, you’re guaranteed to earn increasingly likes if that’s part of a races entry.

This giveaway asks users to like the post (in wing to tagging friends and pursuit the page) in order to enter the contest. Tagging friends is flipside genius component of Instagram contests—tagged friends will be notified of the post, prompting them to moreover enter (and like).

6. Post good photos

Eyeroll, right? Obviously, one of the most vital ways you can get increasingly likes on your photos is by posting photos that are good: think high-quality, well-composed, engaging images that are as shareable as possible.

This yellow sandwich is a good example. It really shows off the sando in all its juicy glory—tough for any foodie to resist liking. To create eye-catching, trappy graphics, try using Canva right in Hootsuite Composer or one of these 21 other Instagram photo editing apps.

7. Post user-generated content

Posting user-generated content (with permission, of course) helps you to foster a stronger relationship with your target audience. Encourage users to post photos of your product and tag your brand, so you have plenty of unconfined content to segregate from.

For example, the photo whilom was originally posted by a vintage suit brand that tagged Girlfriend Collective, the trademark that makes the pocketed skirt. Girlfriend Collective reposted the photo (crediting the original poster) and earned some free—and funny—content showing off their product. It got 25 thousand likes.

You can encourage your followers to post user-generated content by creating a hashtag. That’s what two-face Stephanie Hsu did to get people to post their Everything Everywhere All at Once Halloween costumes. Post-Halloween, there were over a thousand posts with that hashtag.

8. Post behind-the-scenes content

Not every photo and video that you post has to be perfect and polished—sharing some of your process, or behind-the-scenes content, gives your followers a increasingly holistic view of your brand.

This carousel post (and the twin caption) goes in-depth into the process of how the creator makes her products. Her followers can largest appreciate—and like—all of the work that goes into her handmade jewelry.

9. Host a takeover

Ask someone united with your trademark (an employee, partner, collaborator etc.) to take over your Instagram for the day and share a increasingly personal side of the work that you do. This opens your content up to a wider audience, as the individual taking over your Instagram worth will likely share the content on their personal feed, as well.

For example, the English National Ballet had one of their dancers take over their Instagram and share a little backstage magic. This works in the takeover-er’s (that’s the technical term) favor, too—they’re exposed to your audience, and vice versa.

10. Post content at the right time

You’ll get increasingly likes on your post if you publish it when your followers are online. Use a tool like Hootsuite’s Weightier Time to Post feature to make sure that you’re posting at the optimum time for your audience.

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11. Embrace the memes

Show a increasingly lighthearted sign of your trademark (and convince Gen Z you’re not cringey) by posting relevant, relatable memes.

Memes don’t overtly ventilate for your brand, but they’re fun, shareable and—if you do them right—hilarious. Chipotle nails the meme content on their Instagram feed, and earns tens of thousands of likes for their brilliantly unconvincing posts.

12. Share posts to your Story

Since many Instagram users tap through stories instead of scrolling through their feed (and the Instagram algorithm sometimes ways your posts won’t pop up on their feed, anyway), it’s a good idea to share new photos or reels to your Story.

Source: @hers

When doing this, it’s a good idea to requite your followers some motivation to go to the very post (and like it). This story from Hers shares a new reel with a “new Reel” sticker, encouraging viewers to go to the post itself to see the content. (If you’re looking for 32 Instagram Story ideas, we’ve got you).

13. Collaborate with other creators

No trademark is an island. Collaborate with other creators or influencers in your industry to foster your online (and personal) community. In wing to making new friends, collaborating with others moreover helps remoter expand your regulars and reach.

Nike’s collab with Naomi Osaka is a good example — the two work in related industries, so the partnership makes sense. Nike’s fans are introduced to Osaka, and Osaka’s fans see her support for Nike. It’s a win-win (and a like-like).

14. Be creative

Here’s an obvious but important bit of advice: as a creator, you’ve got to be creative. Sometimes, getting likes is as simple as coming up with a unique or clever idea.

Take this post from Pantone. It’s good marketing for the Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie colours, it’s a beautifully well-balanced photo, and the idea overall is creative and fun. It’s got scrutinizingly 40k likes.

15. Be funny

Why so serious? A little humour goes a long way on social media (see: Embrace the Memes) and it moreover creates a increasingly well-rounded image of your brand.

The whilom post from Monday Hair Care nails a humorous voice, and moreover references the very-popular yearly release of Spotify Wrapped. Relatable, funny content (example: “Your morning started with 2,786 hours sitting in your towel without showering) is super likable and super sharable.

16. Engage outside your feed

In its ongoing struggle to requite the people what they want, the algorithm prioritizes Instagram posts from finance that it thinks are “close.” How does it measure closeness? By monitoring how much finance interact with each other.

So, if you want to expand your reach, and, therefore your chances of getting likes, don’t be a wallflower: go along and interact. Get generous with the likes and comments.

17. Transpiration things up

If you’re using your Instagram for business, most of your posts have marketing in mind. But it’s good to transpiration things up every once in a while so your feed isn’t just a collage of ads for your brand. Every once in a while, consider posting tomfool and engaging Instagram content that doesn’t necessarily have to do with selling something.

This post from Brooklyn Candle Studio doesn’t mention candles at all—instead, it celebrates the fall colours in New York. The content is still related to the brand, but it doesn’t directly “sell” anything to followers. It’s a refreshing unravel from increasingly traditional marketing efforts, and a very likable photo that fits aesthetically with the rest of their content.

18. Requite back

We’re not suggesting philanthropy for the sake of Instagram likes—giving when should unchangingly be a goal—but sharing the ways in which you’re supporting your polity is important.

Along with proving to your followers that you’re in this for increasingly than just the money, you might encourage other brands to do the same.

Cheekbone Beauty’s scholarship fund is a good example. It’s a mindful, socially conscious effort to support their community, and sharing the post on social media is a unconfined way to spread the word. And increasingly likes = increasingly exposure = increasingly applications and increasingly inspiration for other brands.

19. Get on the explore page

The explore page (a hodgepodge of public posts and videos) is like a personalized message board, and it’s a unconfined way to showcase your content to a new audience. Getting on the explore page requires employing many of the strategies once mentioned in this post: using those relevant hashtags and geotags, writing descriptive captions and taking unconfined photos.

This post from Trader Joe’s is a good example: there’s hashtags for #TraderJoes, #Brie, #Cheeseboard and #Charcuterie, plus a well-spoken and informative caption. The photo is visually appealing, too—the perfect recipe for a 12k likes.

20. Make unconfined merch

Merch is a good strategy for making money on Instagram, and tomfool and creative merchandise will earn you likes, too.

A24’s post of their winsome Marcel the Shell figurine earned over 24 thousand likes, as well as over a hundred comments. Not all of those users would have bought the merch, of course, but those likes show support for the trademark and requite the post a good algorithm boost.

21. Share useful information

Think of this kind of post like a service you’re providing to your followers: what expertise can you offer that will make their lives easier? Posting self-ruling and useful information is a unconfined way to get increasingly likes (and increasingly importantly, a unconfined way to share important information).

This Reel sharing Indigenous-owned brands to shop during the holiday season is a perfect example. It’s timely, practical and valuable information communicated unmistakably and concisely.

22. Watch what works for your competitors

Competition makes you better—especially when you perform a competitive analysis. Think of the superstars in your industry and use their strategies as inspiration for your own.

For instance, if you’re an up-and-coming skincare brand, you might want to take a page out of Fenty Skin’s book. Their Instagram contests, trappy photography, engaging Reels and increasingly are a unconfined place to start.

23. Share satisfying content

Regardless of your industry or niche, satisfying content scrutinizingly unchangingly does well on Instagram. Think well-nigh how you can share elements of your trademark that finger gratifying to watch (timelapses of cleaning, packaging, towers or destroying things are a good example).

Hydraulic Press Channel is all well-nigh this type of content—even if you’re not particularly passionate well-nigh hydraulic presses, everyone “likes” seeing Skittles turn into noodles.

24. Tag your location

Geotagging your location is a way for increasingly people to find and like your photos. It’s plane increasingly helpful if you’re a trademark with a brick and mortar location, as you build up a sense of polity with your regulars… and potential regulars. (Just remember to make sure your physical coordinates are correct so that you towards on the map.)

Beaucoup Bakery geotags their (very tasty-looking) photos of treats, making it easy for pastry lovers to find them.

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