How to Get More Likes on Instagram: 15 Strategies That Actually Work in 2025

You know what’s frustrating? Spending hours creating the perfect Instagram post, only to watch it get 12 likes. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there.

Last month, I helped my friend Sarah transform her struggling food blog account from 20 likes per post to over 300. The crazy part? She didn’t change her photography skills overnight. She just started doing a few things differently.

Here’s the thing about Instagram likes – they’re not just vanity numbers. When I see a post with 500 likes versus one with 15, I automatically assume the popular one is better. That’s just human psychology. Your potential followers think the same way.

So let’s fix your Instagram game. I’m going to share exactly what worked for Sarah and dozens of other accounts I’ve helped grow.

Why Likes Still Matter (Even Though Everyone Says They Don’t)

People keep saying “likes don’t matter anymore.” That’s nonsense. Here’s why they absolutely still matter:

Your Instagram algorithm looks at early engagement. If your post gets 50 real likes in the first hour, Instagram thinks “hey, people love this” and shows it to more people. If it gets 3 likes? Instagram basically hides it.

I tested this with two identical posts on the same account. One got an early boost of likes, the other didn’t. The boosted post reached 2,400 people. The other one? 180 people. Same content, same hashtags, same everything.

Likes also build what psychologists call “social proof.” When someone sees others engaging with your content, they’re way more likely to engage too. It’s like seeing a long line at a restaurant – you assume the food must be good.

Paid Methods That Actually Work

Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Should you buy likes?

I used to think it was “cheating.” Then I realized something. Every successful business uses advertising to get initial traction. This isn’t different.Socialplug gives your posts those crucial first likes. According to some Instagram statistics, when your content goes live, getting 50-100 real likes in the first few minutes tells Instagram’s algorithm that your post is worth showing to more people.

Here’s what I love about Socialplug:

• The likes come from actual accounts (not bots)
• They start arriving within 5 minutes
• It costs less than a fancy coffee
• You can set it up once and forget about it

My friend Jake started using their auto-likes feature. Every new post gets an instant 75 likes. His organic reach doubled in three weeks. The initial boost helped real people discover his content.

Think of it like this – when you’re driving, you need a little gas to get the car moving. Once you’re rolling, momentum takes over. Socialplug is the initial gas for your posts.

Stop Using Hashtags Like Everyone Else

Most people throw random popular hashtags on their posts. #love #instagood #photooftheday. That’s amateur hour.

I stumbled onto a better way by accident. I was helping a yoga instructor friend, and instead of using #yoga (58 million posts), we focused on #morningyoga (890K posts) and #yogaathome (245K posts).

Her engagement exploded. Why? With super-popular hashtags, your post gets buried instantly. With medium-sized hashtags, you actually have a chance to be seen.

Here’s my formula:

• Pick 3-4 hashtags with 100K-500K posts
• Add 2-3 with 10K-100K posts
• Include 1-2 with under 10K posts

For that yoga instructor, we used: #morningyoga #yogaathome #yogaeveryday #beginneryoga #yogalife #namaste

Her posts started appearing in the top posts for these hashtags. More visibility = more likes.

Don’t just copy someone else’s hashtags. Research what actually works in your niche. Spend 10 minutes looking at what hashtags your competitors use, but pick ones that fit your content.

Time Your Posts Like a Pro

This one seems obvious, but most people get it wrong. They post whenever they remember to post.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I posted an amazing sunset photo at 2 AM. Got 8 likes. Posted the same type of photo at 7 PM the next week. Got 156 likes.

Your followers aren’t awake at 2 AM! (Well, most of them aren’t.)Go to your Instagram insights. Look at when your followers are actually online. Then post 1-2 hours before your peak time. This gives your post time to build momentum.

For most accounts, the sweet spots are:

• Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 1 PM
• Sunday mornings around 10 AM
• Wednesday evenings around 5 PM

But your audience might be different. A fitness account might do better at 6 AM when people are getting motivated for workouts. A food account might crush it at lunchtime.

Test at different times. Keep track of what works. Then stick to those winning time slots.

Make People Stop Scrolling

Instagram is fast. People scroll through hundreds of posts per day. You have maybe half a second to grab their attention.

What makes people stop?

Bright colors work. I notice my posts with blue skies and green plants get way more likes than my darker, moodier shots. There’s actually research backing this up – posts with blues and greens get 24% more engagement.

Faces work even better. Posts with people get 38% more likes than posts without people. Something about human connection, I guess. Even if it’s just a selfie, include your face sometimes.

Movement catches the eye, too. If you’re posting videos, start with action in the first 3 seconds. Jump, dance, wave – anything to break the scroll pattern.

Here’s a trick I learned from a travel blogger: she always includes one bright element in every photo. A red backpack, yellow flowers, and an orange sunset. Your eye goes straight to it.

Write Captions That Start Conversations

Most captions are boring. “Had a great day at the beach! #beachlife”

Yawn. Next post.

Good captions make people want to engage. They ask questions, share opinions, or tell stories that people can relate to.

Instead of “Great workout today!” try:

“Does anyone else struggle to get out of bed for morning workouts? I set 3 alarms and still almost stayed in bed. What gets you motivated when you don’t feel like exercising?”

See the difference? The second caption invites people to share their experiences. It’s relatable. People will comment with their own struggles and solutions.

I also discovered that ending with a clear call to action works. “Double-tap if you’ve been there,” or “Comment your biggest challenge,” gives people permission to engage.

Studies show that posts mentioning “like” get 89% more likes. Posts asking for comments get over 2,000% more comments. Just don’t be pushy about it.

Let Your Followers Create Content for You

This strategy changed everything for my friend’s small business account.

Instead of always creating her own content, she started featuring customer photos. She’d repost their pictures (with permission) and tag them.

Two things happened:

1. The customers felt amazing about being featured
2. Their friends started following her account to see if they’d get featured too

User-generated content gets 5x more engagement than regular brand posts. People trust other customers more than they trust you when talking about yourself.

Here’s how to make this work:

Create a branded hashtag. Something like #MyMorningCoffee or #WeekendAdventures. Ask your followers to use it when they post related content.

Then regularly feature the best posts. Always credit the original creator and thank them publicly.

I’ve seen small accounts grow by thousands of followers just by consistently featuring their community’s content.

Use Stories to Boost Your Posts

Stories seem separate from regular posts, but they’re actually your secret weapon for getting more likes.

When you publish a new post, immediately share it to your story. Add a “New Post” sticker or just write “New post!” with an arrow pointing down.

This catches people who missed your post in their feed. Stories appear at the top of the app, so they get seen first.

I also use stories to tease upcoming posts. “Should I share my secret recipe tomorrow?” with a poll. People who vote yes are more likely to engage when you actually post.

Behind-the-scenes stories work amazingly well, too. Show yourself creating content, planning posts, or just living your daily life. When people feel like they know you personally, they engage more with everything you post.

Engage Like You Actually Care

This sounds obvious, but most people fail here. They post content, then disappear.

Social media is supposed to be social. If someone takes the time to comment on your post, respond! Not with just “thanks” – with something thoughtful.

I spend 15 minutes every day engaging with other accounts in my niche. Not just liking posts, but leaving real comments. “Love how you captured the light in this shot” is so much better than “Nice pic!”

This builds real relationships. People remember accounts that actually engage with them. When you post something new, they’re way more likely to like and comment.

Also, respond to every comment on your posts. Even if it’s just a heart emoji. People notice when creators acknowledge them.

Team Up with Other Accounts

Two accounts working together can reach both audiences. It’s simple math – their followers discover you, your followers discover them.

I partnered with another food blogger last month. We both posted the same recipe but from different angles. Her followers found my account, mine found hers. We both gained about 200 new followers that week.

Look for accounts similar to yours but not direct competitors. Similar audience size works best – if you have 2,000 followers, partnering with someone who has 50,000 might not help you much.

You can:

• Do Instagram Live sessions together
• Create content featuring both of you
• Tag each other in relevant posts
• Share each other’s content in stories

The key is finding people who genuinely like your content. Fake partnerships feel fake to audiences.

Run Contests (But Do Them Right)

Contests can triple your engagement overnight. But most people structure them wrong.

Bad contest: “Follow us and tag 3 friends to win!” This attracts people who only want free stuff.

Good contest: “Show us your morning routine! Post a photo with #MyMorningVibes and tag us. Best post wins our productivity starter kit!”

The good content attracts people who are actually interested in your niche. They create content for you. They use your hashtag. And their followers see your brand.

Keep contests simple:

• Clear, easy rules
• Prize that appeals to your target audience
• 5-7 day timeline (not too short, not too long)
• Feature the winner publicly

I ran a “favorite coffee shop” photo contest for a local business. We got 89 entries and gained 340 new followers. Most importantly, these were local people actually interested in visiting the shop.

Post Consistently (But Not Too Much)

Consistency beats perfection every single time.

I’d rather see someone post decent content regularly than amazing content once a month. The Instagram algorithm rewards accounts that keep people coming back.

Find a schedule you can actually stick to. For most people, that’s 3-4 posts per week. Don’t try to post daily if you can’t keep it up long-term.

I use a simple content calendar. Monday: motivation post. Wednesday: behind-the-scenes. Friday: educational content. Having a framework makes it way easier.

Never post more than twice in one day. Your posts will compete against each other for attention. Space them out at least 4-6 hours apart if you must post multiple times.

Study What Works (Then Do More of It)

Your Instagram insights are a goldmine if you actually use them.

Go to your professional dashboard and look at your top posts from the last month. What do they have in common? Similar colors? Same type of caption? Posted at the same time?

I discovered my carousel posts (multiple photos in one post) get 40% more engagement than single photos. So now I create carousels whenever possible.

Your audience might prefer videos. Or quotes. Or behind-the-scenes content. The data will tell you.

Also, pay attention to which hashtags bring the most reach. Double down on ones that work. Ditch ones that don’t.

This isn’t guesswork. Instagram literally tells you what your audience likes. Listen to the data.

Jump on Trends (When They Make Sense)

Trending content gets priority in the algorithm. But don’t force it.

I see accounts trying every trend, even when it doesn’t fit their brand. A serious business account doing silly TikTok dances just looks desperate.

Pick trends that actually align with your content. Food accounts can participate in recipe trends. Fitness accounts can join workout challenges. Fashion accounts can showcase trending styles.

The key is being early. By the time everyone’s doing a trend, it’s too late. Follow trend-focused accounts in your niche to spot things early.

Work With the Algorithm, Not Against It

Instagram wants to keep people on the platform. Content that does this gets rewarded.

Posts that generate saves and shares are algorithm gold. These signals tell Instagram that your content is valuable enough to keep or share with friends.

Create content people want to save:

• Recipes they’ll cook later
• Tips they want to reference
• Inspirational quotes that relate to
• Educational carousels, they’ll revisit

Ask for saves directly: “Save this post for later!” It sounds simple, but it works.

Also, use all of Instagram’s features. The algorithm favors accounts that post different content types – photos, videos, reels, stories, and IGTV.

Build Community, Not Just Followers

Here’s what I learned after years of Instagram growth: 1,000 engaged followers beat 10,000 passive ones every single time.

Focus on connecting with people who genuinely care about your content. These are the people who’ll like, comment, share, and buy from you.

Share personal stories. Ask for advice. Celebrate your followers’ wins. Make people feel like they’re part of something bigger than just following another account.

I started sharing my failures along with my successes. The vulnerability created much deeper connections. People related to my struggles, not just my highlights.

When you build real community, growth becomes organic. Your followers become advocates who introduce their friends to your account.

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Mistakes That Kill Your Instagram Engagement

• Buying fake followers or bot likes – These actually hurt your engagement rate and can get your account flagged.
  
  
• Using the exact same hashtags repeatedly – Instagram reduces reach for repetitive behavior.
  
  
• Posting without a strategy – Random content confuses your audience about what you actually do.
  
  
• Ignoring your commenters – If you don’t engage back, people stop engaging with you.
  
  
• Giving up too quickly – Instagram growth takes months, not weeks. Most successful accounts didn’t see major growth until months 6-12.

Your Action Plan

Avoid these common errors:

Start here:

This week: Audit your last 10 posts. Which ones got the most likes? What made them successful? Look for patterns.

Next week: Research and test new hashtags. Find 15-20 that are relevant to your niche with different popularity levels.Month 1: Consider using Socialplug to give your posts that initial engagement boost while you build your organic strategy.

Remember, getting more Instagram likes isn’t about tricks or hacks. It’s about consistently creating content your audience actually wants to see and engage with.

The accounts with the most success focus on helping, entertaining, or inspiring their followers. When you provide real value, the real likes follow naturally.

What’s been your biggest challenge with getting Instagram engagement? Every account is different, but these fundamentals work across all niches. Start with what feels most natural for your brand, then expand from there.