How to Get more Likes on Instagram

The picture above is from my Instagram feed, and was taken a few weeks ago. It is currently my most liked Instagram photo to date. Why? Personally, I think I have taken better pictures, but my opinion isn’t necessarily the one that matters when it comes to the popularity of my photos. So, what does matter when it comes to getting likes? I am by no means and expert on the subject, but I have been using Instagram for a few years now and I think I am beginning to crack the code to a successful IG shot. Here are my tips to getting more likes on your Instagram photos if you are looking to pick up some new followers or just increase your photo sharing skills! Make sure to follow me on Instagram as well by clicking here!

Take pictures that people are searching for

An image like the one above is something I know a lot of people like to look for. It’s essentially a deskscape, showing a workspace and some pretty office supplies. These aren’t just any office supplies, however. These items have been chosen for their popularity and for the application of their hashtags. I will talk more about the importance of hashtags in a moment, but back to the items in the image. They are all pretty items made by popular brands. A Macbook Air, a Kate Spade planner, a Bath and Body Works candle. All these items are things people like and people like to look at them. Now, I’m not saying you should just take pictures of deskscapes and office supplies, but I am saying you should think about the subjects you want to capture in terms of their overall popularity on the internet. People like certain things, it’s no secret. Pictures of pets do well, a beautiful plate of food, composed landscapes and the list goes on. When you take the photos that people are searching for and like to see, your photos will get more likes.

Use relevant hashtags

When I think about crafting my Instagram photos, I think about the hashtags I am going to be able to use to describe it. Hashtags are very important. If you are not already a popular Instagrammer, hashtags are the only way anyone new is going to come across your account and your pictures. So, it is very important that you use as many relevant hashtags as possible to give your image the largest audience possible. For this image specifically, I used 21 hashtags. Some are popular IG tags that everyone uses (#igers #igdaily #instagood etc) and some are specific brand oriented tags that I know are popular. The first hashtag that I used, #filofax, has over 130,000 posts when you search it. That’s a lot of posts, which means there are a lot of people who are using and searching for that tag. Now, I know people say that you shouldn’t use too many hashtags, and I know that sometimes it seems spammy, but the way I look at it is that I am giving more people an opportunity to find and enjoy my picture. Some people think that using too many hashtags can backfire, but ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a picture on Instagram that you liked but then decided not to like it because the user had tagged too many items? Chances are you’re going to get more positive attention than negative attention when you use hashtags. Now, I am not saying to use hashtags that don’t apply, that is spamming the system, but as long as your tags apply, I say use liberally!

Actively like other photos

When I post a new photo to Instagram, I like to go through the hashtags I used, one by one, and like other recent photos taken by others who have used the tag. When I do this, I find that the users whose photos I have liked, come back to my account and like my photo(s) as well. Sometimes I even get new followers this way, and sometimes I find new accounts that I want to follow, too! You can’t expect to just post images to Instagram and focus on your own account without searching around and interacting with other users. Although Instagram isn’t exactly the same level of socialization as Twitter or Facebook, liking photos and leaving comments for others draws people to you in a direct way. The more you do this and interact with others, the more likes you will get and inevitably, the more followers you will acquire.

Have a sense of composition

I have discussed the topic of taking great photographs before, so I won’t go into too much detail here and now, but having a sense of what makes a good composition is important when taking photos that people will like. Instagram gives you the option to use the camera grid when taking pictures directly in the app, and if you don’t think you are good with composition on your own, this is a great tool to use! Remember, composition is more than just about placement of your subject(s) in photos, it’s also about how your subject or subjects interact with each other and within the frame as a whole. Take some time to study the photos of others that you may find interesting and ask yourself what about the photo has drawn you in. Color, size and distance of objects in an image all play a role in the composition so you will want to think about all those things to understand what makes a great photo! Also, feel free to use other apps to edit your IG photos before you post them. I know there are purist out there who don’t believe in using edited photos on IG, but if you are trying to get more likes on your photos, you are going to need to produce the best content you can and sometimes that means using other apps to help you create a stunning image!