How to Measure Instagram Engagement (+Ways to Improve It) for Your Online Business

With over 2 billion people active on Instagram, individuals try their best to stand out from the crowd. Whether it is about a brand or being a celebrity, keeping your followers engaged with your account is mandatory if you want to grow on this social media platform.

Instagram engagement rate is all about getting information on how your followers interact with your content. You can consider the number of likes, comments, shares, saves, and other actions your followers can take with your account. Keeping an eye on the follower's engagement is essential, and one must know how to measure the engagement rate.

This write-up will give you a detailed piece of information on how to measure Instagram engagement and how to improve it for your online business. However, before we get to the tips and tricks to measure Instagram engagement, let's examine why you need to measure it.

Why Do You Need to Measure Instagram Engagement

Instagram Engagement Rate is a metric that shows the number of likes and comments on each post. For example, if your post receives 100 likes and 10 comments, it has a 10% engagement rate. Instagram engagement rate is significant because it directly indicates your account's popularity and your Instagram content. It basically shows how good your posts are. Good engagement rates show that customers trust your brand and your posts.

The higher your Instagram engagement rate, the more engaged your followers are. The better engagement you get, the more people you attract, and the more people you attract, the higher number of potential customers you can reach. This is why you absolutely need to monitor your Instagram engagement rate. Another reason to measure Instagram engagement is to figure out what changes you need to make to your account. You never know that you may be losing followers due to ineffective marketing campaigns, poorly clicked photographs, unappealing content, or more.

How to Measure Instagram Engagement Rate

Whether you're a content creator or a business owner, calculating your Instagram engagement is a pretty important thing to do. However, it is just not about counting the number of likes, as you may have to learn a few tricks and formulas to calculate the engagement rate. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the tactics to calculate the engagement rate:

Formula #1: Through the Number of Followers

The first formula we have here is you need to add the number of likes and comments first. Then, divide the sum by the number of followers and multiply it by 100.

Engagement = (Likes + Comments) / Followers x 100

It is useful for accounts with only information about likes, comments, and followers, as all of these metrics are public. In addition, the formula is perfect for those who want to compare their engagement rate with the competitors. And it could be highly beneficial for individuals who decide to hire an influencer for brand promotion and wish to check the impact of taking this step.

Formula #2: Through the Help of Impressions

In this method, you need to add the number of likes, comments, and saves first. Then, divide it by the number of impressions and multiply it by 100.

Engagement = (Likes + Comments + Saves) / Impressions x 100

Many social media experts find this formula more effective and accurate than the previous one, as it mentions the number of people who actually engaged with your posts.

If you've no idea how to find out the number of engagements, you need to follow these steps:

• Switch your account from 'Public' to 'Business.'
• From the drop-down at the top right, you'll see the option 'Insights.'
• Select 'Post' and change the option 'Impressions' to 'Engagement.'

Note: This method is accurate but useless if you need to compare the engagement with your competitors. And to get the best out of this method, you can run Instagram paid ads and then observe the engagement.

Formula #3: Through Factored Instagram Engagement

This method is rare to use but can be helpful if you take the engagement rate seriously and want to consider certain factors other than likes and comments. The method is called Factored Instagram Engagement, and it goes like this:

Engagement = [ (Comments x 2) + Other interactions ] / Impressions x 100

You may get an inflated result by using this formula, depending on whether you find it useful or not.

Effective Ways to Improve Your Instagram Engagement

Instagram is a fantastic platform, but with its change in algorithm, more businesses are getting frustrated with their low engagement rates. If you are looking to up your Instagram game, then there are two things you need to do: get more followers and get more likes. With that being said, here are the most effective ways to improve your Instagram engagement.

1. Identify Your Audience

First, you need to figure out what type of audience is engaging with your account. Make sure you understand what intrigues your audience and what motivates them. Most times, business owners need to learn about creating engaging content.

You must define your buyer persona first if you're also dealing with the same problem. A buyer persona is simply a representation of your customers; what do their work profile, hobbies, and schedule look like? Observing your Instagram audience insights can be highly beneficial in that case as it gives a clear view of how many people are interacting with your posts and what their demographics are.

2. Add CTAs to the Captions

Creating a strong caption is always the motto for any brand and every creator if they wish to enhance Instagram engagement. However, it would be best if you focused on creating strong captions first, and that can be done by adding context to the pictures, bringing out the brand's personality, and encouraging your audience to take action.

Then comes CTAs, which are additional sentences that prompt your audience to take action. For example - "To know more about this product, visit the website" or "Click on this link to get such products."

3. Create Valuable Content

Creating valuable content can boost Instagram engagement by driving people to your account and encouraging them to follow you. By creating high-quality, engaging content, you'll engage both your followers and potential new followers. You can also use this strategy to promote your business or product meaningfully, which could lead to increased sales.

Here are a few tips for creating valuable content:

• Research what attracts attention on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Look at pictures that have gotten a lot of likes or shares - these tend to be entertaining and informative, and helpful. Use similar techniques when writing your own posts, emphasizing the benefits of what you're promoting rather than simply rambling on about yourself or your business.
• Take advantage of trending topics (and popular hashtags) to gain exposure for your content. If there's something interesting happening in the world that relates to what you write about, make sure to discuss it! This will help attract an audience that is interested in whatever topic is being discussed at the moment.
• Finally, be creative with how you format and present your content, and you can do that using multimedia tools like videos and images that can really stand out from the crowd.
  

4. Engage with Your Users

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today, with over 700 million active users. It's a great platform for businesses to use to engage with their followers and build relationships. One of the best ways to Boost Instagram engagement is by using influencer marketing strategies.

By working with well-known and respected bloggers or YouTubers, your business can gain exposure and links back to your website or blog in return for promoting your product or service on their channels. This will help you reach a larger audience than you would otherwise be able to achieve, which will result in higher conversion rates and more sales from those who see your content.

5. Create Shareable Graphics

Creating shareable graphics can boost Instagram engagement by increasing the reach and credibility of your content. Graphics that are easy to understand, colorful, and fun are popular on social media; these qualities make them ideal for driving engagement on Instagram.

To create a shareable graphic:

• Start by considering what message you want to communicate.
• Once you have a clear idea of what you want to say, begin designing your graphic using an online graphics editor or software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP.
• Use vibrant colors and interesting shapes to draw attention to your message.
• Make sure the graphic is large enough so that it will be visible on all social media platforms (Instagram included).
• When creating a graphic for distribution on Instagram, keep in mind that images with text typically perform better than those without text.

Including links within your image also helps increase its click-through rate (CTR). Ultimately, good design coupled with effective messaging can help drive positive responses from followers on social media.

Additionally, engaging with customers directly on Instagram can lead to better customer retention rates and increased loyalty among current customers. By responding quickly to comments and questions, you'll show that you care about each follower - something that will encourage them to continue following your account even if new content isn't posted regularly.

Bottom Line

A strong Instagram presence is a no-brainer if you're a business. It's free to reach a new audience and drive more business. But, sometimes, it feels like all your hard work on Instagram goes unnoticed. It can feel like your photos and videos don't get many likes, comments, or views. You've spent hours crafting the perfect shot, and your reward is a pitiful engagement rate. It's frustrating, and you want to know what you're doing wrong.

So, if you keep up with the tips mentioned above, you can easily track the Instagram engagement rate and even improve it effectively. However, if you're interested in reading more useful blogs about eCommerce and Dropshipping, you can read the blogs on the DSers blog page.