How To Get More Instagram Likes: 8 Effective Ways

Getting more likes on Instagram isn't just about posting aesthetically pleasing content. While visuals make people stop and look, it's important to get them to engage. Likes may seem like a minor metric, but they play a significant role in expanding your reach.

With Instagram's ever-changing algorithm and increasingly competitive pool of creators, you need a strategic approach to growing your like count. Read on to learn how to get more likes on Instagram.

Do Instagram Likes Still Matter?

Likes are still important, even as Instagram shifts to new engagement metrics like saves and shares. Likes provide instant viewer feedback, telling you how interested people are and how visible your content is on the platform. Here's why likes still matter. 

Offer Instant Feedback

A high number of Instagram likes means people resonate with your content, while a lower count suggests it might need changing. This means they help you understand what works and what doesn't.

For example, a carousel of behind-the-scenes footage might get more likes than a single product shot. That's a sign your audience enjoys more personal, story-like content. Tracking likes over time tells you which topics, formats, and styles receive the most engagement. Then, you can make future content accordingly for better results.

Encourage Others to Watch

People are naturally drawn to content that seems popular. When a post racks up more and more likes, it makes others more likely to stop, like, and share. This influence is a major driver of online engagement.

Think about viral reels or trending Instagram posts — when you see thousands of likes on a video, you’re more inclined to watch it, assuming it must be entertaining or informative. This effect is even stronger when Instagram suggests “popular” posts in your feed or Explore page, reinforcing the idea that more likes equal must-see content.

Optimize the Instagram Algorithm

Instagram's algorithm popularizes content that generates quick engagement, and likes are among the most important early metrics. When a post gets a surge of likes soon after it's live, Instagram interprets it as valuable content and pushes it to more people's feeds, Stories, and Explore pages.

For example, if you post a new Reel and it starts gaining traction with likes within the first hour, Instagram is more likely to show it to a broader audience beyond your followers. This increases your reach and gives potential new followers a better chance of discovering your account.

Top 8 Ways to Get More Likes on Instagram

In addition to visuals, getting more likes on Instagram comes down to strategy — but you might be wondering why you have many followers and no likes on Instagrams. Here are eight effective ways to increase likes on your posts.

1. Post Stunning Visuals

Instagram is a visual social media platform, and high-quality content keeps people from scrolling past your posts. Sharp cover images, strong composition and post dimensions, balanced colors, and engaging Stories grab attention, encouraging users to drop a like.

For example, posting a well-lit, close-up shot of a product with an interesting background will attract more likes than a dimly lit, blurry image.

2. Become a Storyteller

A great photo or video catches attention, but a gripping story hooks people. Audiences connect more with narrative content, whether it's a personal experience, a behind-the-scenes video, or an emotional journey.

For example, instead of just posting a photo of your new artwork, share the inspiration behind it. Did a childhood memory spark the idea? Did you face challenges while creating it? Giving context makes your content more relatable, encouraging people to like your post.

If you don't have the time or creative energy to script narratives, you can use Captions' AI Video Script Generator to make new ones in seconds. You can also add trending audio to improve your post’s reach.

3. Host Giveaways

Interactive posts like giveaways and polls are fast ways to boost engagement. When incentivizing people to like a post as part of the entry, you naturally increase your like count while reaching new users.

For example, you can post a giveaway with instructions like:

• “Like this post!:
• “Follow my Instagram account!”
• “Tag two friends in the comments!”

Since tagged friends see the post and might also enter, you can create a ripple effect that expands your reach. However, it's important to offer a prize that genuinely interests your audience — something coveted and related to your niche, rather than a generic reward like a gift card.

4. Partner With Other Creators

Collaborating with other creators gives your content access to a new audience, increasing the chances of getting more likes and engagement.

For example, a travel creator and a fashion influencer could team up for a “10 Best Outfits for Travel” post. Since the post is visible to both accounts’ followers, it has a larger reach and higher engagement. Instagram’s collaboration feature lets you co-author posts, so any collab appears on both profiles for maximum reach.

This also works with Reels, Lives, and Story takeovers, where you and a fellow creator can cross-promote each other’s content.

5. Make Interactive Stories

Instagram Stories also has a like button, and while this feature doesn't directly impact engagement with your main post, you can repost grid content there. The more people interact with your Stories, the more likely they'll see and like your regular posts.

Polls, quizzes, and Q&A stickers encourage quick engagement. You can ask, "Which song should I cover next?" or "What recipe would you like to learn?" with poll options. This interaction builds habits — followers who engage with your Stories regularly will naturally engage with your posts, too.

You can also use Captions' Instagram Story Maker to make standout Stories that attract people to your main content.

6. Go Live

Instagram Live creates real-time engagement, making your content feel personal and authentic — attributes the algorithm favors. Since Instagram prioritizes Lives in users' notifications and feeds by putting them at the top of the screen with a "Live" badge, it makes your profile more visible. 

For example, you can livestream a tutorial teaching a recipe or dance and answer audience questions directly. These real-time interactions make your followers feel more personally connected to you. After the session, saving the Live as a post or Reel keeps the engagement going, giving the content another chance to gain likes.

7. Use Instagram’s Popular Hashtags

Hashtags categorize your content and help new audiences discover your posts. Posts with trending hashtags have a better chance of showing up on the Explore page, where you can attract more likes from people outside your follower base.

Use a mix of:

• Popular or trending hashtags (like #Photography, #Travel, #ThrowbackThursday) for broad reach
• Niche hashtags (like #StreetPhotographyTips, #SoloTravelDiaries, #DIYRecipes) to attract engaged users
• Branded hashtags (like your personal or campaign hashtag) to build a community

For instance, if you’re a fitness creator posting an at-home workout, using #HomeWorkoutChallenge is more effective than just #Fitness because it targets people interested in that specific content type. 

8. Post Regularly

If you rarely post on Instagram, your content won't often appear in followers' feeds often enough for high engagement. Instagram's algorithm prioritizes active accounts, meaning the more consistently you share, the more likely your posts will appear in feeds.

How often you should post depends on your audience, but a few times a week is generally a good baseline. If ramping up to daily posting feels overwhelming, planning and scheduling content ahead of time will help you stay consistent without burning out.

Get More People to Double Tap With Captions

There are multiple ways to get eyes and likes on Instagram — but high-quality content is a top priority.

That's where Captions makes content creation easier. With tools like the Instagram Caption Generator, you can simply enter text prompts and save time. You can also resize your video for Instagram and automatically add subtitles, so your repurposed content looks good and accessible no matter where you post it.

Try Captions today and watch your like count grow.