There’s nothing more disheartening than pouring your heart, money, energy (and half your work-day) into a piece of content that just… flops. We’ve all been there!
While we’ve got the tips to boost your Instagram engagement — we’ve also put together a cheat-sheet on what to avoid if you want to keep the algorithms happy.
Recently, Instagram for Business helped us all out and released some tips on what not to do, including:
Using Watermarks
Ditch logo watermarks on your posts – showcasing branded content is a red flag in the algorithm and could be diminishing your reach and impressions.
Posting Content you didn’t make
Fake it till you make it… or don’t. Instagram is constantly on the look-out for duplicate content. When Meta identifies two or more identical pieces of content, it will only recommend the original one, so try to avoid reposting content that is already on the platform.
Publishing Reels over 90 Seconds
Attention spans are short (if you’ve made it this far, congratulations). While the optimum length for Instagram Reels is 30-60 seconds, the average watch time is around 7-10 seconds. When Reels are over 90 seconds, people are less likely to engage, hence the Reel will reach less people.
Engagement baitDon’t take the bait! Instead focus on authentic engagement with your community, as Instagram will demote content that is seen to be ‘engagement-baiting’. Think of those annoying posts begging you to like, comment or share with a friend.
Dodge these common pitfalls and watch your brand’s engagement, reach and growth soar in no time.
Learn more about our social media services and how we’ve helped brands grow on social media through our work.
