How to Get More Views on Instagram? 16 Hacks [2024]

Once upon a time, Cristiano Ronaldo came to me and said: “Master, teach me how to play football and how to get more views on Instagram”. And that’s how his beautiful career began. You don’t believe me? And rightly so! Just as you don’t believe in my words, don’t fall for all those fairy tales that self-proclaimed Instagram gurus try to push on you.

Instead, let me show you 16 realistic and actionable tips to truly boost your Instagram views. Read on and transform your Instagram strategy today!

Finding the answer to how to get more views on Instagram requires patience, a data-driven approach, and – preferably – using the right tools.

What counts as a view on Instagram?

A view is a metric used by Instagram to measure how often your content has been watched.

It’s worth underlining that, as an official metric, Instagram views do not apply to all the content formats available on the platform!

Instagram Impressions

Many people confuse views with impressions. Instagram impressions indicate how many times any content has been displayed to users.

So, contrary to views, impressions measure the reach, not engagement.

In fact, there are three only three types of content that allow you to check views: video feed posts, Instagram Reels, and Instagram Stories.

So, what counts as a view on Instagram for each of these formats?

It’s pretty straightforward:

• Video feed post – the view is calculated when the users watch it for at least 3 seconds;
• Instagram Reel – exactly like in the case of Instagram videos, the Reel view counts when the user watches it for at least 3 seconds;
• Instagram Story – the platform interprets each impression by a unique user as a view.

As for regular photo posts and carousels, we are not talking about views, but the metric called “Accounts reached”.

It shows the number of unique accounts that have seen your post on your profile, their feed, Search Page, or Explore Page.

16 tips and tricks to get more views on Instagram

01 Make quality content

Okay, I know. Everyone tells it to you. Content is a king. Content this, content that. Content, content, content.

But the fact remains that nothing is more important than quality content! It’s the foundation of everything you do on Instagram.

Without engaging & valuable content, all other strategies fall flat. Find your niche, understand what your audience wants, and consistently deliver it.

And don’t trust self-proclaimed Instagram gurus claiming that you must make reels, carousel posts, or sell your soul to the devil to succeed.

I’m not saying content formats aren’t important. They are (we’ll discuss them in #5). Different formats can enhance your content, but the core message and value are what really matter.

Creating content is like baking cookies. You need a mold to shape them and make them look appealing.

But the most crucial part is what’s inside – the flavor and the aroma!

Similarly, while the format shapes your content, the real impact comes from the quality and relevance of the message.

02 Respond to mentions

Responding to Instagram mentions is one of the most effective ways to engage people, and engagement is what the algorithm likes.

Because you like it or not, as an Instagram user, you are at the mercy of the algorithm. The best you can do about it is to make the algorithm your friend, not the enemy!

Responding to mentions often leads to even more interactions. It signals to the algorithm that you’re creating engaging and valuable content.

Therefore, your profile, posts, stories, and reels are likely to appear to a broader target audience.

Besides, replying to mentions results in sending notifications to Instagram users.

It increases the likelihood of them checking out your profile, engaging with your content, and boosting your overall views count.

In practice, it’s pretty easy to track mentions when the Instagram user types your actual username (i.e., @garmin). They appear in your notifications.

But what if someone mentions your brand name without tagging your profile?

Such a situation is called an untagged mention and requires using a dedicated social listening tool. Let me briefly introduce you to one of them – Brand24.

So, Brand24 is social listening software designed to discover, track, and analyze both tagged & untagged brand mentions published on the web.

Besides Instagram, Brand24 accesses data from multiple other social media platforms, such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, Telegram, and Twitch.

Moreover, the tool allows you to track mentions from non-social sources: websites, video sites, podcasts, blogs, review platforms, newsletters, and more!

Tracking all the Instagram mentions with Brand24 is super easy. All you have to do is create a project, define your tracked keyword (such as brand name), and add the link to your Instagram profile.

And here, the magic starts!

Brand24 will detect and analyze all your mentions, providing you with nearly endless valuable insights, such as sentiment analysis, context analysis, potential anomalies, and much more.

So, if you’re wondering how to get more views on Instagram the second answer is the following: track your mentions and respond to them!

03 Streamline user-generated content

In short, user-generated content (UGC) is any form of Instagram content created by users or customers rather than by brands or professionals.

79% of people claim they rely on UGC when making their purchasing decisions.

At the same time, only 16% of brands have a user-generated content strategy. Don’t waste that opportunity because UGC is a win-win strategy.

On the one hand, it naturally connects your brand with your Instagram followers.

On the other hand, your fans-creators can showcase themselves to your audience and strengthen their own social presence.

How to encourage people to create and share user-generated content?

To encourage more followers’ activity on your Instagram account, you can run a contest, utilize trending hashtags, and spotlight user content.

04 Use trending hashtags

Many people claim that hashtags are dead in 2024. This may be true for other social media channels but not for Instagram hashtags.

In fact, the Marketpath study proves that Instagram posts including at least one hashtag get even 29% more interactions than those without.

So, utilizing relevant hashtags can impact on more Instagram views of your posts, stories, and reels. That’s how you can increase your share of voice in the industry!

Okay mate, but how to find trending hashtags on Instagram?

Again, you can turn to your social listening sensei, Brand24.

The Analysis tab includes a lot of Instagram insights, such as your most popular mentions, the most popular public profiles talking about you, your Presence Score, and popular hashtags people use when discussing your brand online.

If you need more details regarding particular hashtags, you can create a separate project to track them all!

05 Use accurate content formats

Remember when we discussed high-quality content? I told you to compare the whole process to baking cookies. Content is the filling of your cookies, and formats are the molds you use to shape them!

As you surely know, there are multiple Instagram content formats. Which should you use?

There’s no simple answer, as each format serves a different purpose and can impact your views differently:

• Photo posts are suitable for checklists and quotes;
• Instagram Reels work well for tutorials, before vs. after process showcase, and answering questions (i.e., asked in Instagram stories);
• Instagram carousels are perfect for storytelling, sharing opinions, and presenting the path “from to”;
• Instagram stories are great for quick updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and asking engaging questions (utilize Instagram stories sticker!).

06 Team with influencers

Cooperating with the right influencers can increase your brand awareness and reach, driving you more views on Instagram.

And you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for teaming with influencers with millions of followers!

In fact, according to eMarketer, nano-influencers (1,000 – 10,000 followers) boast the highest Instagram engagement rate, at 6.23%.

You can also benefit from binding closer ties with those Instagram users who already mentioned your brand!

For example, you could engage with their Instagram posts to:

• show appreciation;
• offer exclusive deals to encourage others;
• reward them by sharing their content.

How do you find these influencers who talk about you?

The easiest way is to open your Brand24 dashboard, narrow the results to Instagram-only, and visit the Influencers tab.

There, you’ll see the clickable username, number of mentions, followers count, share of voice, estimated number of people influenced by your brand mention, and the Influencer Score.

07 Engage with other users

Collaborating with influencers can get you more views on Instagram. But you should never lose sight of ‘regular’ users. They are the vast majority and they are the viewers you’re striving for!

It’s not just a guess.

Social media marketing is key in the customer journey and overall customer experience.

According to Emplifi report, social platforms like Instagram are the most important way consumers prefer to use to engage with brands.

You don’t need to spend hours daily responding to mentions or hire a social media marketing specialist (though, in some cases, that might be a good decision!). The key here is consistency.

It’s better to spend 15 minutes a day promptly addressing your followers and engaging them than doing it for 5 hours once per week.

Regular engagement keeps your audience connected, builds loyalty, and can significantly increase your views over time.

08 Increase positive mentions

Have you ever heard that “any press is good press”?

Frankly, I hate this proverb. And I think it’s harmful.

You should work hard for positive mentions and genuine engagement. Because positive mentions help build a strong, trustworthy brand image and attract more followers interested in what you offer.

Increasing your positive mentions is easier if you can compare your current social media performance with the past.

To do it, visit Brand24’s Comparison tab and change the view to “Compare Periods”.

That’s how you can define if your actual Instagram strategy brings you tangible improvements.

09 Utilize imperfection

When you open your Instagram app, you’re constantly flooded with perfection. Perfect photos, perfect bodies, perfect vacations, perfect make-ups, perfect shapes, perfect lives.

But the reality does not look like that. And we – Instagram users – are getting tired of dishonesty and overwhelming fake-perfection.

Okay, but how could you utilize imperfection in favor of your brand visibility? How to get more views on Instagram being not ideal?

• Show the real you. Unveil your real emotions. Tell what makes you angry, sad, or disappointed. It will boost engagement and increase your views;
• Surprise your followers with imperfect shapes. Don’t use an ideal circle; draw it by yourself! Trust me, it will stop them from infinite scrolling and pay attention to your post content;

In short: create, not imitate.

10 Use relevant emojis

If you think emojis are just colorful symbols that don’t really matter, then unfortunately, you’re wrong. Quintly discovered that using emojis on Instagram leads to more engagement – even by 48%!

Emojis substitute for mimics. They add an emotional layer to our online, faceless communication and catch the attention of the target audience.

Using relevant emojis often turns something that psychologists call a mirroring, and in the online world – a digital mirroring.

It’s a technique for adjusting tone and content to create a sense of alignment, understanding, and familiarity with your followers and customers.

Therefore, using relevant emojis can catch attention, make people think more positively about your brand, and thus – improve your Instagram views.

How to discover relevant emojis?

Again, I strongly recommend you check Brand24. The tool provides many reports, including which emojis are most frequently used when people discuss your brand or Instagram business account.

The Emoji Analysis includes a simple matrix presenting the most popular emojis associated with you. Use them strategically to build a sense of familiarity among your followers!

Below, you can see the example of the most popular Garmin emojis. The watch and faces expressing strong emotions dominate.

Besides, there are flags of some countries. That could be an opportunity to adjust your communication to particular geographic areas. What do you think, Garmin?

11 Use the “Notify” sticker to boost your Instagram story views

Instagram constantly introduces new features. In April 2024, the app added a “Notify” sticker to use when posting your Instagram stories.

Long story short, once you’re posting your new story, simply tap on the gallery of Instagram story stickers, find the “Notify” sticker, and add it to your story—preferably with a short explanation of what it’s all about.

When your followers tap on the “Notify” sticker, they open a box allowing them to tick whether they want to receive notifications about your new posts, reels, stories, and live videos.

That simple trick can bring you more Instagram story views (or reels/posts/live videos) – especially among your biggest fans.

12 Arouse emotions 

Which sentence resonates more with you:

• “Step outside your comfort zone”, or
• “Your comfort zone is a prison. Break free.”?

I bet the second. Why? Because it’s much more emotional, and we – human beings – are driven by emotions.

In the context of Instagram, emotions drive engagement, and engagement drives reach and views. Yes, it’s that simple.

As discussed in #8, you should better focus on positive feelings accompanying your brand. How do you discover which emotions dominate when people talk about you on Instagram?

Besides its social listening features, Brand24 is a great emotion detection software.

It goes beyond simple “positive-neutral-negative” sentiment analysis and allows you to discover more detailed feelings like admiration, anger, disgust, fear, joy, and sadness.

13 Write catchy headlines and captions

Imagine you’re a blogger. Would you take care of your headline when creating a blog post? Of course you would!

The same rule applies to Instagram. Crafting catchy headlines and captions is crucial for grabbing attention, boosting engagement, and getting more views.

Use strong hooks, action verbs, and emotional words to attract your audience & new followers.

Keep it concise but impactful, ensuring it resonates with your visual content.

Incorporate questions, humor, or intriguing facts to captivate your audience further.

Remember, a well-crafted headline or caption can be the difference between a scroll past and a like, comment, or share.

14 Post about relevant topics

As an Instagram profile, you should cover topics relevant to your target audience.

Create posts that interest your followers and focus on current trends & events that resonate with your followers.

This will build your position as a niche thought leader and show the Instagram algorithm that you’re an expert in your field.

It will reward you with higher visibility and attract new followers by presenting your profile on the Instagram feed of a person who is most likely interested in your content.

To identify relevant topics, you must stay data-driven and carefully check what thrills your Instagram community. How?

For example, you can use Brand24’s Topic Analysis – the AI-powered feature that identifies the most popular matter people cover when discussing your brand and their sentimental breakdown.

In the case of Garmin, the top 3 topics are cycling, running, and Garmin products.

15 Invest in Instagram ads

Sometimes, I feel that Instagram users are ashamed to admit to using paid advertising on the platform. My friends, there’s nothing wrong with that!

In fact, including Instagram ads in your overall social media strategy is a smart move that can significantly boost your reach and engagement.

Investors often talk about portfolio diversification, which means opening to new opportunities to increase their wealth. Analogically, that’s what paid advertising does for your Instagram profile and presence!

Paid advertising helps you target specific audiences, increase visibility, and drive traffic to your profile.

So, embrace the power of Instagram ads and watch your growth soar!

16 Track Instagram trends

Tracking and following emerging trends is crucial for staying relevant, engaging, and visible on Instagram.

By keeping an eye on what’s trending, you can adjust your content to current interests, events, and viral topics, ensuring that your posts resonate with a broader audience.

In practice, you can use Instagram’s Explore page to see current popular content.

Another practical way is to utilize Brand24’s Brand Assistant. This AI feature can provide unique insights into trending topics specific to your niche and tracked project.

Conclusion

As I tried to prove to you, finding the answer to how to get more views on Instagram doesn’t require complicated tricks or falling for the unrealistic promises of self-proclaimed social media gurus.

Instead, increasing the number of views on Instagram involves a set of practical strategies, consistent efforts, and the use of the right tools.

I promise – following the tips I presented in this article will surely boost your Instagram presence, engage your audience, and drive real results in your view count.

Key takeaways:

• Instagram engagement and visibility are inseparable – the more engaging content you create, the more favorable your profile becomes in the eyes of Instagram’s algorithm;
• Using external analysis tools like Brand24 gives you a lot of valuable insights regarding mentions, hashtag analysis, emojis, topics, trends, and more;
• Evoking emotions, surprising with creativity, and cooperating with other Instagram users support your overall views count.

Sign up for a Brand24 14-day free trial and boost your Instagram views wisely!