6 Strategies To Fix Low Instagram Engagement During The Summer
If you’re struggling with low Instagram engagement, the good news: You’re far from alone. As the summer months approach, many businesses and influencers may notice a decline in their Instagram engagement and reach.
Firstly, please understand that low engagement isn't always your fault. There are external factors at play too. More time on vacation means more time away from screens and phones—which has historically meant dips in Instagram engagement around May and June. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for lackluster engagement all summer long.
To help offset the summer social media slump, here are six content strategies to combat this dip in engagement and keep your Instagram presence thriving throughout the summer months.
#1. Content Experiments
Creating engaging content is part art, part science.
You have to know what works for you and your audience. It all starts with these two questions.
🖋️ What kind of content do you want to create? This really is key. If you hate doing it, you won’t be consistent. If you don’t really want to be on the platform, people can tell.
🖋️ What does your audience want to see?
Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of content to keep your followers engaged and interested.
This might include trying out Instagram Reels, creating longer-form IGTV videos, or incorporating user-generated content into your feed.
By trying new things and keeping your content fresh and interesting, you can keep your followers engaged and interested in your account throughout the summer months and beyond.
The most practical way to test any hypothesis is data. Staying on top of metrics is what separates the pros from the casual poster.
Key Takeaway: Instagram experiments allow you to figure out what works for your account, so you don't have to follow someone else's advice on how to run your digital presence.
Try This At Home: 3 Instagram Experiments Worth Trying In 2023
#2. Engage
Engagement breeds engagement on Instagram. Chalk it up to the law of reciprocity, but the more you give, the more you receive.
Engaging with your followers is crucial to maintaining a strong Instagram presence, especially during the summer months when reaching new accounts is more challenging. Take care of the followers you have, and they’ll take care of you.
Respond to comments and direct messages, and consider hosting a Q&A session to answer your followers' burning questions.
Engaging with other accounts in your niche or industry can also help increase your visibility and attract new followers to your account. You can do this by liking and commenting on other accounts' posts, sharing their content on your Instagram Stories, or collaborating on a project or campaign.
#3. Lean On IG Stories
Instagram Stories are a great way to keep your followers engaged and interested in your content.
With features like polls, quizzes, and questions, you can create interactive content that encourages your followers to engage with your account.
Moreover, Stories are a great way to provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business or personal life, which can help build a stronger connection with your followers.
During the summer months, consider using Instagram Stories to showcase your outdoor adventures, travel experiences, or summer activities — or any way you like out your brand values.
#4. Collaborate With Other Accounts
Collaborating with other accounts in your niche or industry is a great way to increase your reach and attract new followers to your account.
During the summer months, consider partnering with other businesses or influencers to create a joint campaign or project. This can help you tap into their followers and increase your visibility on the platform.
What Accounts Should You Collaborate With?
What accounts should you collaborate with to get the most benefit? When it comes to collaborating with other accounts to grow your business on Instagram, it's important to choose accounts that are relevant to your niche or industry. Here are a few types of accounts you may want to consider collaborating with:
Influencers: Influencers in your niche can help promote your brand to their followers, who are likely to be interested in your products or services.
Complementary businesses: Consider collaborating with businesses that offer complementary products or services to your own. For example, if you sell fitness apparel, you might collaborate with a fitness studio or personal trainer.
Local businesses: If you have a local business, consider collaborating with other local businesses to cross-promote each other's products or services.
Industry leaders: Collaborating with industry leaders can help you establish credibility and authority in your niche.
Pro tip: Consider their audience and engagement rate. You want to collaborate with accounts that have a similar target audience and a strong engagement rate to ensure that your collaboration will be effective in reaching new followers and potential customers.
#5. Remove Ghost Followers
Here’s the deal with ghost followers. These are followers who don't engage with your content and can actually hurt your engagement rate. By removing them, you can ensure that your engagement rate is more accurate and that you're reaching real, active followers who are interested in your content.
There is a difference between a fake/bot follower and an inactive follower; fake/bot accounts have to go. They don't have thumbs and brains, so there is NO potential for them to interact, learn, or buy for you. And they'll lower your engagement rate.
When it's clear there is a real person on the other side of that unengaged handle, I typically won't remove them. The biggest reason is that some followers aren't inclined to double-tap but can become clients. So many of the clients I gained from Instagram NEVER engaged with my content before signing on.
CAVET: If you haven’t been active on your account or have changed your niche, you’ll probably need to remove a lot of followers who no longer resonate with your content or understand what you do in order for it to reach new followers who do.
#6. Give Yourself A Strategic Advantage
One of the most effective ways to combat an engagement dip is to plan ahead. This means creating a content calendar that outlines your upcoming posts, stories, and reels for the next few weeks. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you always have fresh content to share and that you're not scrambling at the last minute.
When planning your content, consider incorporating themes or topics that are relevant to the summer season. And, by creating content that resonates with your audience, you can increase the likelihood of engagement and keep your followers interested and engaged any time of the year.
Fixing Low Instagram Engagement
While it can be challenging to maintain engagement on Instagram during the summer months, there are several strategies that can help combat this dip in engagement.
By planning ahead, utilizing Instagram Stories, hosting giveaways, engaging with your followers, experimenting with different types of content, collaborating with other accounts, and removing ghost followers, you can keep your Instagram presence thriving and attract new followers to your account. With these tips in mind, you can make the most of the summer season and keep your followers engaged and interested in your content.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi, Owner of Ascent StoryCraft
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