Instagram’s CEO has shared 17 powerful tips to help you grow your reach and audience in 2025.
From strategies to better engage followers to content creation tactics, these tips can give your Instagram growth a huge boost. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective ones.
1. Stories Won’t Get You New Followers, But They’ll Help Keep the Ones You Have
Instagram Stories don’t bring in new followers, but they do help keep your current audience engaged. More engagement means fewer people will unfollow you, and that results in faster growth.
2. High Production Value Could Hurt Your Reach
Polished content may not always work in your favor. While premium brands benefit from a professional look, musicians, comedians, or athletes might find that a rawer, more relatable style performs better.
3. Post Carousels, Not Single Images
Carousels generally get more reach because they offer multiple pieces of content. The more people engage with each slide, the better your reach.
4. Hashtags Are No Longer Effective
Hashtags don’t improve visibility as they used to. Instagram’s AI now understands your content through its visuals and captions, so focusing on quality content is a better use of your time.
5. Shares Are Key for Algorithm Growth
Sends (shares) are the most important trigger in Instagram’s algorithm. Content that’s shared often gets more reach, so focus on creating content people want to share.
6. Avoid Watermarks from Third-Party Apps
Watermarks from other apps can limit your content’s reach. It’s fine to use your own logo, but avoid logos from third-party editing tools.
7. Post Soon After a Viral Post
After posting a viral video, don’t wait too long to post another. This helps capitalize on the momentum and keeps your new audience engaged.
8. Consume Content in Your Niche for Ideas
If you’re struggling to come up with new ideas, consume more content in your niche. This can spark creativity and help you create better content.
9. Post Consistently, But Don’t Burn Out
Posting consistently is important for reach, but don’t overdo it. Focus on a schedule that you can maintain without burning out.
10. Make the Second Slide of Carousels Engaging
The second slide of your carousel is crucial. If people don’t engage with the first slide, showing them the second slide increases the chance of interaction.
11. The First 3 Seconds of a Video Matter
The first 3 seconds are critical to capturing attention. Use text and set expectations so viewers know why they should keep watching.
12. Use Audio to Boost Engagement
Using audio in your content increases engagement. For Reels, this also helps your content appear on the audio page, giving it more exposure.
13. 50% of Content Is Consumed Without Sound
Even though audio helps, ensure your content is engaging for those watching without sound. Use captions and visual elements to keep viewers hooked.
14. Reels Should Be 30 to 90 Seconds Long
For optimal reach, Instagram recommends Reels between 30 to 90 seconds. Anything longer is less likely to be shown to new audiences.
15. Respond to Comments Quickly
Engage with your followers by replying to comments within a few days. This increases interaction and helps boost your content’s reach.
16. Cover Current Events Quickly
Post content about current events as soon as they happen. Being timely with your content helps you capture more attention and increase engagement.
17. Ensure Video Quality is 720p or Higher
Posting low-quality content can hurt your reach. Make sure your videos are clear and in good quality to avoid the algorithm ranking them down.
These 17 tips directly from Instagram’s CEO can guide you toward better growth and higher engagement on the platform in 2025.
