How to Get Likes on Instagram in 2026 (They Still Matter)
Whether you can see Instagram likes or not, they are still an important engagement signal for the Instagram algorithm. Likes can help your posts get seen – here’s how to get more of them.
How to Get More Likes on Instagram
- Use the right hashtags
- Tag relevant users
- Write compelling captions
- Create a Reel
- Host a „I want to win“ contest
- Post great photos
- Post user-generated content
- Post behind-the-scenes content
- Host a takeover
- Post content at the right time
- Embrace memes
- Share posts to your Story
- Collaborate with other creators
- Be creative
- Be entertaining
- Engage outside your own channel
- Mix things up
- Give back
- Get on the Explore page
- Create great merch
- Share useful information
- Keep an eye on what works for your competitors
- Share satisfying content
- Tag your location
Likes are just one of many Instagram metrics you can use to measure your success. Looking at how many likes a post, carousel, or Reel has is one of the quickest ways to see how well you’re doing.
Buying Instagram Likes has its advantage in that you can give your post a boost and get it onto the Explore page, for example.
You can find a wide range of social media services on Kupfollowers.cz
But how important are they really? Do hidden likes still count? Should you buy Instagram likes?
To answer the last question: No. Don’t do it. Buying Instagram likes won’t work. The good news is that we’ve put together plenty of strategies for earning those hearts the legitimate way – the best things in likes are free.
How to get likes on Instagram
If you don’t have time, this video summarizes the most important tips from the list below:
Do Instagram Likes Still Matter Even When They’re Hidden?
They absolutely do! Likes matter just as much as they ever did.
In case you missed it: Instagram announced in May 2021 that it would give people the option to hide public like counts.
Since then, there are two ways to hide likes:
You can hide like counts in your personal Instagram feed (so you won’t see how many likes other people are getting).
9 ways to get followers on Instagram
You can hide likes on your own posts (so others can’t see how many likes you’re getting).
Whether or not we see likes on Instagram, the Instagram algorithm continues to work the same way it always has — and likes are one of the success indicators that help it decide whether content should be shown to more people.
How to get more likes on Instagram: 24 tactics
1. Use the right hashtags
Using hashtags on Instagram will help get your post in front of more users, leading to more likes. Once you use a hashtag, your post will appear on the page for that hashtag. This makes it easier for people to find you (and like your content).
An Instagram post from Indochino (wedding shots) featuring branded and contextual hashtags.
This post from Indochino uses the hashtags #Indochino, #IndochinoWeddings, #WeddingWednesdays and #BlackFriday2022, making it very easy for users searching for wedding content (or Black Friday content) to find it.
2. Tag relevant users
Tagging other users in your IG posts sends those users a notification — and not only do tagged users typically like the post, but they’ll likely share it as well. More visibility = more potential likes.
This super artistic post required the collaboration of a poet, a stylist, and several ceramicists, and each of the participating creators is tagged (and mentioned in the caption). This expands the post’s audience to include all the followers of every collaborator.
3. Write compelling captions
Instagram is a highly visual platform, but it is still a good strategy to use words (after all, the algorithm reads text much better than images). Take the time to write thoughtful captions that tell your audience more about your post — it will help showcase a more cohesive view of your brand. And that is something Instagram users appreciate.
This creator of reworked clothing puts a lot of work into her pieces and shares stories about them in many of her captions. Her audience not only sees the final product but also learns about the creation process (for example, that making the coat above took over 8 hours).
How to gain followers on Instagram in 2026
4. Create Reels
Even if videos are not your strong suit, try creating an Instagram Reel. Reels are quickly taking over the platform and have a higher engagement rate on Instagram than static posts (and likes count toward that engagement).
At first glance, a photo might seem more suitable than a video for this painter’s work – but instead of simply posting an image of the finished piece, the artist showcased their process in an interesting and engaging Reel.
5. Host a „Like-to-win“ contest
Appeal to the universal human love of free things and launch a „like-to-win“ contest to really get those <3s rolling in. There are plenty of excellent strategies for running a successful contest on IG, but whatever approach you take, you’re guaranteed to get more likes if it’s part of a contest post.
This giveaway requires users to like the post in order to participate in the contest (in addition to tagging friends and following the page). Tagging friends is another brilliant component of Instagram contests – tagged friends will be notified of the post, which encourages them to sign up (and like it) as well.
6. Post great photos
Eyeroll, right? One of the most basic ways to get more likes on your photos is, of course, to post great photos: think high-quality, well-composed, engaging shots that are as shareable as possible.
This chicken sandwich is a great example. It showcases the sandwich in all its juicy glory — it would be hard for any foodie not to love it. To create compelling and beautiful graphics, try using the Canva app directly within Hootsuite Composer, or one of these 21 other photo editing apps for Instagram.
7. Post user-generated content
Posting user-generated content (with permission, of course) will help you strengthen your relationship with your target audience. Encourage users to post photos of your products and tag your brand, so you have plenty of great content to choose from.
For example, the photo above was originally posted by a vintage clothing brand that tagged Girlfriend Collective, a brand that makes a skirt with pockets. Girlfriend Collective reposted the photo (with credit to the original author) and thus obtained free – and funny – content showcasing their product. It received 25 thousand likes.
You can encourage your followers to publish user-generated content by creating a hashtag. That’s exactly what actress Stephanie Hsu did to get people to post their Everything Everywhere All at Once Halloween costumes. After Halloween, over a thousand posts appeared with this hashtag.
8. Post behind-the-scenes content
Not every photo and video you post needs to be perfect and polished — sharing part of your process or behind-the-scenes content gives your followers a more complete view of your brand.
This carousel post (and accompanying caption) details the process of how the creator makes her products. This allows her followers to better appreciate — and fall in love with — all the work that goes into her handmade jewelry.
9. Share your profile with someone else
Ask someone connected to your brand (an employee, partner, collaborator, etc.) to take over your Instagram for a day and share a more personal side of your work. This opens your content up to a wider audience, as the person taking over your Instagram account will likely share the content on their own personal channel as well.
For example, the English National Ballet had one of its dancers take over Instagram and share little behind-the-scenes moments. This also works in favor of the person taking over (that’s the technical term) — they get exposure to your audience and vice versa.
10. Post content at the right time
If you post when your followers are online, you’ll get more likes. Use a tool like the Best Time to Publish feature in Hootsuite to make sure you’re posting at the optimal time for your audience.
Best time to publish on Instagram heatmap in Hootsuite analytics
11. Embrace memes
Show the lighter side of your brand (and convince Gen Z you’re not stuffy) by posting relevant, relatable memes.
Memes don’t openly advertise your brand, but they are fun, shareable, and – if you do them right – funny. Chipotle dedicates meme content on its Instagram and gets tens of thousands of likes for its brilliantly bizarre posts.
12. Share posts to your Story
Since many Instagram users browse Stories instead of scrolling through their feed (and Instagram’s algorithm sometimes means your posts won’t appear in their feed anyway), it’s a good idea to share new photo or reel posts to your Story.
When doing this, it’s a good idea to give your followers some motivation to visit the current post (and give it a like). This Story from Hers shares a new reel with a „new Reel“ sticker, encouraging viewers to go to the post itself and check out its content. (If you’re looking for 32 Instagram Story ideas, we have a tip for you.)
13. Collaborate with other creators
No brand is an island. Collaborate with other creators or influencers in your field to support your online (and in-person) community. In addition to making new friends, collaborating with others will also help you further expand your audience and reach.
A great example is Nike’s collaboration with Naomi Osaka – both work in related industries, so the partnership makes sense. Nike fans are introduced to Osaka and Osaka’s fans see her endorsement of Nike. It’s mutually beneficial (and similar).
14. Be Creative
Here is obvious but important advice: as a creator, you need to be creative. Sometimes getting likes is as simple as coming up with a unique or clever idea.
Take this post from Pantone. It’s great marketing for their Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie colors, it’s a beautifully composed photo, and the idea is overall creative and fun. It has nearly 40 thousand likes.
15. Be funny
Why so serious? A little humor goes a long way on social media (see: Embrace the Memes) and it also creates a more well-rounded image of your brand.
The above post from Monday Hair Care hits the nail on the head with a humorous tone and also references the very popular annual Spotify Wrapped release. Relatively funny content (example: „Your morning started 2,786 hours sitting in a towel after showering“) is super relatable and super shareable.
16. Engage beyond your own feed
In its ongoing effort to give people what they want, the Instagram algorithm prioritizes posts from accounts it considers „close.“ How does it measure closeness? By tracking how much accounts interact with each other.
So if you want to expand your reach — and therefore your chances of getting likes — don’t be a „billboard“: go ahead and engage. Be generous with your likes and comments.
17. Mix things up
If you’re using Instagram for business, most of your posts will have a marketing angle. However, it’s good to switch things up occasionally so your feed isn’t just a collage of ads for your brand. Every now and then, consider posting interesting and engaging content on Instagram that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with selling something.
This post from Brooklyn Candle Studio doesn’t mention candles at all, instead celebrating the colors of autumn in New York. The content is still related to the brand, but doesn’t directly „sell“ anything to followers. It’s a refreshing departure from more traditional marketing efforts and a very charming photograph that aesthetically fits in with the rest of their content.
18. Give Back
We’re not suggesting philanthropy for the sake of Instagram likes – giving back should always be the goal – but sharing the ways in which you support your community is important.
Along with showing your followers that you care about more than just money, you can encourage other brands to do the same.
A great example is Cheekbone Beauty’s scholarship fund. It’s a thoughtful, socially conscious effort to support their community, and sharing the post on social media is a great way to spread the word. And more likes = more publicity = more applications and more inspiration for other brands.
19. Get on the Explore page
The Explore page (a collection of public posts and videos) is like a personalized bulletin board, and it’s a great way to showcase your content to a new audience. Getting on the Explore page requires using many of the strategies already mentioned in this post: using those relevant hashtags and geotags, writing descriptive captions, and taking great photos.
This post from Trader Joe’s is a great example: there are hashtags #TraderJoes, #Brie, #Cheeseboard and #Charcuterie, plus a clear and informative caption. The photo is also visually appealing – the perfect recipe for 12 thousand likes.
20. Create great merch
Merch is a great strategy for making money on Instagram, and cool and creative merchandise will also earn you likes.
A24’s post featuring their cute Marcel the Shell figurine earned over 24,000 likes and more than a hundred comments. Not all of these users would necessarily purchase the product, of course, but these likes express support for the brand and give the post a nice algorithmic boost.
21. Share useful information
Think of this type of post as a service you’re providing to your followers: what expertise can you offer that will make their lives easier? Sharing free and useful information is a great way to get more likes (and above all, a great way to share important information).
This carousel sharing Indigenous-owned brands you can shop during the holidays is a perfect example of this. It’s timely, practical, and valuable information delivered clearly and concisely.
22. Watch what’s working for your competitors
Competition makes you better — especially when you conduct a competitive analysis. Think about the superstars in your industry and use their strategies as inspiration for your own.
If you’re a new skincare brand, for example, you may want to take a page out of Fenty Skin’s book. Their Instagram contests, beautiful photos, engaging reels, and more are a great place to start.
23. Share satisfying content
Regardless of your industry or niche, satisfying content almost always performs well on Instagram. Think about how you can share elements of your brand that are satisfying to watch (time-lapse footage of cleaning, packing, building, or breaking things down are great examples).
Hydraulic Press Channel is all about this type of content – even if you’re not particularly passionate about hydraulic presses, everyone „loves“ watching bowling pins turn into noodles.
24. Tag your location
Tagging your location is a way to help more people find and like your photo. It’s even more useful if you’re a brand with a brick-and-mortar location, as it helps you build a sense of community with your regulars… and potential regulars. (Just make sure your physical coordinates are correct so you show up on the map.)
Beaucoup Bakery geotags its (very delicious-looking) photos of treats, so pastry lovers can easily find them.
15 tips on how to get followers on Instagram
Michal Záruba je specialista na digitální marketing a konzultant v oblasti sociálních médií a SEO. Více než 8 let pomáhá značkám růst online prostřednictvím strategického obsahu, optimalizace pro vyhledávače a efektivní komunikace na platformách jako LinkedIn, Instagram a YouTube.
Na svém blogu sdílí praktické tipy o tom, jak propojit SEO, sociální sítě a brand building do jedné funkční strategie. Zaměřuje se na to, jak firmy mohou využít moderní nástroje a algoritmy k tomu, aby jejich značka nezískala jen dosah, ale i důvěru.
Když zrovna netvoří obsah, přednáší o digitálním marketingu, školí týmy a sleduje nové trendy v AI a vyhledávání.