You’re a creator, and you’re tired of the content guesswork. You spend hours coming up with ideas, you hit publish, and you hope for the best. You’re trying to grow your account, but you have no idea which posts are for getting followers, which are for building community, and which are for going viral. You’re creating content without a purpose, and it’s costing you time, energy, and growth.
The truth is, not all content is created equal. Every piece of content you post should have a specific goal behind it—whether it’s to build your brand, spark a conversation, or reach a new audience. The most successful creators are intentional about every single post. They know what content gets more engagement, and they create it on demand.
This article isn’t about some secret algorithm hack. It’s the ultimate blueprint—a guide to what to post for a specific purpose. We’re going to break down the four key engagement metrics on Instagram and show you exactly what to create to get more likes, comments, saves, and shares.
Stop guessing. Start creating with a purpose.
1. The Goal is Likes: The Currency of Attention
You’ve got your purpose. The first goal is to master the like. While some may dismiss likes as a vanity metric, they are the most basic and fundamental currency on the platform.
A like is a quick, emotional signal of approval, and every single one of them tells the Instagram algorithm that your content is valuable and worth showing to a wider audience. If you want to build social proof and get more views, you need to create content that is designed to earn that double-tap.
Here is what to post to get more likes:
- Awesome photos: Visually stunning, high-quality photos are a surefire way to get likes. They stop the scroll and create an emotional connection with your audience.
- Funny covers: A funny cover is a powerful hook that can get you more likes.
- Big milestones: People love to celebrate success. A post about a big milestone is a great way to get a lot of likes and build a connection with your audience.
- Mistakes you’ve made: People love authenticity and vulnerability. A post about a mistake you’ve made is a great way to show your human side and get a lot of likes.
- Behind the scenes: People are naturally curious and love a peek behind the curtain. A behind-the-scenes post is a great way to build a deeper connection and get more likes.
- Funny reels: Funny content is highly shareable and is a great way to get a lot of likes.
By creating content that is designed to elicit a quick, emotional reaction, you are building the social proof that the algorithm loves.
2. The Goal is Comments: The Currency of Community
You’ve mastered the art of the like. Now, it’s time to create content that sparks a conversation and builds a community.
Comments are the single most powerful form of engagement you can get on Instagram, as they signal a deep connection and tell the algorithm that your content is highly valuable. If you want to build a loyal following and get more reach, you need to create content that is designed to get your audience talking.
Here is what to post to get more comments:
- Community posts: A community post is a great way to get more comments. They are a great way to ask a question or start a conversation about a topic that is relevant to your niche.
- Polarizing opinions: A post with a polarizing opinion is a surefire way to get a lot of comments. People are naturally drawn to controversy and love to share their opinions.
- Motivation posts: A post that is designed to motivate or inspire your audience is a great way to get comments.
- Prize draws: People love a chance to win something, and a prize draw is a great way to get a lot of comments.
- Interactive posts: An interactive post is a great way to get comments. This could be a “This or That” post or a poll.
- Time-hop posts: A post that asks your audience to “time-hop” or share a memory is a great way to get comments and build a connection with them.
By creating content that is designed to spark a conversation, you are building a loyal community that will help you grow your account.
3. The Goal is Saves: The Currency of Value
You’ve mastered the art of the like and the comment. Now, it’s time to create content that signals to the Instagram algorithm that you are an authority in your niche.
A “save” is the most powerful signal of all, as it tells the algorithm that your content is so valuable that a user wants to refer back to it later. If you want to create evergreen content that works for you for months and years to come, you need to create content that is designed to be saved.
Here is what to post to get more saves:
- Easy templates: A post with an easy template that your audience can use is a surefire way to get saves. This could be a template for a caption, a Reel, or a post.
- Step-by-step tutorials: A step-by-step tutorial is a great way to get more saves. People love to learn new things, and a tutorial is a great way to provide them with a valuable asset they can refer to later.
- Idea lists: A post with an idea list is a great way to get saves. This could be a list of ideas for a Reel, a post, or a business.
- Resource bundles: A post that provides a resource bundle is a great way to get saves. This could be a bundle of freebies, a list of tools, or a list of resources.
- Checklist posts: A post with a checklist is a great way to get saves. This is a great way to provide your audience with a simple, actionable tool they can use to achieve a goal.
- Graphs & data: A post with graphs and data is a great way to get saves. This positions you as a trusted authority and provides your audience with valuable insights they can refer to later.
By creating content that is designed to be a reference point, you are building a valuable asset that works for you for months and years to come.
4. The Goal is Shares: The Currency of Reach
You’ve mastered getting likes, comments, and saves. Now it’s time to create content that drives explosive growth.
A “share” is the most powerful metric for reach, as it signals that your content is so valuable, relatable, or funny that a user wants to show it to their friends and followers. This is the single best way to get your content in front of a brand new, highly engaged audience.
Here is what to post to get more shares:
- Funny memes: Memes are the most shared content on the internet. A funny, relatable meme is a surefire way to get a lot of shares and reach a new audience.
- Original ideas: People love to share new, original ideas. This could be a new way of thinking, a unique perspective, or a powerful piece of insight.
- Giveaway posts: A giveaway post is a great way to get a lot of shares. People love a chance to win something, and a share is a great way to enter.
- Trending content: Trending content is highly shareable because it’s relevant and timely. This could be a trending sound, a trending topic, or a trending challenge.
- Disruptive news: People love to share disruptive news. This could be a new study, a new product, or a new way of thinking that challenges the status quo.
- Engaging stories: A post with an engaging story is a great way to get shares. This could be a personal story, a story about a client, or a story about a powerful moment.
By creating content that is designed to be shared, you are turning your audience into a growth engine.
Your Move: The End of Content Guesswork
You’ve just been handed the complete blueprint for your Instagram content strategy. You’ve moved from the frustrating guesswork of what to post to a simple, strategic framework that is designed to get you a specific outcome every single time.
Remember, every piece of content you post should have a purpose. By understanding the four key engagement metrics, you can ensure that every post you create is working for you, not against you.
By mastering this guide, you now have the power to:
- Drive likes with content that provides quick, emotional validation, such as “Awesome photos” and “Big milestones”.
- Build community by creating content that sparks conversation, like “Polarizing opinions” and “Interactive posts”.
- Provide deep value with content that is designed to be saved, such as “Step-by-step tutorials” and “Easy templates”.
- Go viral by creating content that is meant to be shared, including “Funny memes” and “Disruptive news”.
Stop guessing. Start creating with a purpose. Now, go and use this guide to ensure your content is not just good, but intentional.