Getting likes on Instagram is simple, but the real connections happen in the comments. That’s where people stop scrolling and start talking. Comments show real interest, help you connect with followers, and tell Instagram that your post should be seen by more people.

If you want to boost your Instagram engagement, focus on making posts that get people talking. Here are practical and creative ways to get more comments and keep those conversations going.

14 Tips to Boost Your Instagram Engagement

1. Buy Real Instagram Comments

While organic interaction should always be the foundation of your engagement strategy, there’s nothing wrong with giving your posts a small paid push. You can boost your Instagram engagement by purchasing real, relevant comments.

How does this help?

• Social proof: New visitors are more likely to comment when they see an active discussion.
• Algorithm boost: More early comments can help your post rank higher in feeds and hashtags.

Use this tactic strategically for product launches, collaborations, or posts you want to perform especially well.

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions That Spark Conversation

A quick way to get more comments is to ask a question, but not just a yes-or-no one. Open-ended questions invite stories, opinions, and advice.

Instead of:

“Do you like coffee?”

Try:

“What’s your go-to coffee order, and where do you get it?”

When your question is specific and personal, people are more likely to answer with more than one word.

3. Host a “Story in the Comments” Game

Make your caption the start of a story and have your followers continue it in the comments, one sentence at a time.

Example:

“I was walking through the city when suddenly…”

People will try to outdo each other with funny or unexpected twists. This can easily turn into a long comment thread that keeps readers coming back.

4. Share Mildly Controversial Opinions

A light debate can get people talking. Share an opinion in your niche that might split the room, but keep it friendly.

Example:

· “Pineapple belongs on pizza. Agree or disagree?”

· “Long captions are better than short ones. Change my mind.”

The goal is fun disagreement, not arguments.

5. Create “Caption This” Challenges

Post a funny or unusual photo and ask people to caption it. These are easy for followers to join in on and show off their creativity.

Tip: Share the winning caption in your Stories or next post. People love the chance to be featured.

6. Turn Comments Into Content

Show followers that you notice what they say. Share a screenshot of a great comment, or make a Reel where you read and react to answers from a previous post.

When people see that comments can be highlighted, they’ll try to leave ones worth noticing.

7. Share a Relatable Mistake or Failure

People connect with honesty. Post about a time you got something wrong, like a cooking mishap, a travel mix-up, or a work blunder, and ask followers to share their own.

These moments feel real, and that’s what gets people to join by this you can increase engagement.

8. Encourage Tagging Friends

Ask your audience to tag someone who would relate to or enjoy your post. Keep it casual and natural

• “Tag a friend who needs this in their life.”
• “Tag someone who’s guilty of doing this.”

This helps you get more comments and new people seeing your content.

9. Run a “Best Comment Wins” Giveaway

Giveaways work, but instead of random selection, reward creativity.

Example: “Share your funniest travel story in the comments. The best one gets a $25 gift card.”

Announcing the winner publicly gets more people involved next time.

10. Reply to Comments With Follow-Up Questions

Don’t let a conversation end after one comment. If someone says, “Love this outfit!”, instead of just “Thanks!”, try:

“Thanks! Which part do you like more, the jacket or the shoes?”

This shows you’re listening and can double your comment count.

11. Use Instagram’s “Reply With Reel” Feature

Instagram’s “Reply With Reel” feature lets you turn a single comment into fresh content. By responding to a follower’s comment with a video, you highlight their input and make the 

interaction feel more personal.

This not only rewards the commenter but also encourages others to join in, hoping for a video reply of their own. Over time, it builds excitement around your posts and increases the number of meaningful comments you receive.

12. Start Micro-Challenges in Your Niche

Micro-challenges are a fun way to spark ongoing interaction and keep followers engaged. For instance, a fitness creator could launch a “7-Day Push-Up Challenge” and encourage participants to comment their daily progress.

Keeping challenges short, specific, and easy to join makes them more inviting. As people update their progress, you build longer comment threads and repeat interactions, turning your post into a community hub for conversation and accountability.

13. Use “Either/Or” Questions With a Twist

Either/or questions get quick answers, but add a follow-up for more detail:

• “Beach vacation or mountain getaway and why?”
• “Morning workouts or evening workouts which works better for you?”

The “why” gets people to write more thoughtful replies.

14. Share Before-and-After Posts

Before-and-after posts instantly catch attention because they show a clear transformation in one glance. Whether it’s a home makeover, fitness progress, a personal style change, or even a recipe, people love comparing the two versions.

Encourage engagement by asking followers which version they prefer, how they think the transformation was achieved, or if they’ve had similar experiences. These posts invite opinions and personal stories, which naturally lead to more comments and stronger connections with your audience.

15. Collaborate With Another Creator and Ask for Dual Engagement

Collaboration posts allow your content to appear on both your profile and another creator’s. To maximize comments, create a post where both of you ask your combined audiences to weigh in. For example, two food bloggers might post a joint recipe and then ask, “Whose version would you try first? Tell us in the comments.”

By inviting two communities into the same conversation, you double the engagement potential. Followers from both accounts are more likely to interact, making collaborations one of the most effective ways to spark lively comment threads.

Conclusion

If you want more engagement, focus on comments as your main measure of success. These tips are built to start conversations, not just collect likes.

By mixing interactive ideas, audience participation, and the occasional paid push, you can make your page a place where people want to talk. Instagram notices when posts get real interaction, and that can mean more visibility for you.

The more conversations you start, the more your audience will see you as worth engaging with and that’s how you turn likes into loyal followers.