How do you gain more likes on Instagram?

Let’s be honest. We have all been there. You spend an hour getting the lighting right, editing the photo, and thinking of a witty caption. You hit “Post,” wait for the notifications to flood in, and… crickets.

Maybe you get 20 likes from your best friends and your mom. It’s frustrating.

In 2026, the Instagram algorithm feels harder to crack than ever. You see influencers getting 50,000 likes on a blurry photo of their coffee, while your masterpiece gets ignored. You start wondering, “How do you gain more likes on Instagram without selling your soul?”

I’ve spent the last 15 years in digital marketing, managing accounts for brands and influencers. I’ve seen every trend come and go. Here is the truth: The old tricks (like “just use 30 hashtags”) don’t work anymore.

The competitor article you might have read suggests things like “Take photos of animals” or buying likes from shady panels. Please, don’t do that. That is a quick way to kill your account.

In this guide, I’m going to share the real strategies that are working right now. These are the same methods I use for my clients to double their engagement organically.

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Stop “Posting,” Start “Storytelling” (The Carousel Hack)

If you look at the data, single-image posts are slowly dying.

In my experience, Carousels (Photo Dumps) are the secret weapon for likes. Why? Because they keep people on your post longer.

When a user swipes left to see the next photo, Instagram reads that as a “signal of interest.” The algorithm thinks, “Wow, this person is spending time here, let’s show this post to more people.”

How to structure a winning Carousel:

• Slide 1: The “Hook” (Your best, most high-quality image).
• Slide 2-4: The “Context” (Details, behind-the-scenes, or educational steps).
• Last Slide: The “Call to Action” (Ask a question).

Pro Tip: Don’t just dump random photos. Tell a mini-story. If you are a travel blogger, don’t just show the beach. Show the beach, then the food you ate, then the funny sign you saw, then the sunset. Make the user feel like they were there.

Master the Art of the “Micro-Caption”

The competitor’s advice was to “make use of interesting captions.” That is vague.

Here is what actually works: The Hook-Line Strategy.

Instagram truncates (cuts off) your caption after the first two lines. If those two lines are boring, nobody clicks “more,” and nobody likes the post.

Bad Example:

“Throwback to last summer. It was fun.” (Boring. Scroll.)

Good Example:

“I almost got arrested taking this photo… 😳 Story time 👇” (Wait, what? I have to read this!)

You need to trigger curiosity immediately. Use emojis, ask a controversial question, or start a story in the middle of the action.

If you are finding How to get more Views on reels? Then try 10+ Working Tricks 2023.

The “Alt Text” Secret (SEO for Likes)

Most people ignore this, which is why it’s your biggest opportunity.

Instagram uses SEO (Search Engine Optimization) just like Google. To get more likes, you need new people to find your content.

Alt Text is a hidden description of your photo that helps the algorithm understand what it is.

How to add Alt Text:

1. Before posting, scroll to the bottom and click “Advanced Settings.”
2. Tap “Write Alt Text.”
3. Describe the image using your keywords.

Instead of leaving it blank:

Write: “A freelance graphic designer working on a laptop in a cozy coffee shop with latte art.”

Now, when someone searches for “coffee shop aesthetic” or “graphic design,” your post is more likely to show up. More visibility = more likes.

Timing Is Everything (But Forget the “11 AM” Myth)

I read the competitor’s advice saying you should post between 11 AM and 4 PM. In my experience, following generic time slots is a mistake.

Why? Because if everyone posts at 11 AM, the feed gets clogged. Your post gets buried.

Do this instead:

1. Go to your profile.
2. Tap Insights > Total Followers.
3. Scroll down to “Most Active Times.”

Look for your specific audience’s peak.

• If your audience is moms, they might be active at 9 PM after the kids are asleep.
• If your audience is corporate workers, they might be active at 7 AM during their commute.

My Rule of Thumb: Post 30 minutes before your peak traffic time. This allows the post to gain some initial traction so it’s sitting at the top of the feed when everyone logs on.

Industry	Common Peak Time (Test Your Own!)
Tech/B2B	8:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Weekdays)
Fashion/Beauty	7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Evenings)
Food/Dining	12:00 PM (Lunch) & 6:00 PM (Dinner)
Travel	Friday Afternoons & Sundays

Use “Instagram Collabs” (Double Your Reach)

This is a feature I see people underutilizing constantly.

An Instagram Collab post shows up on two profiles at the same time: yours and the person you collaborated with.

The Math is simple:

Your Followers + Their Followers = Double the Potential Likes.

How to use it:

• Brands: Collab with an influencer.
• Individuals: Collab with a friend, a photographer, or a similar creator.
• The key: Don’t just tag them in the photo. On the posting screen, click “Tag People” -> “Invite Collaborator.”

They have to accept the request, but once they do, the likes from both audiences count towards the same post. It’s the fastest way to hit a new like record.

The “Reply with a Question” Method

Engagement fuels likes. The more comments you have, the more the algorithm pushes your post to others.

When someone comments “Nice pic!”, don’t just like it.

Reply with a question.

• User: “Love this outfit!”
• You: “Thank you! Do you prefer the blue or the red version?”

This sparks a conversation. The user comes back to reply (another view), and the algorithm sees “High Engagement.” This pushes your post onto the Explore Page, where you gain likes from strangers.

Stop Using Banned Hashtags

The competitor mentioned using hashtags but didn’t warn you about the dangerous ones.

Using “Banned Hashtags” can kill your reach instantly (Shadowban). Instagram bans certain tags because they are overrun with spam.

Examples of tags that have been flagged in the past:

• #beautyblogger (sometimes flagged due to spam)
• #alone
• #pushups
• #valentinesday (during the holiday spam)

What to do:

Before you use a hashtag, search for it. If the “Recent” tab is hidden or there is a message saying “Posts have been hidden,” do not use it.

Stick to specific, niche hashtags (e.g., #VeganRecipesLondon) rather than massive ones (e.g., #Food). You have a better chance of ranking and getting likes in a smaller pool.

Faces Get More Likes (It’s Science)

The competitor mentioned taking photos of animals. While cute, data shows that faces perform better.

A study by Georgia Tech analyzed 1.1 million Instagram photos. They found that photos with faces get 38% more likes and 32% more comments.

We are human. We are wired to look at eyes and expressions.

If you are a business, stop posting just product shots. Show the person holding the product. Show the team. Humanize your feed.

Leverage “Trending Audio” for Reels

You cannot talk about likes in 2026 without talking about Reels.

Even if you prefer photos, Reels are the main way Instagram distributes content to non-followers.

The Trick: Use “Trending Audio.”

Look for the little “arrow” icon next to the name of the sound on a Reel. If the arrow is pointing up, it means the audio is trending.

If you use that audio, the algorithm rides the wave of that trend and pushes your video to thousands of people. Even a 5-second video of your photo (a static video) set to trending audio can get 10x more likes than a regular post.

The “Location Tag” Strategy

Never leave the location blank. But be smart about it.

If you tag “New York City,” you are competing with 50 million posts.

If you tag “Joe’s Coffee Shop, Brooklyn,” you are competing with 500 posts.

People searching for that specific coffee shop will see your photo. Since it’s relevant to them, they will like it.

Expert Hack: If you are a digital business with no physical store, tag a popular location where your ideal client hangs out (e.g., a Convention Center during a big industry event).

Consistency > Intensity

This is the hardest pill to swallow.

You can have the best hashtags and the best camera, but if you post once a month, you won’t grow. The algorithm favors accounts that keep users on the app daily.

I tell my clients: “I’d rather you post ‘Good’ content 3 times a week than ‘Perfect’ content once a month.”

Create a schedule. Stick to it. Your followers need to know when to expect you. Familiarity breeds likes.

WARNING: Avoid “Cheap SMM Panels”

I need to address a dangerous point in the competitor’s article. They mentioned using a “cheap smm panel” to increase followers.

As an expert, I am telling you: DO NOT DO THIS.

Buying likes or followers violates Instagram’s Terms of Service.

• Instagram deletes these fake likes regularly.
• It destroys your engagement rate (you’ll have 10k followers but 5 likes, which looks embarrassing).
• It can get your account permanently disabled.

Focus on organic growth. It’s slower, but those likes represent real people who might actually buy from you or support you.

Conclusion: It’s About Connection, Not Just Numbers

At the end of the day, a “Like” is a digital nod. It’s someone saying, “I see you, and I appreciate this.”

Don’t get too obsessed with the vanity metrics. I’ve seen accounts with 1,000 followers make more money and have more impact than accounts with 100,000 followers.

Here is your action plan for today:

1. Go through your old posts and see which ones performed best.
2. Plan a Carousel post for tomorrow using the storytelling method.
3. Reply to every single comment you get with a question.

You have the tools. Now go get those likes!

What is your biggest struggle with Instagram right now? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll help you out!