Why Am I Not Getting Likes on Instagram?

We all hope for interactions (likes and comments) when we post on Instagram. However, it can be puzzling when the number of likes doesn’t align with the number of followers. This might lead you to question why you’re not getting enough likes on Instagram.

Whether you’re managing a personal account or a business brand, it’s natural to associate your social worth with the engagement you receive. In this post, we will explore the potential reasons behind the lack of likes on your Instagram posts and how to turn the situation around. Are you eager to find out? Let’s get started!

Why You Are Not Getting Likes on Instagram

There can be many reasons why you are not getting likes on Instagram.

We’ll discuss the most common ones below.

Reason #1: You Have Many Ghost Followers

Ghost followers are those who follow your account but never interact with your posts. They don’t like or comment on your content; their only action is to follow you.

These ghost followers can be a major reason why you’re not receiving the expected number of likes. While they may increase your follower count, they harm your overall engagement rate.

For example, if you have 2000 followers but only get 150-200 likes on your posts, it means only 7.5% to 10% of your followers are actively engaging. The majority, around 90% to 92.5% of your followers, are ghost followers who don’t contribute to your post interactions.

Reason #2: Your Followers Are Uninterested in Your Content

Another possible reason for the lack of likes on your posts is that your followers might not have a genuine interest in the content you share. This is especially common with business accounts, where posts primarily revolve around promoting products and services.

Over time, followers may become disinterested and bored due to the repetitive nature of the content. Consequently, they are less likely to engage with the posts by liking them.

On the other hand, personal pages tend to receive more interactions as they offer a variety of content and experiences that resonate with the audience.

If you notice a decline in the number of likes on your business account’s posts, this could be the underlying reason. Some followers might even unfollow you if they find the content unappealing or repetitive.

Reason #3: Your Captions Are Unengaging

The caption you use on your Instagram posts plays a crucial role in capturing the attention of users. It can determine how engaging and captivating your content appears to your followers.

If your captions offer value, your followers are more likely to engage with your posts. To make your captions more interesting and interactive, consider incorporating the following:

1. Ask thought-provoking questions that encourage responses from your followers and other viewers.
2. Be creative and use engaging language that sparks curiosity and interest.
3. Use eye-catching emojis that quickly grab the attention of people scrolling through their feeds.

However, it’s essential to keep your captions concise and to the point. Lengthy captions might lead to a loss of interest, and users may swiftly move on to other posts. Remember that not everyone has the time or patience to read lengthy captions on social media. Keep it short, impactful, and engaging.

Reason #4: Inconsistency

Consistency plays a significant role in the level of engagement your posts receive on Instagram.

If you’re inconsistent in posting content, it’s natural that you’ll receive only a few likes. After all, how can people engage with your posts if they rarely see them?

The phrase “Out of sight, out of mind” holds true in this context. If your followers don’t come across your posts regularly, they might forget about your account altogether, leading to fewer likes.

To overcome this, it’s crucial to be intentional about posting consistently. Aim to share at least one post per day to remind your followers that you’re active and present. Establishing this pattern helps your audience stay connected with your account.

Avoid unnecessary long breaks between posts to maintain engagement and keep your followers interested. By consistently sharing content, you’ll likely see an increase in likes and overall engagement on your Instagram account.

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Reason #5: Your Followers Have Too Many Posts on Their Feed

This scenario is more likely to occur if your followers follow a large number of people on Instagram.

Having a high number of followers means their feed is flooded with numerous posts from various accounts. As a result, there’s a higher chance that your posts might get lost amidst this sea of content, leading to a decrease in likes.

Keeping up with liking posts on a crowded feed can be exhausting, and unfortunately, your post might be the one they’re too tired to engage with. Alternatively, your post might be perceived as less interesting compared to others on their feed, affecting their decision to like it.

If you check the accounts of some of your followers, you might notice that those who follow over a thousand people are exposed to a vast number of posts on their feed. However, if they mute certain accounts or follow mostly inactive accounts, their feed will contain fewer posts to engage with. This can impact the likelihood of your post receiving likes from them.

Reason #6: Low-Quality Pictures and Videos

One possible reason for the lack of likes on your posts could be the poor quality of your pictures and videos. If your content doesn’t match the standard of other posts on your followers’ feeds, they may be less inclined to engage with it.

To improve the quality of your pictures and videos, ensure you use proper lighting during shooting and utilize professional picture and video editing tools, in addition to the built-in Instagram edits.

Reason #7: Shadowban

If your account is shadowbanned your posts will be restricted from reaching a wider audience. This means your posts won’t appear in explore pages or hashtag search results, limiting their visibility to new people.

A shadowban is usually a temporary punishment imposed by Instagram when an account violates their guidelines. If you notice a significant decline in engagement on your recent posts, you may have been shadowbanned. However, if only one or two of your posts have fewer likes than others, you are likely not shadowbanned.

To check if you’ve been shadowbanned, follow these steps:

1. Create another Instagram account.
2. Upload a post on your main account and include a unique hashtag.
3. Use your new account to search for the unique hashtag used in your post.
4. If the post shows up under “Recent” hashtag results, your account hasn’t been shadowbanned.

Reason #8: You Are Using Hashtags Wrongly

Hashtags can significantly expand your audience reach, but it’s essential to use them correctly for optimal results.

Simply using popular or overly saturated hashtags may get you a few more likes, but it won’t necessarily lead to meaningful engagements on your posts.

To effectively use hashtags and increase your likes, focus on using niche-specific hashtags or ones designed to attract engagement.

To find the most effective hashtags for getting likes, search for a common hashtag on Instagram and visit the ‘Recent’ section.

Identify a post with a substantial number of likes and copy the hashtags used in that post. By employing this strategy, you’re more likely to achieve the best results and improve your post’s like count.

Conclusion

Experiencing low likes or a significant drop in likes on your Instagram posts can be disheartening and frustrating.

We empathize with your situation, which is why we’ve taken the time to explain the potential reasons behind the decrease in likes.

The factors we mentioned could be contributing to the low engagement on your posts.

However, the good news is that these issues can be addressed and resolved.

By following our tips and dedicating time to specific aspects of your account, you can improve your post’s performance and regain the likes you desire.