As of January 2025, there are 166.15 million Instagram users in the US and they spend an average of 33.9 minutes on the app every day. That’s a lot of reach. Instagram has evolved over the years, adding features like Stories, Reels, Live streaming, and Notes, which sends text notes up to 60 characters that disappear after 24 hours. Marketers have to continuously adapt their social media strategies to keep up with new technology. In 2025, Instagram hacks are still effective at heart, but slight variations in the way you use your Instagram can make a difference in your business’s success. Let’s take a look at the 5 best Instagram tips for 2025.
Prioritize Video Content
Video continues to be the leading format on Instagram, even in 2025. When you check your Instagram feed, Reels typically dominate the first few posts. And people want more video content. Recent social video stats show that 81% of consumers want to see additional short-form videos from brands. Video content appeals to the Instagram algorithm and builds authentic connections with your audience, making it an effective way to drive reach and engagement.
Instagram Reels was rolled out in 2019 to compete with the highly popular TikTok. Originally users could share up to 90-second videos, but as of January 2025, the video length was extended to three minutes. Users can also add trending audio, filters, visual effects, text overlays, multiple clips, and more. With TikTok facing an uncertain future and consumers’ demand for video content, including it in your social strategy is no longer just encouraged – it’s necessary.
So how do you take advantage of this fast-growing feature? Short-form video is all about capturing your audience’s attention in the first couple of seconds, otherwise, they’ll keep scrolling. Don’t be afraid to make your content eye-catching and entertaining (but still true to your brand). Jumping on trends and popular audio makes it easier for the algorithm to recommend you to a larger audience.
You can also find inspiration in competitors’ Reels and TikToks. Take a look at what other industry leaders are doing and what’s working. You obviously don’t want to copy content, but there’s nothing wrong with seeing what works for your industry and staying on top of trends so you can tap into that same growth.
Bonus Tip: Be mindful of the “safe zones.” These are areas on the screen that aren’t covered up by UI elements. Quality video and thoughtful design will make your Reels stand out from others.
Perfect Your Profile
Your business Instagram profile should tell your story in just a few seconds of viewing. From your profile picture to your bio to your feed, each element must work together to create the perfect first impression so viewers will click that follow button.
Businesses are challenged with a 150-character limit on Instagram profile bios, leaving little room for error. But strong marketers know how to tell an effective story in just a few sentences. Keep it short and sweet by adding your business’s mission statement, but don’t make it boring. Don’t be afraid to throw in a few emojis or some humor, just remember, keep it short. Including a location helps locals discover your business. Business accounts can even add customized call-to-action buttons.
Back in the day, almost every caption included “link in bio!” Now Instagram allows up to five external links. Adding a link to your website or Linktree will allow new and old visitors to find out more about you.
Bonus Tip: Drive traffic to your site by creating a hidden links page to use in place of a Linktree.
Finally, try creating cohesive branding aesthetics with your profile picture, story highlights, pinned posts, and feed. You want your profile to show off what your business is all about, and you want it to look pretty, too. Use consistent colors, fonts, and tone of voice to make followers fall in love with your brand personality.
Take a look at how one of our clients combines all of these elements to put together a cohesive Instagram profile:
Post Consistently
Just like your profile should have a consistent brand style, you should also post that content consistently. Posting consistently will allow you to retain current followers as well as attract new ones. But each post has to have a specific strategic purpose. Filler content is bound to annoy your audience and can actually cause you to lose followers.
According to Hootsuite, the average business profile posts 4.7 times a week, but every business follows a different schedule. Experiment with what works best for your brand. It’s generally accepted that at least 3 posts a week is a good number to aim for, and can be pushed up to one a day as your business grows.
When we took over socials for an eCommerce client, we increased their post frequency from 4 or fewer posts a month to 12 or more. At the end of the quarter, their Facebook reach increased by 3768%, and by 1877% on Instagram. Their Facebook followers increased by 168% and by 596% on Instagram.
Just make sure you’re diverse when posting on your business profile. Rotating between regular posts, Reels, and carousels can keep your followers engaged and reach different audiences. And don’t forget Stories! Sharing extra content here opens the door for more DMs, and prevents followers from being spammed in their main feed.
Use Real People in Your Imagery
In 2025, Instagram’s visual landscape is dominated by authenticity, and nothing speaks to that more than using real people in your ads. Over 91% of viewers are more likely to notice ads featuring human faces compared to those without. This simple yet powerful strategy can significantly boost your ad’s effectiveness and engagement rates.
But it’s not just about including faces; it’s about leveraging the gaze cues that guide your audience’s attention. When the person in your ad looks toward a specific element – like your product or brand name – you’re subtly directing the viewer’s focus without uttering a word. If you need proof of this technique’s effectiveness, after updating a client’s ads with real people, the sales attributed to those ads increased by 1,750%.
To maximize this strategy:
- Choose diverse, relatable individuals that resonate with your target audience.
- Ensure the gaze is intentional, drawing attention to key elements of your ad.
- Combine this approach with Instagram’s visual-first format for optimal impact.
In the age of authenticity, real faces create real connections. By incorporating this tactic into your Instagram strategy for 2025, you’re not just creating ads; you’re crafting visual stories that captivate and convert.
Interact with Your Followers
The best way to get more engagement from your followers is to engage with them first. Instagram has a lot of options for interaction. It is a social media platform, after all. Don’t be afraid to talk to your followers, because people love it when a brand responds to them.
Commenting on other brands’ posts or replying to comments are the best ways to start a conversation. Try answering popular questions in your comments, reply to silly comments with a little humor, or even just give a “hey there.” This helps you develop a sort of brand persona that followers look forward to interacting with. The more you reply to followers’ comments, the more comments will come rolling in. Instagram Reels even has a video reply option, which is great for giving a thorough response to a question. Even just liking several comments on each post is enough to get your followers’ attention.
As always, keep up with your direct messages and you’ll keep happy followers. You can set up automated responses to the most common questions, but nothing beats real human interaction, so tailor your responses when you can. Try setting aside specific times throughout the day to respond to your DMs across all social accounts.
Finally, don’t be afraid to use Instagram stories to increase engagement with your followers. Interactive stickers like polls can make your followers feel like they’re part of the conversation. Instagram Lives are also a way to provide a real-time human connection. Posting content that centers around a popular conversation can really encourage interaction with your brand, but keep the controversial takes to yourself as they can always backfire.
Here at Little Red Writing, we know that running social media can be an exhausting and complex task. That’s why we’re here to help with Instagram tips, advice, and strategy if you need us.
Originally written in 2023, content was updated in February 2025.
