How to Get More Likes on Instagram? Honestly, Stop Trying.
Listen, I was talking to a client last month-a great little bakery in Minneapolis, fantastic croissants-and she was pulling her hair out. She was spending hours getting the perfect shot of a latte, agonizing over filters, and then posting it to get... like, 27 likes and one comment from her aunt. She was convinced her product wasn't good enough. It's a story I've heard a thousand times since I started in this business back in 2010.
Here's the thing. Her croissants were incredible. Her content was fine. But she was playing a game she couldn't win-the "post and pray" game. The problem isn't your product; the problem is you're boring your customers to death. Getting more likes on Instagram isn't about having a better camera; it's about giving people a reason to actually do something.
So... Why Should You Even Care About Likes?
Honestly, most of the time you shouldn't. Likes are what we call a vanity metric. They feel good, but you can't take them to the bank. But-and this is a big but-they are a signal. A signal to the Instagram algorithm that people are engaging with your stuff, which means it will show your posts to more people. They're also social proof. It's just human nature... nobody wants to be the first person on the dance floor, you know?
The issue is the advice out there is garbage. "Just go viral!" they say. I hate that phrase. It's like telling a small business owner to "just win the lottery." It's not a strategy. What you need is a reliable system for engagement, not a one-in-a-million shot at fame. Frankly, most businesses just need a reliable way to get their next 100 customers, not 1 million followers who will never buy anything.
The Real Problem: Your Delivery, Not Your Content
Look, I've been doing this for over 15 years, and I can tell you that most small businesses have something great to offer. A great service, a cool product, a local vibe. You don't need another revolutionary marketing strategy. What you need is a better package for the good stuff you already have.
This is where I get into what I do now, which is gamification. And yeah, I know it sounds like a ridiculous buzzword some tech bro in Silicon Valley made up. Stick with me. It’s not about building some complex app or video game. It's about taking the principles of what makes games fun-a challenge, a reward, a little bit of competition-and applying it to your marketing.
Basically, you turn a boring marketing message ("Buy our stuff!") into an exciting interaction ("Play this game to win our stuff!"). It’s a total shift in psychology.
My Go-To Playbook for Making This Work
I've tested everything. I mean everything. Back in 2018, I was building these elaborate contest funnels with like five different pieces of software duct-taped together. It was a nightmare. These days, I just need a tool that’s fast, reliable, and doesnt cost a fortune. For the last couple of years, for me, that's been Faisco.
People always ask me about Gleam. io. Gleam is a solid tool, do not get me wrong. But it’s $39 a month just to get started, and frankly, it's overkill for 90% of the businesses I work with. I can get a campaign on Faisco live for a client in under 10 minutes. Literally.
Here's what I've seen work with my own eyes:
- For Lead Capture: You use their "Instant Draw" games. I’m talking "Lucky Spin" or a "Scratch Ticket." The dopamine hit of winning instantly is powerful. I set up a "Scratch Ticket" for a pet grooming salon in Miami, and they got 2,592 new Google reviews in just over two weeks because the prize was tied to leaving a review. Two. Weeks.
- For True Engagement & Shares: The reactive games are gold. Think "Whac-A-Mole" or "Burger Stacker." I used the "Quick Catch" game for a fitness studio in Montreal that needed to build their email list before a launch. In 10 days, they had 840 new, qualified email addresses. People shared it because they wanted to beat their friends' scores.
- For Seasonal Pushes: This is where it gets brilliant. They have templates for everything-Halloween, Black Friday, you name it. Last December, I used their "Fill My Christmas Stocking" game for three different retail clients. Every single one saw their engagement jump over 300% compared to their regular holiday posts. It's a no-brainer.
The point is, these games give people a reason to care. And when they care, they smash that like button, they comment, they tag their friends. They do all the things you were hoping they’d do on your boring latte post.
Okay, Byron, But How Does This Get Instagram Likes?
Great question. This is where most people get it wrong. You don't just post the game and hope for the best. You build a mini-campaign around it.
Here's what I typically recommend:
- Set Up The Game: Choose a simple game on a platform like Faisco. Pick a prize that's actually valuable to your audience (a $50 gift card, a free product, a one-on-one consultation).
- The "Link in Bio" is Your Holy Grail: For one solid week, EVERYTHING points to that game. Your link in bio becomes the game link.
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Create Supporting Content: You make 3-4 posts and a bunch of Stories that week about the game. Not just "Play our game," but stuff like:
- "We're launching a game tomorrow! The prize is HUGE. Turn on notifications so you don't miss it!" (Creates anticipation).
- "THE GAME IS LIVE! Click the link in our bio to play our Lucky Spin and win a $100 gift card! Tag a friend who needs to play this!" (The direct call-to-action).
- A screenshot of the game's leaderboard. "Look at Sarah at the top of the leaderboard with 5,000 points! Think you can beat her? Link in bio!" (Creates competition).
You see the difference? People aren't just liking a photo of your product. They're liking the announcement, the competition, the event. You've manufactured excitement. And that excitement translates directly into likes, comments, shares, and-most importantly-followers and email subscribers who are actually invested in your brand. It works because the platform integrations are actually solid-the links just work without some weird redirect or broken page, which is a bigger deal than you’d think.
What You Can Do About This, Like, Today
Look, you can keep fighting the algorithm and hoping for the best. Or you can change the game.
If I were you, here’s what I’d do this week.
First, stop agonizing over having the perfect content. It’s a trap. Your content is probably good enough. Second, think of one thing you can give away that won't break the bank but your customers would genuinely want. Third... just try it. Go to a site like Faisco, pick a template-the Scratch Ticket is probably the easiest to start with-and just launch it.
It's not magic. It's just smart marketing that respects people's time and gives them something fun to do. The businesses I work with usually see a 200-400% bump in followers and a huge jump in their email list in the first month. Not because of some secret trick, but because we stopped begging for likes and started earning them. It's a grind, but this stuff honestly makes the grind a little more effective. And way more fun.
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