HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR INSTAGRAM ENGAGEMENT (WHAT’S ACTUALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW!)

 
Blog post image showing a plate of sourdough toast, on a wooden table set for breakfast.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

Struggling to get people to engage with your Instagram content?

You’re not alone; I’ve been there too, and I know exactly how frustrating it can be. Even after a decade on the platform and calling myself an Instagram expert, my engagement numbers took a serious nosedive in 2024. It was so disheartening, and honestly a much needed wake up call.

I realised that without a thriving, engaged online community, what’s the point of pouring time into Instagram? Especially if, like me, you’re aiming to land well-paying influencer campaigns and brand partnerships in 2025. For that to happen, focusing on engagement is a must. That’s because engagement isn’t just a vanity metric; it’s one of the top things brands and agencies look for when choosing which talent to work with. And, engagement is good for the soul!

So, to ensure my 2025 content strategy performed better, I did a deep dive into my Instagram, reviewed the stats, assessed what worked, honestly analysed what didn’t work and then came up with a brand new content strategy for 2025, focusing primarily on engagement!

Curious to know what made the cut and what actually works right now on Instagram? Let’s dive in, shall we?

 
 

1/ ACCEPT THAT INSTAGRAM HAS CHANGED!

If you’ve been on Instagram for a while, you know how upsetting it can be to post content that used to resonate only to be met with crickets today. But here’s the reality: Instagram has changed. In fact, it’s constantly evolving, and hence what worked five years ago (or even last year!) doesn’t necessarily work anymore.

As food photographers and content creators, it’s crucial for us to stay on top of these changes if we want to remain relevant, build genuine community, and attract paying clients.

That’s not to say change isn’t hard, but it does mean that a lack of engagement could be less about you and more about shifts in user behaviour and the platform itself! With more content than ever flooding people’s feeds, audiences are experiencing content fatigue. This in turn results in them being more selective with what they engage with, and that’s completely normal.

Does that mean you should give up on improving your engagement? Absolutely not. But it does mean you’ll need to go beyond just posting beautiful food photos to build trust and community in 2025. A smarter, engagement-focused strategy is where the magic happens...

Blog post image showing a wooden chair next to a table set with linens and cutlery, dappled light falling on it from a window nearby.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

 
 
Blog post image showing a cup of coffee decorated with latte art, set on a wooden table.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

2/ LEARN FROM YOUR OWN ENGAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR

The truth is, content fatigue isn’t just affecting your followers, it’s affecting you too! If you’ve been on Instagram for a while and regularly consume content, you’ve likely felt it yourself. And while that might sound like a bad thing, it’s actually a huge opportunity when it comes to refining your engagement strategy.

Why? Because you can analyze your own Instagram behavior and use those insights to improve your content.

Start by asking yourself:

  • What is truly stopping YOU in your scroll?

Is it a powerful hook, a bold headline, a certain content format, or an eye-catching cover image of a carousel? Pay attention to the patterns in the posts that grab your attention. Make a note of the common themes you spot because let’s face it, if content doesn’t catch your eye, you’re not engaging with it.

  • What propels YOU to engage?

Among the posts that capture your attention, which ones actually get you to leave a comment, save, or share? What emotion did you feel before engaging? Was it joy, curiosity, surprise, or something relatable? Was it content from a long-time favorite creator or a fresh face in your Discover feed?

Now, here’s the tough question: if you’re being 100% honest with yourself, are you creating the kind of content that stops you in your tracks and inspires you to engage?

If the answer is no (and let’s be real, for most of us, it probably is), don’t worry, I got you because this is exactly where the magic starts.

Let’s dive into what to do about it next…

 
 

3/ PrioritiSe Connection Over Perfection

As a food photographer, it’s only natural to want to showcase your work and hope people respond with likes, comments and shares. But here’s the hard truth: pretty food photos alone rarely build community or spark meaningful engagement. Their primary role is to attract potential clients and serve as part of your online portfolio; for that reason, I’d never suggest you stop posting them.

However, if your goal is to foster connection and boost engagement, those polished images can’t be the only thing you share. Why? Because while beautiful photos might impress, they don’t always offer your audience an emotional anchor point, something they can wholeheartedly relate to, laugh at, or feel seen by.

To truly increase engagement, start weaving in relatable, personal, or behind-the-scenes moments. Share the story of a photo shoot gone wrong, the struggle behind perfecting a tricky recipe, your experience cooking for a picky eater, or the lessons learned from a major kitchen disaster. Reflect on the kind of content you found yourself engaging with during your research in Section 2; I’d bet my bottom dollar it wasn’t flawless food images, but real, raw and honest human moments.

Blog post image showing a plate of asparagus garnished with greens, a dressing pooling lightly around it.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

 
 
Blog post image showing hands holding up a smartphone, taking a picture, the subject showing through the viewfinder.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

4/ focus on value driven content

If sharing personal stories or being vulnerable online isn’t your thing — and honestly, I get it, I struggle with it SO much too — there’s another powerful way to boost your Instagram engagement: by focusing on providing value to your online community.

From my aforementioned deep dive into my content and discovering what performs, I’ve seen that posts offering helpful tips, clever hacks, or behind-the-scenes looks at your creative process tend to resonate super well. Not only do they deliver something useful, but your audience often shows their appreciation through likes, comments, shares, and saves.

The golden rule? Please lead with generosity. The content that tends to perform best isn’t the kind created with the expectation of getting something back - it’s the content designed to give. When your audience feels like they’re gaining something meaningful from you, genuine engagement will naturally follow, I promise!

 
 

5/ be yourself!

In a world of curated content and picture-perfect feeds, there’s nothing more engaging than someone who shows up as their authentic self online. That’s because when a creator feels real, relatable, and like someone you could be friends with, it’s magnetic.

I know for me personally, if I genuinely like someone’s vibe on Instagram, I’m instantly drawn to their profile and find myself following along, engaging, and rooting for them, no matter what they post.

And it makes sense, right? We’re social creatures, naturally wired to seek out connection and authenticity. It’s those real, human moments that truly stand out and are so deeply moving in a sea of sameness.

So, that begs the question: How can you start showing up more authentically in your content?

  • Make a bold, honest statement about something you believe in related to your niche - even if it’s something you’d normally only share with close friends.

  • Offer your genuine take on trends or challenges.

  • Share a tongue-in-cheek, relatable opinion (always kind, never spiteful) on something you’ve been thinking about lately.

The goal is to let your personality shine through in small, consistent ways. Ask yourself: Is my true self coming across in my content? And if not, what small, manageable steps can I take to change that?

Because at the end of the day, people connect with people. And showing up as yourself is one of the most powerful ways to build community and grow engagement in 2025. So what are you waiting for? You got this!

Blog post image showing a person sitting in front of a big window looking out, the light dark and moody inside, but bright outside. A brick building is visible through the window.

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

 
 
blog post image showing a person sitting at a table set for breakfast, a small dog on their lap, as they lift a forkful of baked beans from a small bowl..

Image taken at the last influencer trip I attended at The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire.

Before you go…

I truly hope this blog post was helpful to get you excited again about Instagram!

Now, if you’re serious about wanting to further improve your Instagram Reels strategy and take your recipe Reels to the next level, why not order my new book, How to Make Your Food Famous, join my Food Reels Course OR join the waiting list below for our brand new Instagram Growth Masterclass, launching this Summer!

 
food photography, food styling, Creative business, creativity, instagram tricks, food bloggingK J Espinel