You’ve probably heard a million times: “Post consistently!”
Cool. But here’s the part most people miss—posting alone isn’t enough anymore.
Instagram’s algorithm is evolving (again), and this time, it’s rewarding something beautifully human: actual conversation.
That’s right. The brands winning right now? They’re not just posting. They’re replying. Fast.
Here’s what the algorithm really loves:
- 💬 Responding to comments quickly (within the hour is gold).
- 📥 Answering DMs like a human, not a bot.
- 👋 Engaging with your audience, not just at them.
Instagram wants connection, not one-way content. The more you behave like a person—curious, helpful, responsive—the more reach you get. It’s basically social media karma.
Why does this matter?
Because brands that behave like billboards are fading into the feed. But brands that behave like people? They’re growing. Fast.
Real conversations build trust, which turns into follows, which turns into loyalty, which turns into… well, money.
Here’s a wild stat: accounts that consistently respond to DMs and comments often see 25–40% more reach than those that don’t. Why? Because Instagram notices when your followers stick around and interact—and it pushes your content to more people as a result.
So what should you do?
- Turn on notifications for comments and DMs.
- Reply like you would to a friend—ditch the corporate tone.
- Leave thoughtful comments on other people’s posts too (yes, outbound love matters).
- And for the love of marketing, don’t ghost your audience after you post.
At Firestarter, we help you automate the stuff that doesn’t require your genius—so you have more time to do what does: showing up and connecting. Because the best growth hack right now? Being present.
Let’s build a brand that talks back (in a good way).