10 Reasons Your Instagram Boost Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It)

Are you fed up with trying to get your Instagram boost off the ground, only to see it crash before take-off? Instagram boosts seem like a great way to reach new audiences and expand your influence, but there are some common mistakes that lead to them not taking off the way they should. While there’s no magical formula to ensure success with any kind of promotion, there are some surefire tips that you can use to make sure that your boost actually works.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 reasons why your Instagram boost isn’t working, and how to fix them.

1. You Haven’t Tailored Your Audience

The first mistake many people make when launching a boost is not tailoring their audience to ensure that it’s getting in front of the right eyes. If you’re boosting to an audience that doesn’t have any interest in what you have to offer, chances are, your boost won’t be successful. You may have an impressive number of views and impressions, but if it’s not translating into actions or leads, you’re wasting your money.

That’s why it’s critical to define who you want to target with your boost, and use the advanced targeting options on Instagram to narrow down your audience. You can target users based on their age, location, interests, and even the type of device they use. Take the time to do the research and refine your audience to ensure that your boost is seen by the right people.

2. You’re Not Optimizing For Engagement

Engagement is the name of the game when it comes to Instagram boosts. If people aren’t engaging with your post or responding to the call-to-action, it’s unlikely that you’ll get any real benefit from the boost. That’s why it’s important to optimize your post for engagement, from the caption to the visuals, to make sure that users are interested enough to stop scrolling and engage with your post.

Start with the caption — use questions, emojis, and action verbs to make sure that it grabs the attention of your target audience. Then, design visuals that are eye-catching and cohesive with your branding. Test different combinations of images and videos to see what works best, and use always-on metrics to track performance.

3. You’re Not Tracking The Right Metrics

When it comes to tracking the performance of your Instagram boost, you need to make sure that you’re tracking the right metrics. Don’t focus just on vanity metrics, such as views and impressions, as they don’t necessarily indicate whether your boost is successful or not. Track metrics that indicate engagement and ROI, such as clicks, likes, comments, and shares.

You should also track the metrics of the landing pages or ads that you’re linking to with your boost. If the user is clicking on the link in your post but not taking any further action, you need to identify why and make changes accordingly.

4. You’re Not Optimizing For Mobile

Most users now access Instagram from their mobile devices, so if your post is not optimized for mobile, you could be missing out on potential customers. Make sure that your visuals are sized correctly — they should be a minimum of 600 x 600 pixels and you should use high-quality images to avoid blurry or pixelated visuals.

Also think about how users interact with mobile — aim for captions that can be read at a glance and use larger fonts so they are easy to read. Finally, make sure you compress images — this will improve loading time, which will help boost engagement.

5. You Don’t Have A Clear Call-to-Action

The first step in a successful Instagram boost is making sure that you have a clear call-to-action — this will make it easier for users to understand what they need to do next. For example, if you’re using an Instagram boost to promote a new product, make sure that the link in your post takes the user directly to the product page.

You should also make sure that your call-to-action is clearly visible. If it’s swallowed up in a long caption or the visuals are too busy, it can be difficult to spot. Try using action verbs in the caption and adding a button to the image to make the call-to-action stand out.

6. You’re Not Utilizing Insight Tools

Data is power — and it’s essential if you want your Instagram boost to work. Use the insights tools on Instagram to gain valuable data about your audience, such as when they’re online, what posts they respond best to, and what type of content they like to see.

These insights can help you to optimize your boost for maximum engagement. Try tweaking your post times and visuals to see if it increases engagement, or try targeting a different audience if your current audience is not responding.

7. You’re Not Sharing Quality Content

Content is still king on Instagram — that’s why it’s important to make sure that you’re sharing quality content with your boost. Content should be interesting, informative, and on-brand — it should also be visually appealing, as that is what will attract the users’ attention first.

It’s a good idea to create a content calendar to help you plan your boost posts in advance. This will ensure that each post is well thought-out and of the highest quality.

8. You’re Not Following Best Practices In Boost Design

If you want your boost to be successful, you need to make sure that it follows best practices in design. Prioritize simplicity and clarity — make sure that your visuals are uncluttered and that the text is easily readable. Try not to use too much animation, as this can be off-putting for some users.

Make sure you use all the available spaces in your post — utilize the headline and description to communicate your message and include a call-to-action button if your post links to a landing page or ad. You should also use proper hashtags so that your post can be found by the right people.

9. You’re Relying Too Much On Boosts

It’s easy to get carried away with boosting — after all, it’s an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get your content in front of more people. But while it may seem like a no-brainer, it’s important to remember that not every post you make should be boosted. Your content should be varied and you should be leveraging other techniques, such as organic content and influencer marketing, to reach a wider audience.

Don’t get too caught up in the number of boosts you’re making — try to diversify your approach, measure the results and focus on campaigns that are generating results.

10. You’re Not Diversifying Your Boost Types

When you’re planning your Instagram boost, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and just go with the tried and tested methods. But there are several different boosting options available on Instagram, and it’s worth experimenting with them to find out which works best for your business.

For example, if you’re looking to bring more people to your website, try using a website click boost. If you are looking to increase engagement on your posts, try a post engagement boost. Don’t forget to also experiment with different budget levels — while boosting can get expensive, sometimes small boosts can yield good results.

Conclusion

Even the most experienced marketers can run into trouble with Instagram boosts — but with a little bit of tweaking and some careful consideration, you can ensure that your boosts are successful and make a real impact on your bottom line. Just remember to tailor your audience, optimize for engagement, track the right metrics, use insights tools, and make sure that your boost follows best practices. With a bit of effort, you’ll soon be seeing the results you deserve.