Have you noticed how effortless it seems to get initial likes on Instagram? You post a holiday selfie or a photo of the trees in Redwood National Park, and before you know it, you have at least 50 likes.
However, you may also have noticed that it is only specific posts that people bother tapping the heart icon for. You may also have realized that it is only family and friends who like your Instagram content. This is a huge problem if you are trying to make it big on the platform.
If the momentum (Instagram likes) on your content has stopped, you should know that you are not alone. In 2025, most Instagram users share your frustration of posting the best possible videos and carousels only for them to be ignored.
It is also important to remember that Instagram sees more than one hundred million photos and videos posted every single day. So, the problem is most likely not with your content, but with the fierce competition. Today, there is no niche content on Instagram that does not have some form of competition.
Plus, the algorithm is finicky, which means you must know exactly how and when to activate it.
Fortunately, even though the odds seem stacked against you and your content efforts, you can turn things around. But to do that, you must understand why your engagement is low in the first place.
The Algorithm and Your Content
Firstly, the algorithm decides what users see first on their timeline. It is not a random decision, but rather one based on content that receives early engagement. This includes likes, saves, comments, and shares on Instagram. Early engagement posts are also pushed to the top of feeds, as well as the Explore page.
From here, a snowball effect should happen. The more engagement a post gets, the more Instagram will make it visible. The more visible the post becomes, the more engagement it receives. Sadly, it is rare for new or smaller accounts to benefit from this cycle.
You can try to grow your new or existing account organically, but considering the competition, it will likely take a considerable amount of time. Achieving organic reach has always been challenging, especially for content creators unfamiliar with Instagram’s operations.
This is why more content creators, including influencers and celebrities, utilize smart engagement tools to rapidly and effectively boost their visibility.
Engagement Is More Important Than Ever
Before we get to engagement tools, let’s look at why Instagram likes are so crucial. An Instagram like is a signal that activates the algorithm. The more signals you get, the better, since that shows the algorithm your content is worth promoting. So, if your average number of likes is dropping, it may be due to:
- Not posting often enough or posting your content at the wrong time.
- Using the wrong or irrelevant hashtags.
- Uploading repetitive visuals or low-quality images.
- Writing weak captions (or not captioning at all).
- Not using different content formats such as Reels and Stories.
Each of these issues will lower your algorithm ranking. The result is that your posts get buried, and people will never see them.
Work Smarter, Never Harder
So, what can you do about all of this? Better content is not always the answer. You can post the most beautiful content with the most inspiring captions and still get no Instagram likes, shares, or comments.
What you need to consider is smart engagement platforms. These services specialize in delivering authentic Instagram likes from active users with genuine accounts. Once you start gaining likes, the comments and shares will follow.
Let’s look at which platforms to use in 2025.
Trusted Platform for Influencers and Small Business Owners
The first platform to consider is Stormlikes. This website caters to influencers, small businesses, and content creators who want to create measurable growth on Instagram. Stormlikes offers the following:
- Get Instagram likes from real users
- Compliance with Instagram policies and rules regarding engagement
- Tailor-made packages that align with content creator goals
- Geographic and interest-based targeting
- Natural results that can be expanded with organic growth strategies
Platform That Offers Flexibility and Automation
Blastup is another reputable growth platform to consider. Blastup gives you the control you need over how and when your engagement increases. With Blastup, you get the following:
- Boost Instagram likes instantly with customizable growth plans (all including real and active Instagram users)
- A real-time dashboard where you can track your Instagram growth
- Tailored growth packages that allow you to mix followers, likes, and video views
- A laser focus on compliance (all activities align with Instagram’s terms of service)
Fixing the Root of the Problem
The most important thing to remember is that growth platforms do not provide success on their own. You must combine these tools with strong content and organic growth strategies. This means focusing on:
High-Quality Visuals
Create polished visuals that attract your target audience. If you shoot your own images and videos, use natural light and stick to one editing style.
Writing Good Captions
It is crucial to write captions that invite your audience to interact with your content and with you.
Only Use Hashtags for Promotion
Hashtags are meant to make your posts more discoverable on Instagram. If you use too many, Instagram might see your content as spam.
Switching Up Content Formats
You should create reels, carousels, stories, and not only static posts.
Creating a Content Calendar
Being consistent with your content. You should create a content calendar that your audience can rely on and post no less than three times a week.
Combining Organic Strategy with Smart Growth
If you want to make a lasting impact on Instagram, combining smart growth tools with organic strategy is the best way to go. When you buy Instagram likes, and combine it with traditional growth tools, you can ensure that your audience sticks around over time.
Final Note on Growth Tools
You might be hesitant to buy engagement, since the practice has long been associated with fake accounts and bots. That is a fair concern, but one that you should only worry about if you use the wrong providers.
Reliable companies like Blastup and Stormlikes completely avoid bot activity by delivering Instagram likes (plus views and followers) from only verified and active profiles. This shows again that buying likes is not about cheating the system. It is about using smarter marketing to gain visibility on a very crowded platform.
Turning Low Engagement Into Lasting Growth
If your Instagram posts are not getting enough likes, it is not that you are failing as a content creator. It is just that you are trying to compete in one of the most competitive digital social media spaces in the world.
The solution is not to simply give up but to adapt just like everyone else. When you work with the right growth platforms and optimize your content, you will see the results you are after.