Best Type of Instagram Content for Maximum Engagement
Published on 03.04.2026 by Chizoba T
Whether you are a brand, influencer, or content creator, you want your Instagram posts to receive as much engagement as possible. This is important because engagement level is one of the factors that affect your content's reach. Therefore, if you are trying to boost your visibility on the Instagram explore page, you will need to understand the type of content that drives the highest engagement.
Top Instagram Content For Maximum Engagement
If you want to maximize your engagement on Instagram, consider the following post formats:
Carousel Posts
According to various studies, carousel posts have the highest engagement on Instagram at around 0.55%. These are posts that feature multiple images and videos, which users swipe through. Various studies show that these posts are effective at driving engagement because they invite interaction. Users can spend time swiping through slides, which shows the Instagram algorithm the value in it.
A Hootsuite report also suggests that when a user doesn't engage with a carousel post the first time they see it, Instagram may reshow it in another slide on the feed scroll. Therefore, Instagram carousel posts can be a good choice for sharing several images and tips, while keeping the first slide compelling enough to make people swipe.
Reels
Close to the carousel posts for driving engagement are the reels with an average engagement rate of 0.5%. These short-form videos are up to 90 seconds and are being prominently promoted by the platform. The reach rate of the reels is also usually higher, at 2 times that of static images or the carousel. This can be attributed to the fact that reels are among the most favored content by the Instagram algorithm for discoverability.
Influencers also tend to see the highest engagement with Reels because of their entertaining, dynamic nature, which encourages viewers to like and comment on trending audios and challenges. When using reels, keep them short, catchy, and aligned with the trending topics or sounds. Remember that Instagram also promotes reels under 90 seconds.
Static Image Posts
The lowest engagement on Instagram is usually with the traditional image posts at around 0.45%. This doesn't mean these types of content are ineffective. Instead, their classic format ensures a more balanced feed. The good thing with image posts is that they can have a deeper impression because they can be consumed quickly. But this also means less interaction compared to the reels and carousel, where people invest their time.
However, if you add a great image with a great caption, there's still a chance it will go viral, with a high number of likes, shares, and saves. Make sure you are posting high-quality visuals to increase engagement on image posts. You can then add some outstanding conversation-starting captions. It's still possible to get so many comments with a static photo if it's high-quality, features a good caption, and matches your audience's mood.
Live Videos and Stories
While live videos and stories don't appear in the explore page and don't even count toward your overall engagement post, they also deserve a mention. This is because they also offer alternative interaction methods, such as reactions, polls, and Q&A, which can increase your overall engagement and ensure your followers remain invested in the content.
Stories and Reels also receive significant visibility on Instagram, placing them among the top content types for driving engagement. Therefore, you can include short videos in your content. Just ensure you focus on the feed posts with more comments and likes, but Stories come with their own metrics. Stories are, therefore, a good complement to Stories. For instance, if you have a new carousel, you can create a teaser and share it on Stories to increase the number of clicks to your story.
Best Content Format For Driving Engagement
The type of content you create is also likely to affect engagement levels. Some of the top content formats to consider are:
Educational Content
If your social media posts are educating your audience on something, they get shared and saved a lot. These can include various types of content, such as mini-tutorials and how-to guides. For instance, if you are creating workout content, you can post content on the top home workouts. Remember that educational posts can be a good choice for sparking curiosity and adding value, therefore increasing engagement. This is especially true when you create a high percentage of original content, combined with outstanding industry-related curated content.
Entertaining content
Many Instagram users visit the site to be entertained and unwind. That makes it well-suited for creating light-hearted, fun posts that attract many comments and likes. Some of the content formats you can share under entertaining content can include interesting memes, behind-the-scenes content, and other humorous content in your niche. However, make sure that your entertaining content is interesting, fast, and punchy. You can also ask your followers to share their experiences or to react.
Inspirational Content
When people find your content inspiring, they are also likely to engage with it. So, share a variety of content formats, such as quotes and uplifting stories. Make sure the stories you share have a positive, memorable impact and encourage users to reflect. For instance, influencers can share personal stories, while a small business can share success stories from its previous customers. Such human-centric stories help you resonate with your target audience.
Promotional content
This is one of the content formats you should limit, as it is not well-received by social media users. Whether it's a sales announcement, product posts, or the buy now messages, these should be limited as they don't receive higher engagement. If your social media followers find that your feed is filled with promotional content, they are likely to ignore it.
A good idea would be to stick to the 80-20 rule: 80% of posts educate, inform, or entertain, and the other 20% are promotional content. When you limit the number of ads, your audience will find your content engaging.
In Conclusion
Understanding the different types of content is important for driving engagement. Having a healthy mix will ensure you create content that resonates with your followers. It helps to keep your feed engaging and enables you to better connect with your target audience.