How do you get more shares on Instagram?
You get more shares on Instagram by making posts that help people say something to someone they know. A share is a small social act. The viewer picks one friend, opens a chat, and sends your post as their message. If your post makes that easy, it gets sent.
This guide gives you 14 steps, grouped into ideas, Reels, captions and settings. Each one is something you can try on your next post. If you are new to the topic, start with our guide to Instagram shares, which explains the four ways people pass a post on and why Instagram ranks on them.
What makes someone share a post?
Before the tips, it helps to know what a share does for the sharer. People rarely send a post just because it is good. They send it because it does a job for them.
| Job the post does | What the sharer is thinking | Example post |
|---|---|---|
| Helps a friend | "This solves your problem" | A checklist for a first apartment |
| Starts a laugh | "This is literally us" | A Reel about group trip planning |
| Makes a plan | "Let's go here" | A list of five weekend markets |
| Starts a debate | "Do you agree with this?" | A strong opinion on a common habit |
| Shows care | "I thought of you" | A post for new parents or new grads |
Notice that every example names a type of person. That is the key. When a post is built for a clear person, viewers instantly know who to send it to.
Which content ideas bring more shares?
1. Write for one type of person
Pick a narrow audience for each post: "people who just started running", not "fitness fans". A narrow post feels personal, and personal posts get sent. Broad posts get scrolled past.
2. Put the whole answer in one post
A carousel with seven steps is easier to share than seven separate posts. The sharer wants to send one thing that does the full job. Make each post complete on its own.
3. Make it useful enough to keep
Lists, templates, price comparisons and step-by-step guides get shared because the person who receives them can use them. If your post helps someone do something, it has a reason to travel.
4. Use a moment everyone knows
Relatable posts are built on a shared experience: the first day at a new job, waiting for a delivery, the friend who is always late. The more common the moment, the more chats it fits into.
5. Take a clear side
Posts with a clear opinion give people something to talk about. A soft, "it depends" take rarely starts a conversation. A clear one gets sent with "what do you think?"
6. Tie it to a date
Posts about an event, a launch or a season have a natural reason to be passed on before the date. "This weekend only" gives people a reason to send it now, not later.
For a longer list of formats with examples, see our guide on what posts get shared on Instagram.
Which Reel steps bring more shares?
7. Win the first second
Adam Mosseri named watch time as one of the top three ranking signals in January 2025. Nobody shares a Reel they swiped away from. Open with the most surprising or useful moment, not a slow intro. Our list of reel hooks gives you 15 openers to test.
8. Deliver the payoff fast
Once the hook lands, get to the point. Every extra second before the payoff is a chance for viewers to leave. Cut pauses, long intros and repeated lines in the edit.
9. Keep it under three minutes if you want new viewers
Instagram's help page says Reels can be up to 20 minutes long, but "Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences". If your goal is shares from people who do not follow you yet, stay under that line.
10. Add on-screen text
Many people watch with the sound off. A short line of text on screen tells them what the Reel is about in a glance. It also helps the person who receives the share understand it before they press play.
Which caption and setting steps help?
11. Ask for the send, and name the person
End the caption with a specific ask: "send this to the friend who always picks the restaurant". A named person turns a vague idea into a clear action. Avoid "please share", which gives no reason.
12. Keep Story sharing on
Instagram lets creators block Story shares. Go to your profile, open the menu, tap Sharing and reuse, and check that Posts and reels to stories is switched on. Instagram's help page notes that Story sharing only works for public accounts that allow resharing.
13. Stay public
Links to posts from private accounts only work for that account's followers. If your account is private, a friend who receives your post cannot open it. For share growth, a public account is the only real choice.
14. Post when your audience is online
Instagram's Creators FAQ says to post "when your audience is awake and most active", and to check Insights for their habits. Instagram does not name a best hour, so test a few times and compare.
How do you know which tips are working?
Track shares per 100 viewers. Mosseri told creators to check sends per reach, and this is the simple version of that idea. Open a post, tap View insights, and note the shares and the Viewers number.
Here is a worked example for one account over four posts:
| Post | Viewers | Shares | Shares per 100 viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel: 7 packing tips | 3,000 | 45 | 1.5 |
| Reel: joke about group trips | 8,000 | 40 | 0.5 |
| Photo: holiday view | 2,000 | 4 | 0.2 |
| Reel: "send this to your travel buddy" | 5,000 | 100 | 2.0 |
The joke Reel has a big audience but a low rate. The two posts with a clear use or a clear ask did best. The lesson for this account is simple: more useful carousels and more direct asks. Repeat the test every few weeks, because your audience will change.
Shares are part of the Interactions number in Insights, together with likes, comments and saves. Insights work for any public account and cover up to the past 90 days. If you want to know who sent your post, read how to see who shared your Instagram post, which explains what Instagram shows and what it keeps private.
What mistakes cost you shares?
Some habits quietly block shares even when the post itself is strong.
| Mistake | Why it costs shares | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Story sharing switched off | Removes one way to pass the post on | Turn on Posts and reels to stories |
| Private account | Shared links do not open for non-followers | Switch to public |
| Slow Reel opening | Viewers leave before the payoff | Lead with the best moment |
| Post for "everyone" | No one comes to mind to send it to | Name one type of person |
| Content split over many posts | Harder to send one complete answer | Combine into a carousel |
| No ask in the caption | People enjoy it and move on | Add a one-line send prompt |
Can you get Instagram shares faster with a paid order?
Some accounts add a paid order on top of these steps for a key post, such as a launch. Rizula sells shares for one post per order, from 100 shares for $0.99 to 20,000 shares for $59.99. You paste the post link into the shares order form, set the amount and see the total first. Delivery starts within minutes after payment is confirmed.
Know the rules before you pay. Meta's spam policy bans buying or selling engagement, including shares. The US FTC rule 16 CFR Part 465, in force since October 21, 2024, bans buying or selling fake social media indicators for a commercial purpose. Get legal advice before using bought numbers for business, and read our plain summary of the rules on buying engagement.
A paid order changes a number. It does not replace a post worth sending.
A one-week plan to test these tips
- Day 1: Note shares per 100 viewers for your last five posts. That is your starting point.
- Day 2: Post a carousel built for one named type of person, with a send ask in the caption.
- Day 3: Check your Sharing and reuse settings and confirm your account is public.
- Day 4: Post a Reel with a hook in the first second and on-screen text.
- Day 5: Post a timely idea tied to a date or event.
- Day 6: Reply to comments and note which post got the most sends.
- Day 7: Work out shares per 100 viewers for the new posts and compare them with Day 1.
Keep what beat your starting point. Drop what did not. A week of small tests will teach you more about your audience than any list of tips, this one included.