The Right Way to Engage on Instagram – No Gimmicks, Just Real Connections (Part 9/9)

Engagement is everything on Instagram. But how do you actually interact with people without coming off as a spammer, a gimmick-pusher, or just another annoying account trying to get attention?

I’ve been there. I’ve done all the gimmicks—follow/unfollow, liking 10 pictures in a row, leaving 🔥 emojis in every comment section, reacting to stories with hearts. And yeah, it gets people to check out your page. But you know what it really does? It creates meaningless connections that go nowhere.

So let’s talk about real engagement—the kind that actually builds relationships and attracts the right people to your brand.

Why Gimmicks Are a Waste of Time

I used to run teams that did engagement gimmicks for me. The idea was simple: interact with as many people as possible so they’d check out my page and follow back.

And sure, some people followed me. But here’s what happened next:
✔️ They followed me because I did a gimmick, not because they liked my content.
✔️ I’d unfollow them, they’d unfollow me back.
✔️ The relationship was transactional, not real—they weren’t engaged, they weren’t fans, they weren’t going to buy from me or support what I was doing.

If you’re trying to build a real audience that supports your brand, gimmicks don’t work. What works is genuine connection.

How to Actually Engage and Attract the Right People

The secret to engagement? Be real. But here’s the problem:
➡️ If you’re following a bunch of fake, flex-heavy, “look at my Ferrari” accounts, you won’t have anything real to say.
➡️ If you’re consuming nothing but generic motivational nonsense, the only thing you can comment is “🔥🔥🔥” or “Love this bro.”

You need to follow the right people. Unfollow anyone who doesn’t inspire, educate, entertain, or add real value to your life. Once you start following quality accounts, your engagement will become effortless.

1. Comment with Real Thoughts (Not Just Emojis)

When someone posts something that actually makes you think, say something real.
Instead of:
🚫 “🔥🔥🔥”
🚫 “Love this”
🚫 “So true”

Try:
✅ “Damn, I’ve been struggling with this exact thing for months. Your breakdown finally made it click.”
✅ “I never thought about it like this. That last point really hit home for me.”
✅ “This is the best explanation I’ve heard of this concept. I’m going to try this right away.”

When you leave a thoughtful comment, the creator notices. They might even check out your page. And if your page is aligned with their interests, you’ve just made an organic, meaningful connection.

2. Use Story Shares for Maximum Engagement

Here’s a simple engagement hack:
➡️ When you see a post that hits home, share it to your stories.
➡️ Write a quick caption about why it resonated with you.
➡️ Post it, then copy that caption and comment it on their post.

Now you’ve just interacted with them three times—liked, commented, and shared their post.
Guess what happens next? They notice you. Maybe they check out your page, maybe they comment on your content, maybe they even DM you. That’s how you build real relationships with people who actually care about what you do.

3. Don’t Ignore “Faceless” Accounts

A lot of people assume that if someone doesn’t have a profile picture or hasn’t posted much, they’re a bot or a scam account. But here’s the truth—many of these people are just scared to start posting.

I’ve had faceless accounts DM me deep, personal messages about their struggles, asking for advice or sharing how my content helped them. These people become some of your biggest supporters because they see you as the push they need to start their own journey.

So don’t just focus on followers with big numbers. Everyone is a real person with a story. Treat them that way.

Social Media is About Relationships

At the end of the day, Instagram isn’t just about content—it’s about people. Your followers aren’t just numbers. They’re real people with their own journeys, struggles, and goals.

If you engage in a genuine, thoughtful way, you’ll start attracting the right audience—people who actually support what you do, who relate to your journey, and who help you grow. That’s how you build a real brand on Instagram.

So stop wasting time on gimmicks. Start engaging with authenticity.

And remember: you attract what you put out. Be real, and real people will follow.