What are Instagram Engagement Pods?

Instagram pods help you grow your followers organically. Here’s how.

If you have been using Instagram, then you know that last year the platform introduced a new algorithmic rule which changed the order of posts in peoples’ feeds, favoring popular posts over chronology. This implies that you no longer see posts in reverse chronological order and instead, the new algorithm overrides chronological order to show images that Instagram thinks are of great value to you.

Due to this this new change, Instagram users have experienced lower engagement on their posts, so they have taken various actions which they believe can help solve the whole issue. One of the ways that users can employ to combat this problem is by joining an engagement pod.

If you have not joined one already, you are probably wondering what an Instagram POD refers to. So today in this particular post, we want to discuss in excruciating details, everything you need know about Instagram pods. Peruse the article and enhance your knowledge.

What are Instagram Engagement pods?

Instagram Engagement pods are groups of Instagram users that are committed to commenting and liking on each other’s post, in an attempt to boost each one’s overall engagement. Engagement pods are made up of between 10 to 15 Instagram users, businesses or even bloggers who have similar audiences and have a common desire to boost their respective Instagram activity and acquire more followers. Once you have joined a particular pod, you’ll be expected to interact and engage with your fellow members continually, with the expectation that they’ll equally do the same. Typically, the members communicate with each other through Instagram DM’s, and each time someone in the group creates a new post, they share the post in the message thread. Instagram pod members with then click on the image, like it and will also leave a genuine and positive comment intended to encourage other regular followers to take part in the engagement.

As you may have guessed, Instagram engagement pods were explicitly designed to help users increase their engagement rates and to support each other in growing in the Instagram community.

As previously mentioned, the new rules allow the app to calculate the relevance of a particular post based on how fast it accumulates many likes and comments, and this means that is not possible for a single user to manipulate it.

However, with a little help from your friends, you can quickly boost each other’s content strategically. These comments and likes signal Instagram that the post is essential and the algorithm will end up showing the post to more people.

When you first share a particular post on Instagram, the administrators show that post to a smaller group of your total audience. Based on how the post performs with a relatively smaller group of people, Instagram will then grade the overall quality of your content.

It is this score that determines how your post will be delivered in the feed and the discover tab. By using pods, members can enhance their engagement thus increasing the score of their contents.

Upleap also acts as an Instagram Pod

By joining Upleap you’re automatically put into an Instagram pod with similar users. This means every Instagram post or Story you make will get more organic followers, because more people are liking and sharing your content.

Signing up for free is super simple and you’ll see results within a day.

How to join an Instagram Pod

Before you think of joining a particular Engagement pod, it is important to note that we have a multitude of different types of pods out there. This implies that there are different rules and requirements for entry and they also serve various purposes. So let us explore the most common types:

• Follower-based pods: Most pods require their group members to have a specific number of followers before they can be eligible to join, while others do not.

• Broad and niche-specific pods: Niche-specific pods are relatively smaller and exclusive. Consequently, broad Pods are typically larger.

• Comments/engagement/likes pods: Whereas certain posts focus on all the types of engagement, some are specific to requesting either comments or likes.

• Group pods: Here, users are allowed to share their posts at any time, and members are expected to engage as needed.

• Drop pods : Typically, drop pods require that the members must only post their content at a given fixed timeframe, and after doing so, they must engage with everyone else who contributed to that drop.

So, you’ve heard all the good things about Instagram pods and you want to join one. To get the best engagement group, you’ll have to consult the account owners. Some people join Instagram pods after seeing a post from fellow business owners in a Facebook group. The exclusive nature of engagement pods makes most of them hard to find. If you are interested in joining an Instagram pod, you might search for more public requests. It is widely believed that one way to boost your chances of being invited to a pod is by networking on a regular basis with businesses like yours.

Engage with similar brands more regularly on Instagram and share with them your Instagram content. Of course, this does not entirely imply that you must like and comment on your competitors’ posts. You can also find Instagram pods by searching on Google. For instance, you can search “Telegram Engagement pod list”.

Be aware: some Engagement pods require payment to permit entry. Telegram is arguably the best place for being part of a particular pod. In fact, some of the groups boast of more than 3,000 members, and this means that there can be a lot of engagement with your brand. You’ll have to pay to get into one, but once you are accepted, you’ll benefit from that involvement incredibly.

How to create an Instagram pod:

If you really want to set up the best pod, you have to be strategic about it. You can’t just wake up one day and throw together 20 random people and hope for the best. Do your due diligence and follow all the steps below to create a robust, efficient and thriving Instagram pod that will actively improve your engagement over time.

• Select members who have an audience similar to yours.

• Choose members who are always active on Instagram. Check their accounts just to ensure that they are posting continually.

• Select members that are in the same time zone. This is key to getting engagement quickly.

• Include a welcome message that has the guidelines for the group.

• Add all of your members to a group DM on Instagram. To achieve this, open Instagram and click the house icon, select the plane icon in the top right, click the plus icon and type all the names of your members.

• Finally, always evaluate the efficiency of your group regularly. If you didn’t know, with time the members will either leave the team or become inactive. If this happens, you should replace the departed members with new fresh members as quick as possible.

What are some of the rules of an Engagement Pod?

It is critical to note that each engagement pod is different and will have specific guidelines and regulations for proper participation. Make sure whatever pod you join, you read and understand all the available rules entirely. If one member doesn’t participate as anticipated, it can affect the experience of the members negatively. Simply put, you should conduct some research before joining a particular Engagement Pod.

Most Instagram PODs are run on a similar set of regulations that ensure every member gets the best possible results. The rules are that members may only share one of their posts to receive comments and likes from other participants every 24 hours. Also, fellow members must comment and like on the other participant’s posts within a specified period, let’s say, within an hour of posting. As previously mentioned, Pods are time-consuming.

If you are not prepared to invest your valuable time into this, the chances are high that you won’t see any value from it. Most social industry professionals agree, to engage in multiple Pods effectively, you’ll need up to one hour per day! Don’t have the time to do this? Luckily we can do this for you when you create an account with us.

Some proven best practices for using Instagram Pods.

Whether you are the founder of a particular Pod or just a regular member, there are a couple of practices that you must take into account to get the maximum value out of using one. So below is a complete guide to the critical tricks and tips to leverage when using Instagram Engagement Pods.

• Give as much as you get.

Joining a Pod means you’ve agreed to support all members actively. Of course, this involves pouring both your energy and time into every member’s post as soon as it goes live.

• Always specify what you want people to comment on.

When sharing your image with your Pod, ask the members to comment on a particular thing within the picture. This is even more important in relatively larger and broader Engagement Pods. It is the surest way to get more specific comments concerning your image.

• Always reply to comments left on your post.

According to Koren Talia, an Instagram Growth Specialist, you should always respond to every comment primarily because it still counts as engagement in Instagram’s algorithm and may also encourage people to continue commenting on your posts. So once you’ve received various comments from fellow Pod participants, it is essential to respond to them immediately. Not only does this portrays good manners, but it will equally help improve your posts’ quality score.

• Follow all the rules, but not at the expense of your expectations.

First and foremost, avoid accounts that seem spammy. This may include accounts that feature suspicious names or descriptions and have poor engagement. When joining a particular Pod, you’ll be provided with a list of regulations that must be followed by all the members. This may include things like the time to engage, comment length and perhaps how to format your posts.

• Find the best time to post.

The potential benefits of sharing your posts with your Pods at different times of day are many. A significant number of Pods are usually active during the day, and this means that you’ll acquire the most engagement during this period. The prospect of posting late at night may decrease the likelihood that your followers see you engaging strangely but will get you less traction. Therefore, you should get the best time to post your content.

• Leverage Pods immediately after posting.

Bearing in mind that Instagram uses the engagement at the time of your posting to gauge the quality of your post, it would be an excellent idea to try and initiate engagement quickly. The best possible way to achieve this is to send your post to the Pod at least ten minutes after you post. In this manner, your post is likely to gain traction organically. Your Pod members can then contribute to the engagement thus increasing the popularity of your post even further.

• Comment with caution.

Again, always ensure that your post is more than four words long and use emojis accordingly. Try to tailor your comments to the caption and tag or mention the poster if possible. After all, you want relevant and genuine remarks as opposed to careless comments such as amazing photo.’

So what are the benefits of being part of an Engagement Pod on Instagram?

Even though the immediate, and primary purpose, of an Instagram Pod, is to help increase the number of your followers who can see your posts, there are other potential benefits too. You’ll have the much-needed support of other like-minded business owners, and this may help you achieve your desired goals more efficiently. What’s more, you become one society, and you are in a group of individuals who have a common goal and, therefore, support each other’s efforts to be successful in their respective businesses.

What are the disadvantages?

The only noticeable downside of using Pods is that you have the same people commenting on your posts on a daily basis and this may mean that it can look a bit suspicious over time. Another pitfall is that Engagement Pods can become ineffective if the members are not active and willing to dedicate all their time and energy (I recommend using Upleap if you are not willing to get involved in the process).

The Bottom Line about Instagram Pods

It is apparent that if used correctly, Instagram Engagement Pods can help business owners attract more followers, increase their engagement and make more sales. Equally, they can be a major waste of time, especially if you don’t know how to go about it. We have provided you with all you needed to know regarding the best practices of using Pods as well as the potential benefits.

Try Upleap out and see if it can work for you, or join a group of fellow business owners, follow the rules, and you’ll definitely see a positive impact.