You post a beautiful listing photo, pose a question to your followers or share an eye-catching graphic that you’re sure will spark engagement.
You hit “Share” on Instagram, Facebook or your favorite social media platform. And then, crickets.
A thumbs-up here or there. Maybe a supportive comment from Aunt Jane. Otherwise, it feels like your content disappears into the void.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But experts say the solution has less to do with the quality of your content and more to do with how you’re showing up online.
As Angie Javier, a national speaker and trainer with Realtor.com®, said during a recent Realtor.com® webinar, “Top 10 Social Media Strategies Influencers Love”: “Engagement is the algorithm. … Social media isn’t a one-way street—it’s a dialogue. … When you consistently engage first, your audience is more likely to notice your posts.”
To increase visibility, Javier recommended the 5x5x5 method, a daily engagement habit often cited by digital marketers and content creators. The strategy takes about 15 minutes a day and involves actively engaging with others before or after you publish content.
Here are three five-minute separate actions to make part of your daily routine.
1. Comment on five people’s posts.
Leave “meaningful responses,” not just “Congrats!” or a fire or heart emoji, Javier said. She recommends writing thoughtful two- to three-sentence comments on posts from people in your network. Congratulate someone on a graduation, acknowledge a vacation photo or celebrate a milestone in their lives. Engage online the same way you would in a face-to-face conversation.
2. Respond to five stories.
Those small circles at the top of Instagram or Facebook aren’t just for passive viewing. Reply directly to stories, and don’t rely solely on emoji reactions here either. Javier said story replies can be one of the best ways to start genuine conversations because they arrive as direct messages rather than public comments, creating a more personal, one-on-one interaction.
3. Send five thoughtful DMs.
Reach out to five people in your network with a direct message. Share an article that made you think of them, congratulate them on an achievement or simply check in. These private touchpoints often carry more weight than public likes, Javier said.
Javier offered an example to an effective use of the 5x5x5 method: Before posting a reel or story, spend a few minutes completing this 15-minute engagement cycle. By engaging with followers first, you increase the chances they’ll notice your profile when your content appears. If they see the highlighted ring around your profile photo in stories or recognize your name from recent interactions, they’re more likely to click and see what you’ve posted.
“It can help increase your chance of showing up on their feed than having your content being buried,” she said.
Javier says she frequently hears people complain that nobody sees their content. “But it’s because you’re not engaging,” she told webinar attendees. “You have to engage your audience. That’s how the platform knows you like each other, and it then knows to keep feeding that type of content.”
