Likes vs. Comments vs. Engagements: What Matters Most in Social Media Marketing?

Building a strong presence on social media requires more than just posting great content—it’s about how people interact with it. Likes, comments, and engagements all play a role in determining how well your posts perform, but not all interactions are equal. Some may boost visibility, while others create deeper connections with your audience. So, when it comes to Likes vs. Comments vs. Engagements, which one matters most? Understanding the difference can help you maximize your reach and grow your audience naturally.

Likes vs. Comments vs. Engagements: What Matters Most in Social Media Marketing?

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing means getting likes, comments, and shares on your content. That’s one of the most basic lessons in social media marketing classes! Social media sites, however, don’t measure all three equally.

A post could get many likes but almost zero comments or it could also get many comments but almost zero likes. However, social media is also changing—and social media giants adjust their algorithms at least a few times per year.

These algorithms determine where content goes next and who might benefit from your content suggestions. Social media managers can’t just make great content anymore and assume people will notice—it’s crucial to understand how the algorithms work.

A page needs likes, comments, and engagements. Any page without them appears dead and lifeless and could remain a sitting duck on social media channels for years.

However, which should come first?

Likes and Comments

Let’s imagine that a website you use the most, like Instagram or YouTube, suggests a post on your social media timeline. How would you feel if the post had zero likes or comments?

Now, let’s say the post has 1,000 comments—and zero likes.

• Would you immediately rush to see what the post was about and share it?
• Would you read the comments without believing or trusting what you saw in the post?

The following example uses the same fictional post but gives it a fair distribution between likes and comments. There are 1,000 comments on the post and about 2,000 likes. Would you be more likely to engage with the post?

It’s not just about likes or comments. The balance between likes, comments, and engagement that your post achieves is essential. Too many comments and too few likes can be a “red flag” for algorithms.

Connecting with Others: All About Engagement

Engagement is also essential in social media and how people view your post or channel. This isn’t measured in likes or comments but comes from the page creator or administrator and how they connect with their followers.

Engagement is about commenting back on the discussions the post has sparked in the comments. People aren’t just commenting on the post but responding to a growing conversation.

Post engagement can also refer to responding to your messages and posts. Creators who actively engage their following tend to have a more polished, better social media reputation.

People like pages that connect with them and pages where they can connect with others. Engagement is measured as a good thing—both for people and your overall social media metrics.

Social Media Metrics for Better Marketing- Likes vs. Comments vs. Engagements

Social media metrics are measurable. From there, your posts are adjustable to connect with your audience in better ways. Social media channels usually calculate likes, comments, and post engagement together.

As described above, people usually consider these factors when they see a post on their timeline. Getting it right isn’t only about algorithms and numbers but also about engaging with people.

People judge books by their covers—and posts by the numbers they see right in front of them. Aiming for better engagement overall is a good way to boost the visibility of your future posts.

Align your posts and content focus to match all three (likes, comments, engagement) for better results. Social media algorithms and people will enjoy your posts more!

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