This Simple Instagram Post Generated 97 Comments (and a Month of Content Ideas)

Ready for the biggest content hack of all time?

It takes about five seconds, generates easy comments, and hands you content ideas and B-roll locations all from one post.

I know. Every marketer on the internet says stuff like that. But this one actually delivers.

Instagram Now Lets People Post Photos in the Comments

In case you missed it, Instagram rolled out a feature that lets users post photos directly in the comments. Not just words of fire emojis. Actual photos.

If it’s not working for you yet, try this: tap the caption first, then open the comments. You should see the option to add a photo comment.

For real estate agents, this turns every post into a two-way content machine. And it’s tailor-made for hyperlocal content: the neighborhoods, the restaurants, the trails, the spots only locals know about.

The Post That Proves It Works

The hyperlocal account AllSarasota, run by Dan MacKinnon, recently posted a scenic shot of Sarasota with a simple prompt: drop your favorite photo of Sarasota in the comments.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sarasota Local Life | SRQ FLORIDA LIVING (@allsarasota)

Look at some of the comments (there were 97 at the time of writing this).

Comments are one of the strongest engagement signals on Instagram. A post that pulls 85 of them gets pushed to way more people than the beautifully overproduced market update that got three likes. 

There’s built-in retention too. People will scroll a comment section full of photos way longer than they’ll read a caption. More time on your post means more reach. 

How to Run This Play in Your Market

Use a scenic photo of your market as the background of your post. Then use a caption like:

“Drop your favorite photo of (insert market) in the comments.”

That’s the base version. You can also get more specific:

• “Drop a photo of your favorite hiking trail.”
• “Drop a photo of your favorite bar.”
• “Drop a photo of your favorite coffee shop.”
• “Drop a photo of the most scenic spot in (your city).”

These are plug-and-play. Swap in your city, pick your best scenic shot, and post it.

If the comments start slow, drop the first photo comment yourself so people see how it works. Then let the locals take over. People LOVE showing off their city.

The Fun Part: Your Comments Become Market Research

Here’s where this goes from engagement bait to actual strategy.

Those photo comments become a goldmine of hyperlocal content ideas.

Say you ask people to “Drop a photo of the best Italian restaurant in (your city),” and dozens of people post the same restaurant. That’s a signal. There’s real interest in that spot, which gives you an easy topic for a Reel or carousel about the best Italian restaurant in your market.

You’re not guessing what your audience cares about anymore. They’re telling you. With pictures.

Always use your comments as fuel for future content. It’s the closest thing content creation has to a cheat code.

There you go. A super simple engagement bait post that doubles as market research.

Post it this week.

And while you’re collecting easy wins: make sure you’re registered for BAM BBQ, our free virtual event for real estate agents, where Chris Smith will break down how he uses AI to create viral content for Instagram. Register here.