If you’d like to grow your Instagram account, creating and sharing Reels is a great way to connect with your audience. This feature offers short, digestible content that could build reach on the Explore page.
Here are eight tips that you can use to improve the reach and performance of your Instagram Reels.
How to Maximize Views on Reels
To increase your impressions and views with Instagram Reels, consider each of the following areas.
1. Topic
If you want increased views, you’ve got to share videos that people want to see. So, it's a good idea to base it on something topical and popular. For more sustained growth, pick a niche theme so that more of your views then translate to follows.
There are various types of content for Reels, from a Q&A to walkthroughs, tutorials, and skits. Overall, videos that feature people tend to perform better. Once you’ve decided on a topic or theme, you’ve got 30 seconds to impress. Make sure you tell a story that is either funny, entertaining, or interesting.
In particular, your story needs to captivate viewers within the first few seconds. If it doesn't, they'll probably scroll past your content.
2. Trends
You can reach more people by participating in trending challenges, videos, and sounds. See what’s doing well and make it your own to leverage its popularity. These are here today and gone tomorrow, so shoot and share your bit to jump on it in time.
Instagram also pushes content that uses its new features like Remix. This is similar to TikTok’s Duets, where you can film a reaction or collaboration video with an existing (and ideally popular) video to maximize your views.
3. Originality
Instagram is pushing out original Reels, so you should always create and own the content you share. Don’t share videos with a watermark from another app like TikTok, as Instagram will not promote these videos.
Try to shoot and edit the videos from within the Instagram app. Original video content will captivate people and draw in more views.
Size matters when it comes to Instagram Reels. When you share your video to the feed, viewers won’t see the full screen unless they watch the video in the Reels format.
Keep this in mind when creating your videos, so that the subtitles and focus on the Reel fit in the smaller ratio. This way, your viewers won’t miss out on anything crucial.
4. Editing
Well-edited content does well on Instagram, so apply some creativity in your work. Think about where you can add in cuts, loops, and transitions to break up the content. You can also stitch clips together, as well as adding in new scenes or changing angles.
You’ll also have options to add in audio and effects and change the speed. Having a well-edited video is one of the most essential factors in sustaining engagement and attention.
5. Text
Reels are primarily about video content, but the text you add in matters too. Keep it relevant and use it as an opportunity to add in a call to action (CTA), such as asking people to leave a comment. Include subtitles in the video where necessary for those who watch without the sound on—this can also hold people's attention for longer.
Think of captions and hashtags as keywords that can optimize your video. They help Instagram make better predictions and recommendations to audiences. This also means that your captions should be short and sweet; keep the longer ones for your photographic posts.
With Reels, your video will do the talking. You’ve got 55 characters for the first line. Keep the CTA for the next lines, which people will see when they tap to view the rest. It’s a great way to save hashtags in a hidden way.
When it comes to hashtags, you can include up to 30. However, it’s best to stick to around five that relate to your video.
6. Sharing
Create a custom thumbnail for your video. Doing so can provide an attractive icon in your grid (you can upload a photo or use a still from the video), and increase your views by being an intriguing post.
You can brand your videos with similar covers to keep things cohesive, and provide an engaging cover if you choose to share it to your story after you have posted it.
Now that your video is ready to be published, you’ve got to share it widely. Instagram gives you the option to share it on your feed and story. Doing both will naturally boost your views and ensure your content is wide-reaching. While there is no definitive answer to the Instagram algorithm, the views your Reels get from your Story are added to your views.
7. Engagements
To increase your reach, you need to be responsive and build your online community. The algorithm not only factors in how long people spend watching your video, but also the kinds of responses you receive.
It's widely believed that the first hour of your video being up is crucial. The responses received during those 60 minutes are a good indicator of whether or not a video will go viral. Your content needs to ideally get comments, likes and saves to show that it’s valuable and well-liked, and therefore worthy of being pushed out to more audiences.
8. Consistency
Instagram values consistency, make sure you post often. There are varying recommendations for how often Reels should be posted. Suggestions range from at least three times per week to up to three times per day.
Regardless of the number of times you post, ensure that the videos are providing value and are high-quality. By doing this, you’ll strive for content that consistently performs well—instead of having just one viral video.
Grow Your Instagram With Reels
The best way to grow your Instagram is with Reels. By following the tips mentioned above, your content will reach more people and rake in more views.
Be sure to post regularly and follow the recommendations for your content to achieve its maximum potential and optimal performance.