How to Increase Instagram Reels Views

on 4 days ago

To get more views on your Instagram Reels, you need a powerful combination: a three-second hook that stops the scroll, trending audio to ride the wave, and the right mix of keywords and hashtags in your caption. Nail these three, and you’re telling the algorithm exactly who needs to see your content, pushing it far beyond your current followers.

Why Reels Are Your Biggest Growth Lever on Instagram

If you're serious about growing your Instagram account, you have to be serious about Reels. It’s that simple. Short-form video has completely changed the game, and Instagram's algorithm is all in. It now uses Reels as its primary discovery engine, pushing your content to potentially thousands of people who have never heard of you.

This makes Reels the single most effective tool for reaching new audiences on the platform. Think about it: your feed posts and Stories are mostly for your existing followers. But a great Reel? That can land on the Explore page or the main Reels feed, putting your brand in front of a massive, untapped audience just waiting to discover you.

The Core Pillars of Reels Growth

Getting traction with Reels isn't about luck. It's a repeatable process built on four key pillars. Once you get these down, you'll see your content go from being passively scrolled past to actively engaged with and shared. We’ll break down each of these throughout this guide, but let's start with a high-level look at the strategy.

This is the basic flow from creation to going viral.

A horizontal process flow diagram illustrating four steps: Hooks, Content, Optimize, and Analyze, with descriptive icons.

As you can see, a successful Reel always starts with a killer hook. From there, it moves into high-quality content creation, gets a boost from smart optimization, and is finally refined through analysis.

Why This Strategy Works

The stats don't lie. Reels now make up over 50% of the total time people spend on Instagram. That’s a huge shift in user behavior. With Reels being played more than 250 billion times every single day across Meta's platforms, the opportunity for visibility is just staggering.

Tapping into that massive audience requires a deliberate approach. Here’s a quick rundown of what we're going to cover to help you do just that:

Create Unskippable Hooks: I’ll share proven formulas that stop people mid-scroll.
Produce High-Impact Content: You'll get my best tips for shooting professional-looking videos, even if you're on a tight budget.
Master Algorithmic Optimization: We'll go over how to use captions, hashtags, and cover photos to give the algorithm all the right signals.
Analyze and Iterate: Learn how to read your analytics and turn that data into a clear plan for your next video.

This guide gives you the complete framework. For a broader look at the power of short-form content, check out our guide on short-form video marketing. Let's get started.

Mastering the First Three Seconds to Stop the Scroll

Your Reel’s fate is sealed in the time it takes someone to flick their thumb. Those first three seconds aren't just an introduction; they're your entire pitch. If you don't give someone a compelling reason to stop their mindless scrolling right then and there, the rest of your brilliant video might as well not exist.

Getting that scroll-stop isn't about luck. It's about strategy. A powerful hook acts as a pattern interrupt, jolting a viewer out of their passive consumption and creating an immediate sense of curiosity or emotional connection. This is the absolute cornerstone of figuring out how to increase Instagram Reels views. Let's move past the generic advice and get into the specific, proven formulas you can use today.

The Problem-Agitate-Solve Hook

This classic copywriting formula is a powerhouse on Reels because it taps directly into your audience's pain points. You start by naming a problem they're all too familiar with, poke the bruise a little to remind them how frustrating it is, and then dangle the solution in front of them. It’s an instant relatability-builder.

Problem: "Tired of your houseplants always dying?"
Agitate: "You've tried everything, but they still end up in the plant graveyard."
Solve: "Here are three unkillable plants that even you can keep alive."

This structure works because the viewer immediately thinks, "Hey, that's me!" They feel seen, and they'll stick around because you've promised them relief from a real frustration.

The Bold Statement Hook

Sometimes, the quickest way to get noticed is to say something that makes people stop and go, "Wait, what?" A bold statement hook makes a strong, often counter-intuitive claim that triggers instant curiosity. The viewer's gut reaction is to challenge it, question it, or want to see you prove it—and all of those reactions require them to stop scrolling.

This hook is all about creating an intellectual or emotional itch that your viewer just has to scratch. A claim like, "Everything you know about making coffee is wrong," practically forces a coffee lover to keep watching, either to learn something new or to call your bluff.

Here’s how this looks in the wild:

For a finance creator: "You don't need a million dollars to retire. You need this instead."
For a fitness coach: "Stop doing crunches. They're the worst exercise for building abs."
For a chef: "This one-ingredient sauce will change the way you cook forever."

Each of these examples throws down a gauntlet. The trick, of course, is that your content must deliver on the promise. Don't use a bold statement as simple clickbait; use it as a powerful doorway to genuinely valuable information.

The Visual Intrigue Hook

Hooks don't always have to be spoken. In a visual-first app, one of the most powerful ways to stop the scroll is to show something so odd, satisfying, or confusing that the viewer's brain needs a second to process it. We're naturally wired to notice things that are out of place, and a great visual hook leans right into that.

This could be a wild before-and-after shot, a mesmerizing slow-motion clip, or an object where it clearly doesn't belong. Think of a makeup artist starting a Reel with their face half-glam, half-bare. Or a DIY creator opening with a shot of a completely demolished room before showing the glow-up. The visual itself poses a question that the rest of the video answers.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how these hook strategies stack up:

Hook Type	Primary Goal	Best For
Problem-Agitate-Solve	Create Relatability	Educational & How-To Content
Bold Statement	Spark Curiosity	Myth-Busting & Opinion Content
Visual Intrigue	Interrupt Patterns	DIY, Art, & Transformation Content

The key is to experiment. Try out all three styles and watch your analytics like a hawk to see what makes your specific audience stop and pay attention. Nailing this first moment is the single most important step you can take to get more views on your Reels.

Creating High-Impact Reels People Want to Share

Hand-drawn smartphone displaying '3s' and a blue eye with the message 'Stop the scroll' for engagement.

So, you’ve nailed the perfect hook. What now? The next challenge is making sure the rest of your Reel lives up to that initial promise. In the crowded world of Instagram, a polished video isn't just a nice-to-have; it's the cost of entry. People subconsciously connect good production quality with credibility, making them way more likely to watch until the end, hit that like button, and share.

This doesn't mean you need a Hollywood-sized budget. Honestly, some of the most viral Reels I've seen were shot on a phone. The real secret is focusing on a few key fundamentals that instantly separate amateur clips from professional-looking content. If you want to figure out how to increase Instagram Reels views for good, this is where you start.

Nailing the Production Fundamentals

Before you get lost in trending sounds or flashy edits, you have to get the basics right. Fuzzy audio, shaky footage, or bad lighting will make even the most brilliant idea completely unwatchable.

Good Lighting is Non-Negotiable Your best and cheapest lighting tool is the sun. Seriously, just filming near a window can dramatically improve your video's quality. If you find yourself filming in darker spaces or at night, a simple ring light is a fantastic, affordable investment that will pay for itself almost immediately.
Crisp Audio Builds Trust Here's a little secret: viewers will forgive mediocre video quality, but they have zero patience for bad audio. If they can't hear you clearly, they're gone. Your phone’s built-in mic works in a pinch, but a cheap lavalier mic that clips to your shirt is a game-changer for cutting out background noise and making you sound crystal clear.
Steady Shots Keep the Focus Nobody wants to get seasick watching your Reel. Shaky hands create a jarring, unprofessional look that distracts from your message. A small, inexpensive tripod for your phone is one of the most valuable pieces of gear you can own. It guarantees stable shots and frees you up to experiment with angles.

To make sure your content is perfectly optimized from the get-go, it’s worth bookmarking this guide on the latest Instagram Reel dimensions and video specs.

Elevate Your Storytelling with Smarter Editing

Great production doesn’t end when you hit "stop record." How you piece everything together in the edit is what keeps the momentum going and holds your viewer's attention.

Pacing is everything. Think quick cuts and a variety of shots. A Reel that jumps from a close-up to a wide shot and then to a detail shot is infinitely more captivating than one filmed from a single, static angle. You’ll also want to weave in B-roll—that’s the extra footage that illustrates what you’re talking about—to add context and visual punch.

A mistake I see all the time is letting shots drag on. As a rule of thumb, no single clip in a Reel should last more than a few seconds. This keeps the energy high and matches the fast-scroll nature of the platform.

Don't forget to use Instagram's own editing tools. Simple text overlays can highlight key takeaways and make your video understandable even with the sound off. Play around with built-in transitions to add a bit of energy between clips. These small details make your content feel more dynamic and native to the platform.

Using AI to Create Unique Visuals

Let’s be real: finding the perfect B-roll clip or creating a custom animation can be a massive time-sink. This is where AI video tools are completely changing the creative process. With a platform like Veo3 AI, you can generate stunning, high-quality video clips just by typing a text prompt.

Imagine making a Reel about saving for a vacation. Instead of digging for a generic stock video of a beach, you could prompt the AI to create a custom clip of a piggy bank filling up and then magically transforming into a tropical paradise. This kind of bespoke visual makes your content unforgettable and takes only minutes to create.

AI tools are especially powerful for:

Visualizing Abstract Concepts: Need to show "brand growth" or "creative burnout"? AI can turn those ideas into compelling visuals.
Creating Unique B-Roll: Generate hyper-specific clips that perfectly match your story, so you don't have to film them yourself.
Animating Static Images: Bring a boring photo or graphic to life with subtle motion that catches the eye.

Getting comfortable with these tools gives you a serious edge. For a deeper dive, check out our article on how to create engaging content using a mix of classic and modern techniques. When you combine solid filming fundamentals with smart editing and innovative AI visuals, you start creating Reels that don't just get views—they get shared.

Give Your Reels a Fighting Chance with the Algorithm

A sketch of a smartphone on a tripod with a play button, surrounded by a light ring and sound waves.

Look, creating an amazing Reel is just step one. If you want people to actually see it, you have to package it in a way the Instagram algorithm understands. Think of the algorithm as a busy matchmaker; your job is to give it super clear signals about who your Reel is for.

This is where your caption, hashtags, cover photo, and even your posting time come into play. Get these right, and you’re not just hoping for views—you're actively engineering them.

Write Captions That Actually Do Something

Your caption isn't just filler text; it's prime real estate. Instagram’s search function now leans heavily on the keywords in your caption to figure out what your content is about and who might want to see it.

A killer caption pulls double duty: it gives your audience context and feeds the algorithm the keywords it craves. Always start with a punchy first line that summarizes the value of the Reel, since that's all people see before they have to tap "more."

From there, expand on the idea, tell a quick story, or—my favorite—ask a smart question. A good question is the easiest way to get comments, which is a massive signal to Instagram that your content is engaging.

Don't just ask, "What do you think?" That's lazy. If you made a recipe Reel, ask something specific like, "What's the one secret ingredient you swear by in your kitchen?" That gets a real conversation going.

Use a Smart, Tiered Hashtag Strategy

Throwing 30 random hashtags like #viral at your post is a rookie mistake. A much sharper approach is to use a tiered strategy that blends broad, popular tags with super-specific, niche ones.

This helps your Reel get discovered by the right people, not just anyone. A huge part of this is knowing how to increase Instagram reach in general, because a wider net naturally catches more viewers.

Here’s how I structure my hashtags for the best results:

Broad Appeal (3-5 tags): These are the heavy hitters with millions of posts (think #digitalmarketing or #fitnessmotivation). You might get lost in the noise, but it gives you a lottery ticket for massive exposure.
Niche & Specific (5-10 tags): These are directly tied to your video's topic, like #seotipsforsmallbusiness or #kettlebellworkout. The audience is smaller but way more engaged because they're actively looking for what you've made.
Community Tags (3-5 tags): These connect you to a tribe, like #femaleentrepreneurs or #nycfoodie. This is how you build a loyal following and show you're part of the conversation.

Mixing these types gives the algorithm multiple ways to match your content with the right eyeballs. It’s a foundational part of strategically learning how to increase Instagram Reels views.

Design a Custom Cover That Begs to Be Clicked

Never, ever underestimate the power of a good cover photo. People will find your Reel on their feed, sure, but they'll also see it on the Explore page and your profile grid. In those places, your cover is the only thing convincing them to hit play.

Don’t let Instagram pick a random, blurry frame for you. Take a few extra minutes to create a custom cover that’s clean, eye-catching, and has a text hook right on it.

A winning cover should:

Be a High-Quality Image: No one wants to click on a fuzzy mess.
Include a Bold Text Hook: Tell people exactly what they'll get (e.g., "3 Mistakes Costing You Sales").
Match Your Brand's Vibe: Use your brand's fonts and colors to keep your profile grid looking sharp and professional.

This tiny step can make a huge difference in how many plays your Reel gets long after you've posted it.

Find Your Golden Hour for Posting

That first hour after you post a Reel is absolutely critical. A quick burst of likes, comments, and shares tells the algorithm, "Hey, people like this!" and it will start showing your Reel to more users.

To get that initial pop, you have to post when your audience is actually online and scrolling. The data is right there in your Instagram Insights. Go to your "Total Followers" section, scroll down, and you’ll see the exact days and hours your followers are most active. Stop guessing and start using the data.

Don't forget about weekends, either. Research often shows a spike in engagement then. For example, some data shows Reels posted on Sundays can average 22,096 views, a huge jump from the weekday average of around 15,000. Timing isn't everything, but it can give your content the launchpad it deserves. Test a few different slots and you'll quickly find your sweet spot.

To make sure you're hitting all these points before you go live, I've put together a quick checklist.

Reels Optimization Checklist

Running through this checklist before you hit "Publish" can be the difference between a Reel that flops and one that flies. It only takes a minute and ensures you've given your content the best possible chance to succeed.

Optimization Element	Best Practice	Why It Matters
Compelling Caption	Start with a hook. Use relevant keywords and a strong call-to-action (like a question).	Feeds the algorithm keywords for discoverability and encourages engagement signals (comments).
Tiered Hashtags	Use a mix of 3-5 broad, 5-10 niche, and 3-5 community hashtags.	Reaches a wider, more relevant audience by targeting different discovery pathways.
Custom Cover Photo	Design a clear, on-brand cover with a bold text hook. Avoid blurry auto-selected frames.	Increases clicks from your profile grid and the Explore page, boosting long-term views.
Optimal Posting Time	Check Instagram Insights for peak follower activity and post during that window.	Maximizes initial engagement, which signals to the algorithm that the content is valuable.
Call-to-Action (CTA)	Explicitly ask viewers to like, comment, save, or share.	Guides user behavior and directly increases the engagement metrics the algorithm values.

Following these steps consistently turns publishing from a game of chance into a repeatable strategy for growth.

Boosting Your Views After You Hit Publish

So you’ve just hit “Share.” Your job isn’t done—in fact, it’s just getting started. What you do in the first hour after your Reel goes live can be the difference between a few hundred views and a few thousand. This is your chance to give your content the initial push it needs to catch the algorithm’s attention.

Think of it like giving a new car a push-start. The algorithm is constantly scanning for signals that your content is worth showing to more people. By taking a few strategic steps right away, you’re essentially manufacturing those early signals, creating the momentum needed for a much wider reach.

Give Your Reel an Instant Boost with Stories

The quickest win? Share your brand-new Reel directly to your Instagram Stories. This tactic immediately puts your content in front of your most loyal followers—the people who are most likely to watch and interact right away.

But don’t just tap the share button and walk away. You’ve got to get creative to make it count.

Add a Poll Sticker: Ask a fun, simple question related to your Reel. If you posted a recipe, you could ask, "Will you try this? Yes / Heck Yes!" It's an easy, low-effort way for your followers to engage.
Use the Quiz Sticker: Tease a tidbit from your Reel. For a travel video, you could ask, "Guess which city this is?" to make them curious enough to click through for the answer.
Drop in a "Tap Here" GIF: Sometimes you just need to be direct. Use an animated sticker that points to your Reel to make it crystal clear what you want them to do.

This little trick drives your core audience to your new post, creating that first wave of engagement the algorithm loves to see.

Own the "Golden Hour" of Engagement

That first hour after posting is what many seasoned creators call the "golden hour." The engagement you get in this window seems to carry more weight with the algorithm. One of the most powerful things you can do is reply to every single comment you receive as quickly as you can.

When you reply, you're doing more than just being friendly; you're literally doubling your comment count. A single comment can easily turn into a back-and-forth conversation of three or four replies, sending a huge signal to Instagram that your Reel is sparking genuine discussion.

Pro Tip: Set a timer for 60 minutes right after you post. Make this a non-negotiable part of your routine. Dedicate this block of time to replying to every comment and engaging with the people who are engaging with you.

This immediate interaction tells the algorithm your post is a community hub, which can dramatically increase its chances of getting pushed to the Explore page. This is a must-do habit if you're serious about figuring out how to increase Instagram Reels views over the long term.

Cross-Promote and Collaborate to Expand Your Reach

Don't let your Reel live and die just on Instagram. Cross-promoting your content on other platforms introduces it to completely new audiences who might not be following you on IG.

Here are a few powerful cross-promotion ideas:

Post it on TikTok: Share the same video (just be sure to remove the Instagram watermark) on your TikTok profile to tap into a different community.
Turn it into an Idea Pin: Pinterest Idea Pins are visually similar to Reels and can get your content in front of a huge audience that's actively searching for inspiration.
Tell Your Email List: Shoot a quick email to your subscribers with a thumbnail and a link, asking them to check out your new Reel and leave a comment.

Another fantastic tactic is to collaborate using Instagram's Remix feature. Find a Reel in your niche that's already doing well and create a reaction or add your own spin to it. When you do this, your Remix gets shown to their audience in addition to your own, effectively doubling your exposure with one video. This kind of smart sharing is a cornerstone strategy you’ll find in almost any guide on how to make viral videos, because it taps into communities that are already built.

Using Analytics to Fuel Your Content Strategy

If you want your Reels to consistently perform well, you have to stop guessing. Creating content without checking your analytics is basically like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. You might get a viral hit by accident, but building a repeatable system for growth? That requires data.

Don't worry, you don't need to be a data scientist. Your Instagram analytics dashboard is packed with all the information you need to figure out what your audience genuinely enjoys and what makes them immediately scroll past.

Think of it as a direct feedback loop. You post, you learn, you adjust. This process is the real secret behind accounts that see steady, predictable growth, separating them from the ones that stay stuck. Let's dig into the numbers that actually matter and how you can use them to make your next Reel a winner.

Key Metrics You Cannot Ignore

When you first open your Reels insights, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed by all the numbers. The good news is you only need to focus on a few key metrics to understand what's really going on.

Reach: This is simple—it’s the total number of unique people who saw your Reel. This number tells you how far and wide the algorithm is pushing your content.
Watch Time & Average Watch Time: These two go hand-in-hand. They show the total time spent watching your video and the average length of a single view. When these numbers are high, it’s a huge green light to Instagram that your content is captivating, which makes them want to show it to even more people.
Audience Retention: Honestly, this is the most important metric of them all. It’s a graph showing you, second by second, exactly where people are dropping off.

Your Audience Retention graph is a goldmine. If you see a massive drop in the first three seconds, your hook isn't working. A big dip in the middle? That's where you lost their interest. Studying this graph is the fastest way to get better at storytelling and editing.

Turning Data Into Action

Okay, so you have the numbers. Now what? The real magic happens when you turn that data into concrete actions.

A simple but powerful exercise is to compare your top three performing Reels against your bottom three. Line them up and look for patterns. What do the winners have in common? Maybe it’s a certain type of hook, a specific trending audio, or a recurring topic.

Now, do the same for your worst-performing Reels. Are they all too long? Is the audio muffled? Did you forget a clear call to action? This side-by-side comparison almost always reveals obvious clues you can use to improve your very next video.

Why Your Account Size Matters

Here's something that might surprise you: smaller accounts often have a leg up when it comes to Reels. The data shows that brands with 1,000 to 5,000 followers actually see the highest Reels view rate, hitting an average of around 20%.

That number drops to about 10.20% for accounts with 5,000 to 10,000 followers. You can dive deeper into how account size impacts performance with these Instagram statistics.

What does this mean for you? If you’re just starting, the algorithm is actually on your side. Focus on creating killer content that resonates with your small, dedicated audience. High retention and engagement from this core group sends a powerful signal to Instagram that your content is worth sharing with a much bigger audience. Serve them well, and watch your reach explode.

Still Have Questions About Getting More Reels Views?

Hand-drawn graph illustrating a process with an initial rise, a dip, and a strong upward trend.

Jumping into Reels can feel like there's a secret rulebook everyone else has. There isn't, but there are definitely some common questions that pop up again and again. Let's get them answered.

What’s the Magic Length for an Instagram Reel?

While you can post Reels up to 90 seconds long, don't feel like you need to use all that time. From what I’ve seen, the real sweet spot for grabbing attention and getting those crucial re-watches is between 7 and 15 seconds.

That’s just enough time for a quick tip, a funny bit, or a satisfying transition. If your topic needs more breathing room—like a mini-tutorial—you can go longer. Just keep a close eye on your audience retention graph in your analytics. If you see a major drop-off in the first few seconds, it’s a sign to make your next Reel shorter and snappier.

Does Trending Audio Actually Matter?

Oh, absolutely. It's one of the clearest signals you can send to the algorithm that your content is culturally relevant right now. When you see that little upward-facing arrow next to an audio track, that's Instagram telling you it's pushing content with that sound.

The trick isn't just to use a trending sound, but to find one that genuinely fits your niche and message. Jamming a random viral sound into a video where it makes no sense can feel jarring to your audience. When it works, it works because it feels natural.

How Often Should I Be Posting Reels?

This is a big one. My advice? Aim for consistency over sheer volume. Posting 3-5 high-quality Reels a week is a fantastic goal for most accounts.

That schedule keeps you active and relevant to the algorithm without burning you out. Trust me, it’s way better to post three truly great Reels that your audience loves than to post seven rushed ones just to hit a quota. Start there, see how your audience responds, and find a rhythm that works for you.

What About Deleting a Reel That Bombed and Re-Uploading It?

I’d strongly advise against this. Deleting and re-uploading the same content can look spammy to the algorithm, and it rarely works the way you hope it will.

Instead of trying to force a flop to fly, treat it as a lesson. Figure out why it didn't connect with people.

Was your hook weak?
Did the audio feel out of place?
Was the video quality poor?

Learn from it, and pour that insight into making your next Reel even better. That's how real growth happens.

Ready to create stunning video clips for your Reels in minutes? With Veo3 AI, you can transform simple text prompts into professional-quality videos, giving you an endless supply of unique B-roll and visuals. Start creating for free today at veo3ai.io.