To compete with TikTok, Instagram introduced a video feature known as reels back in 2020. And now, today, here we are: reels have become one of the greatest yet superb ways to engage your audience on social platforms. According to its algorithmic stance, Instagram loves short forms of video content.
Whether you are looking to increase your followers, boost your engagement rate, or make your visibility better, reels are a good-to-go choice for everybody. However, when there are thousands of videos posted every day on Instagram, it becomes challenging to set yourself apart.
This article covers some of the effective strategies to get more visibility on your Instagram reels and how you can make your content better with optimization hacks for better engagement. Let’s get started!
Understand the Instagram Algorithm
Before switching to how to create engaging content for your reels, it’s better to know how the Instagram algorithm decides your presence and position! A lot of factors play a key role in deciding what content should appear higher in the search results.
- Engagement: From likes to comments and even shares, Instagram shuffles the content with more engagement on the higher position.
- Watch Time: The longer people spend watching your reels, the more Instagram will show it to other users as well.
- Profile Interactions: If someone views your profile, they will surely see your reels in the future.
- Content Type and Trends: If you use relevant hashtags with your content, there is a great chance you will be featured on the Explore page.
With these factors, you can derive more visibility with better engagement to your profile.
Image Source: https://about.instagram.com/features/reels
How to Get More Views on Instagram Reels?
Create High-Quality, Engaging Content
Quality content is the key to reel strategy. If you want to grab your audience’s attention and retain more viewers, make sure to:
- Visual Appeal: Use good-quality lighting with high-quality video. Engaging eye, eye-catching visuals help you bring more views. Try different techniques like time-lapse or even slow mos to set your content apart.
- Storytelling: This 30 sec video content is your sales pitch. The better you deliver the content, the more chances of being ranked higher.
- Hook Your Audience: The first 3 to 5 seconds of your reel are the hook points. Make sure to start your reel with attention-grabbing hooks.
- Keep It Short and Sweet: However, reels could be 60 seconds long. But shorter videos with 10 to 20 seconds perform better in the algorithm.
Leverage Popular Trends and Challenges
Choose trending music tracks or challenges to boost your reel visibility. Trains are like a step to engage your audience on a better note. When you participate in some trend, the content is usually ranked within a few tries. But how should you turn your few viewers into a massive audience?
- Stay Updated: Feature to visit the Explore page regularly to see how other content creators are performing and engaging with their audience.
- Add Your Twist: While you are switching to different trends, make sure to add your personalization hook in your content that aligns with your brand. This way, you can easily make your reel set apart from other ones in the market.
- Use Popular Music and Sounds: Instagram loves to rank those videos with popular trending music or hashtags. Browse your music library and look for those tracks that come with a trending icon.
Optimize Captions and Hashtags
Hashtag optimization is another smart way to make your reels appear in the trending set. Make sure to use the right captions that grab your audience’s attention on the first go.
- Captions: Every caption should be short yet relevant. In the caption, ask some questions or use a hook that boosts engagement. With emojis and line breaks, you can create your captions visually aesthetic and appealing.
- Hashtags: Never try those old, boring hashtags. Mix and match and try to create some new ones that people usually search for. Popular hashtags help you to get more audience, while niche hashtags help you stand out in your own competition industry. On Instagram, users can use up to 30 hashtags. But remember, quality always wins over quantity.
- SEO in Captions: In captions, the right use of keywords can help you rank better. The more you relate your audience to your content, the better the chances of ranking. Use key phrases that describe your reel content in a summarized way.
Post at Optimal Times
Time is money! And on social media, it is everything. By posting any content over Instagram or other platforms, make sure it boosts your audience engagement to a reasonable extent. Ultimately, this engagement would lead you to better visibility.
- Analyze Your Insights: Use Instagram insights to find out the right time when your users are active over platforms.
- General Best Times: According to research, between 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, people are highly engaged over social media. Experiment with different timings to find the right choice for you to post content.
Use Reel Covers Strategically
When you post any deal, your reel cover is the first thing people notice. An engaging and visually appealing steel cover can bring more views to your profile.
- Custom Covers: Custom reel covers like YouTube thumbnails with consistent Instagram efforts bring more people to your content every day.
- Text and Thumbnails: Use different kinds of creative thumbnails and text ideas to describe your reel content. Thumbnails that hint about your video content always entice the users to click on your reel.
Promote Reels Across Other Platforms
Apart from posting content on Instagram, with cross promotion, you can even increase your social reach. Do use your other social media accounts to drive real, authentic traffic to your Instagram profile.
- Share on Stories: Share your reel content over Instagram stories with different hooks like watch more stickers. It sets you apart and sends your audience a message to view your reel content.
- Embed Reels in Blogs: If you own a website or blog, try to embed your reels in relevant posts. This way, you can even drive some traffic from your website to your Instagram profile.
- Share on Other Platforms: Share your reels over Twitter, Facebook or even LinkedIn if it engages your audience. With the clickbait CTA, you can convert your viewers into long-term customers and followers over Instagram.
Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborate with different influencers or content creators to achieve new followers on your profile. This proves to be a great way to introduce new content to your followers.
- Co-Creation: Collaborate with different content creators to create a single wheel. From creating a duet to a challenge, you can work on anything.
- Shoutouts and Features: Feature other influencers in your reels to encourage followers to check other content creators as well.
- Engage with Their Content: Engage with your collaborators’ content timely for better engagement.
Engage with Your Audience
Community building is one of the key aspects for boosting your visibility and better reach over Instagram. Engage with your audience actively to build more followers. It helps you increase your fan following to an unimaginable extent!
- Reply to Comments: Regularly respond to your comments over reels. This helps to boost your post-engagement rate.
- Ask Questions: In the captions, ask questions and encourage your viewers to comment on your content.
- User-Generated Content: Reposting your old reels can help you improve your overall engagement and build a stronger viewership over Instagram.
Analyze and Iterate
Last but not least is to analyze your content as a critic. Regularly review your content performance to have an idea of what works for your reels and what does not.
- Instagram Insights: With the insights feature, analyze your reel performance regularly. Check the likes, reach, engagement, and even the watch time to make sure what content resonates with your audience.
- A/B Testing: Experiment with different things like styles, formats, and even topics to see what drives more views to your content.
- Refine Your Strategy: According to your analysis, make changes to your content strategy timely. Focus on those things that your audience loves the most.
Conclusion
If you are trying to find creative ways to boost your viewership, better reach, and more followers on Instagram, reels can serve you with everything! It just needs a mind strategy with a touch of creativity and consistency.
By following the right trends and creating engaging content, you can increase your reel visibility and boost your Instagram presence. Make sure to try new things regularly and, most importantly, engage with your audience regularly to achieve long-term success!
AutoLikesIG helps you save time and energy.
Buy Instagram Reel Views delivered with no extra effort.
SEO Specialist & Copywriter | 5 Years of Experience in the Tech World | Blog Contributor at AutoLikesIG | Portfolio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iqra-saeed-content-writer/