How to Get More Reach and Views on Instagram Reels

Short-form content is increasingly becoming the biggest driver of engagement on the internet. Depending on the social media platform, it can take different forms, such as Instagram Reels and TikTok videos. Instagram currently has over 2 billion monthly active users and a large market for you to reach and get more views, especially if you create Instagram reels.

But how do you increase reach and views on your reels? In this article, we will discuss 11 ways to obtain the views you desire and how to maintain them.

What Counts as a Reach or View on Instagram Reels?

Instagram reach refers to the total number of unique users who have seen your content (posts, stories, reels, or ads) at least once during a specific period. This means Instagram reach is measured when a unique user stumbles on it, whether it was played or not.

On the other hand, Instagram views are the total number of times a video, Reel, or Story has been watched. Views can include multiple views from the same user, and it’s a metric that highlights the overall popularity and replay value of your Instagram reel.

As a result, reach is counted for an Instagram reel only once for each unique user, regardless of how many times they viewed the content. Views track the total number of times your Reel has been watched and could be counted when:

• The video plays for at least 3 seconds.
• The video starts automatically or is manually clicked by the user.
• A user watches the Reel multiple times (each watch is counted as a separate view).

11 Ways to Get More Reach and Views on Instagram Reels

Now that you know what counts as an Instagram view and reach, let’s discuss how to increase them for your Instagram reels without violating Instagram’s policies.

1. Make it short, fun, and full of quality.

Instagram reel is not an alternative to Netflix or YouTube; your viewers aren't there to watch long-form content on the platform. Reels have an endless scrolling feature that allows users to scroll through content quickly. Suppose you keep them watching a video from start to finish, the algorithm will favor it and instantly make it accessible to other viewers. Keeping your videos short, engaging, and straight to the point maintains viewers' attention and encourages them to watch until the end (or even replay). Focus on delivering your message or entertainment value in the first 3–5 seconds to hook viewers. Aim for 15–30 seconds of total video time, and make sure your videos are high quality. You can convert your video into formats like mp4 or mov to create a high-resolution video for your audience.

2. Use trending hashtags, sounds, and challenges in your niche

Instagram algorithm serves your audience by repeatedly providing the content type and information they like. If your viewers liked videos relating to a trending hashtag, sound, or challenge, and your video has that too, the algorithm will add it to the list of videos it’ll serve your audience. However, you still need to implement this strategically to get the best results. Jumping on every challenge, sound, or hashtag because it’s popular is not the best way. Don’t risk destroying your brand and its message; research the sounds, challenges, or trends before creating your video in line with it.

3. Add engaging keyword-rich captions

Every video conveys a specific message to the audience; your Instagram captions should do the same. Add keywords that describe your audio and specific. Don’t overload the captions with keywords; write for humans and not the algorithm. Additionally, captions can prompt viewers to take specific actions like liking, commenting, saving, or sharing your Reel. This signals the algorithm to boost your video’s visibility.

4. Don’t ignore your audio and scripts

Although Instagram doesn't publicly disclose the specifics of its crawling algorithms, strong evidence suggests that the platform "crawls" audio content, especially in reels. This means that Instagram likely scans and processes the audio used in Reels to understand the content and context of the videos.

For example, Instagram has features that allow users to search for reels based on specific sounds or audio clips. It also has automated tools to scan audio content for potential violations of community guidelines, such as hate speech or copyright infringement.

The point is that loading your scripts with important keywords upfront can help you get maximum reach and views. This signals to Instagram's algorithm what your Reel is about and enhances your visibility on search results and the Explore page.

5. Respond to mentions and comments

One underrated way to increase your views is by engaging with viewers who are viewing your content. Instagram prioritizes content that generates interactions like comments and likes because it knows it'll be relatable to other viewers. Responding to comments and mentions creates a cycle where your reels gain traction every time. It could also create a loyal fanbase for you and increase your views from users.

6. Use Instagram’s music library

Instagram's music library contains all popular and trending songs. Instagram highly prioritizes reels with music currently gaining traction, many of which are in its music library. Choose the music that suits your brand from the wide range of tracks and genres, as it helps to give your reels a chance of showing up on millions of users' "Explore" pages.

7. Create content with a story

Content structure is another factor that could improve your views and reach. Structure your reel with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Focus on storytelling and using proper storytelling techniques to engage your audience. Also, ensure your content is more relatable and memorable. Telling a story doesn’t necessarily mean reading from a book or acting one; it’s about sharing an experience, an emotion, or a message in a way that connects with your audience through words, visuals, and audio content.

8. Collaborate with influencers or other content creators

Every industry has famous content creators with a massive audience. Contact them to collaborate, work on content, and increase your views. They may not be people far above you in the industry, but make sure the collaborations are meaningful ones that will benefit you and the creator.

9. Post content consistently and in a structured manner

The Instagram algorithm is built to remember and slowly decrease the reach of accounts that only post content occasionally. Even the most popular accounts on Instagram have fallen off due to this inconsistency in posting. Aside from posting for the algorithm to continue putting you out there, posting regularly also gives your audience more content to interact and react to and puts you on their mind every time. Find what works for your audience, test and document the best time to post, and be flexible in your strategy, depending on your audience’s behavior.

10. Share behind-the-scene content

Content creation has gone beyond creating refined content. Your audience also wants to see the steps and processes you underwent to create the refined and edited content. If you have a business, think of showing your audience how your products/services are made or give them a sneak peek into your process. Authentic, real-life content resonates well with audiences and improves their trust in you. While you create that, they get eager to view and share your content with their friends and others around them.

11. Analyze, change, and adapt

Over time, check your reel's performance to get insights on what works and doesn't, what to stop, and what to continue. Your audience’s behavior changes periodically and Instagram insights can help you track that perfectly. Most importantly, be flexible and ready to change your strategy when necessary. Analyze metrics like reach, views, saves, and shares to refine your strategy.

Create the Best Instagram Reels with SoundMadeSeen

To create Instagram Reels that communicate your message, drive engagements, and capture attention, the right tools make a huge difference and contribute to this course. SoundMadeSeen is a perfect tool that helps you create professional, dynamic Reels that stand out and keep your audience coming back for more. Depending on your content type, you can convert audio to video or create short clips from long videos for your reels. Also, it generates captions and subtitles in over 20 languages and has a suite of video editing tools to make video align perfectly with your brand.

Ready to top your industry and elevate your content game? Sign up here to get started!