How to Get More Views on Instagram Reels? 20+ Hacks

Instagram Reels are powerful for getting attention. Sephora has mastered the art! By blending tutorials, product demos, and fun challenges, they create engaging content that keeps viewers hooked. And the results are out of this world – Sephora has an estimated Instagram reach of over 53M.

Want to grow your Reels’ views? In this article, I’ll share tips to help you engage your audience and reach the magic 100K views.

Understanding how to get more views on Instagram Reels involves combining several strategies. It’s all about experimenting with content, hopping on trends, and collaborating with influencers. But most importantly, dive into your analytics and adjust your approach based on what’s actually working.

What are Instagram Reels, and why should I use them?

Instagram Reels are short-form video content that allows users to create more entertaining content.

Using Instagram Reels can significantly boost visibility and engagement on your Instagram account.

In fact, according to a 2023 survey by Morgan Stanley, 74% of Instagram users are using the platform’s Reels feature.

It makes it an essential part of any social media marketing strategy. By incorporating Reels into your content plan, you can:

• Increase your Instagram presence
• Reach a wider audience
• Drive more engagement

What counts as a view on Instagram Reels?

Before diving into the tips, it’s crucial to understand what counts as a “view” on Instagram Reels.

A view is counted once someone watches your video for at least three seconds.

This means if someone clicked on your Reel by mistake and immediately turned it off – it won’t count.

21 tips and tricks to get more views on Instagram Reels

01 Keep it quick, keep it fun

People have short attention spans. I’ve noticed that Reels under 15 seconds tend to get way more engagement.

People scroll fast, and if you can keep them watching the entire video, Instagram’s algorithm will love you for it.

My trick? Hook your audience in the first 2-3 seconds.

Whether it’s a funny clip, a quick tip, or a controversial statement, make sure it grabs attention immediately.

02 Respond to mentions

Make sure to reply when someone mentions you or shares your content. Trust me, it makes a huge difference. How?

Responding to mentions:

• Builds a stronger connection with your audience
• Tells Instagram that your profile is active (and boosts the algorithm)
• Can lead to even more shares and comments.

I can tell by myself that when I tag a brand in my story or Instagram reel and they share it – I just love it. And will probably do it again.

That kind of interaction keeps the buzz going. So, don’t be shy! Engage and show some love back.

If you really want to make the most out of mentions, you should analyze them.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to do that internally, even with an Instagram business account.

Of course, you can try to do it manually, but… I wish you luck. It’s going to be time-consuming.

The easiest and most efficient way to track mentions is by using social listening tools.

Brand24 will help you find the most important mentions, spot trends, and analyze your online performance.

Take a look below. This is what a mention looks like in a Brand24 panel:

03 Use trending hashtags

Using trending hashtags is a great way to increase the visibility of your Instagram Reels.

However, you should research accurate hashtags in your niche first. Including random tags in your Reel’s caption is not going to work.

Hashtags that match your content will help your content appear in the “hashtag feed” and explore page, making it more discoverable by users interested in this particular topic.

I always check what’s trending in my niche and throw in a few relevant hashtags that are popular but not too saturated. The trick here is balance – don’t overstuff with irrelevant hashtags.

You can also use media monitoring tools or hashtag generators to find popular Instagram hashtags and track their performance.

For example, here’s a list of relevant hashtags for Sephora:

Brand24 analyzed the conversations around Sephora and created a list based on the most used tags.

04 Create tutorials

I love tutorials because people always save them for later.

When you teach your audience something new, they’re more likely to:

• Share it with friends
• Save it for later
• Come back for more

Whether it’s a quick hack, a beauty routine, or something creative, tutorials are super engaging and have a long-lasting effect in terms of views.

05 Use popular music

One of my favorite tricks is adding trending songs to Reels.

Instagram tends to promote Reels that use popular songs. Plus, some people go to the “music page” and watch other videos that include the specific sound.

It can give you a quick (and easy) boost in views.

If you see a song popping up all over your feed – try to add it to your next Reel. Music is such a big part of the experience, and it can make your content more engaging.

Here’s a comparison of a popular sound page with a random one:

06 Team with influencers

Teaming up with influencers is one of the best ways to get your Reels seen by a larger audience.

It’s all about finding influencers who vibe with your brand and can introduce you to their followers.

I’ve done this a few times, and it’s always been worth it.

Influencers have a loyal Instagram community, and if they’re genuine, their followers will trust their recommendations.

Additionally, promoting your Reels on other social media platforms can further increase your reach and engagement.

Make sure you do your research, though! You want to pick influencers who really fit your brand’s personality.

Here’s my pro tip: bet on data when choosing your influencers.

You can easily access ready-to-use lists of relevant influencers for your brand in Brand24. Plus, it includes influencer marketing metrics to filter the creators, such as:

• Share of Voice
• Influence
• Number of followers
• Number of mentions about your brand

Just go to Brand24 > Influencers, and this is what you get:

07 Engage in comments

Don’t post and ghost! I always take the time to reply to comments on my Reels. It shows your audience that you care.

Plus, it also boosts engagement, which in turn boosts your visibility.

The rule is actually simple for Reels: The more you engage, the more Instagram pushes your content out to others.

08 Increase positive mentions from your target audience

Positive mentions are like free advertising. I always keep an eye on what people are saying about me online and love embracing positive feedback.

Why? Because it creates a ripple effect. When you share and respond to people’s mentions, they feel appreciated and are more likely to do it again.

Plus, it encourages others to share their thoughts or tag you too. And the more positive mentions you get, the better your brand image becomes.

All of this leads to more views and engagement on your Reels.

I use sentiment analysis tools to track this, and honestly, it’s a game-changer. I can see how well my efforts are paying off and how it’s impacting my brand over time.

Here’s what it looks like in Brand24:

09 Be consistent

Consistency is key. I try to post Reels regularly to keep my audience engaged.

If you disappear for too long, people forget about you, and Instagram stops pushing your content to the explore page.

The goal is 3 to 4 Instagram Reels a week, but I get it if that’s too much. You shouldn’t put quantity over quality.

But creating more Reels gives you more chances to test out different content and see what works best.

10 Use relevant emojis

I can’t stress this enough – emojis are your friends!

They make your captions more fun, relatable, and easy to read. Plus, they drag users’ attention.

I always add a few relevant emojis to my posts. I’ve noticed that it makes my content pop and more attractive.

But don’t push too many. You want to use them in a way that enhances your message, not clutters it. It’s a simple trick, but it really helps your content stand out in someone’s busy feed.

If you lack inspiration on what emojis to use – go to Brand24 > Emoji Analysis.

You’ll get an emoji list based on the ones that people use when talking about your brand:

11 Use good lighting

Lighting makes or breaks your Reel.

I always make sure my Reels are shot in natural light or with good lighting equipment. It makes the quality so much better and keeps people watching longer. Poor quality can get you skipped really fast, so make sure your visuals are on point.

Creating visually appealing content is a must!

12 Arouse emotions 

Ever notice how emotional posts tend to go viral?

It’s because they hit you right in the feels. Whether it’s something heartwarming, funny, or even a little sad, triggering emotions gets people to engage with your content.

I always try to create Reels that evoke some kind of emotional response because people are more likely to comment, share, and remember it.

The more reactions you get, the more views Instagram will send your way.

Fun fact: You can actually monitor the emotions you evoke.

It’s an interesting way to test various content types and check how they impact your brand image.

13 Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC)

Getting your followers involved in your content is a huge win.

I love it when people create Reels featuring a brand or products, and a brand knows how to reuse them. UGC content builds community and gives brands fresh content to share.

Plus, reposting their content shows your followers that you care, which leads to more engagement and -you guessed it… more views!

14 Post about relevant topics

One of the best ways to boost your views is by talking about things that actually matter to your audience.

I’ve learned that posting about relevant, trending topics increases the likelihood of your Reels being shared.

You can use AI tools to track trending topics in your niche and jump on them before they blow up. This way, you’re always one step ahead, and your audience will appreciate that you’re in the know.

Here’s an AI Topic Analysis by Brand24. It is based on their actual mentions!

15 Tell a story

Storytelling is powerful. Whether it’s a personal experience or just a fun narrative. It keeps people hooked and makes them want to watch until the end.

A good story makes your content more memorable and shareable, which leads to more Instagram Reel views in the long run.

16 Analyze Instagram Reels reach

I’m kind of a data freak… but it’s a good thing!

I track my Instagram reach to see what’s working and what isn’t. It’s the only way to really know if your Reels are connecting with your audience.

I looked at which Reels got the most views, what time I posted them, and which hashtags I used.

When you know what resonates, you can keep improving and tweaking your content to get even more views. It’s all about learning from the data.

The basics can be done in the Instagram app internally (with a business account). But for more advanced insights and analysis – I like to ask Brand Assistant.

It’s an AI feature that combines knowledge of Chat GPT with social listening data – making it super accurate.

Here’s an Instagram Reach analysis I got for Sephora:

17 Share Reels on Instagram Stories

Don’t just leave your Instagram Reels hanging in the Reels tab.

I always share them with my audience via stories too.

This way, your regular followers are more likely to see them, and it boosts your overall views.

Sometimes, people don’t check the Reels section, and Instagram doesn’t use it on the Explore page, so it’s a good idea to cover all your bases.

18 Track Instagram Reel trends 

Instagram loves trends. I make sure to keep an eye on what’s currently popular – whether it’s a new challenge, trending audio, or Reels templates everyone’s using.

Jumping on these trends at the right time can give your Reels a huge boost. Just make sure to put your own spin on it so it feels authentic to you.

When I struggle to find new trends – I ask Brand Assistant for help:

19 Use Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

This is one of the easiest hacks out there – always ask your audience to do something. Whether it’s asking them to like, comment, share, or follow, a call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your Reel can make a big difference.

I always add a simple CTA, and it really helps drive more engagement.

20 Power of the Loop

One of the most underrated but powerful hacks for getting more views on Instagram Reels is using loops.

A loop is when your Reel is edited in a way that makes the end seamlessly connect with the beginning. It’s a trick that gets people to watch your Reel over and over again, sometimes without even realizing it!

Why it works? Instagram counts a view every time someone watches 3 seconds of your Reel, but when your content loops perfectly, viewers are likely to watch the entire thing all over again.

Pro tip: When using loops, keep the total video length short, under 10-15 seconds if possible. This increases the chances of viewers looping through several times because it feels quick and satisfying.

21 Optimize covers

Your cover image is the first thing users see when browsing through your feed.

Make sure they’re visually appealing and representative of your content. Use bright colors, clear images, and text overlays to make your Instagram Reel stand out.

This will increase the likelihood of your target audience tapping on it and watching your Reel.

Why are my reels not getting views?

If your Reels aren’t going viral, don’t worry – you’re not alone! There could be a few reasons why your content isn’t taking off.

Let’s break down some possible reasons why your Reels are not getting views:

1. Not using trending sounds
2. Poor video and sound quality
3. No interesting hook at the beginning
4. Inconsistent posting
5. Irrelevant to your Instagram followers
6. Not sharing Instagram videos on other platforms
7. You haven’t found your niche

Sometimes just a few small tweaks can turn things around and get those views up!

Conclusion

Getting more views on Instagram Reels can be quite easy, but it does take some strategy. The key? A mix of creativity, consistency, and data-driven decisions.

Key takeaways:

1. Keep your Reels short and grab attention in the first 2-3 seconds.
2. Use trending hashtags and music to get discovered by new audiences.
3. Engage with your followers by replying to comments and mentions.
4. Experiment with loops to get people watching your Reel over and over.

Want to really level up? Start with the Brand24 trial to track performance, monitor trends, and analyze your audience’s reaction!