How do I get more likes on my reels? 10+ Working Tricks 2026

It’s frustrating, right? I’ve been there. I’ve managed accounts where we did everything “by the book” and still got zero traction. But over the last year, I’ve realized that the “book” most people are reading is outdated.

If you’re wondering, “How do I get more likes on my reels?” the answer isn’t just “post more.” It’s about understanding the unspoken psychology of why someone actually taps that heart icon.

Why Likes Even Matter in 2026

Some “gurus” say likes are just a vanity metric. They’re wrong. On Instagram, a like is a signal to the algorithm that your content is worth showing to more people.

When you get a burst of likes early on, the “Explore” page and the “Reels” tab take notice. It’s like a snowball effect. More likes lead to more reach, which leads to more followers.

The “Scroll-Stop” Reality

You have exactly 1.2 seconds to stop someone from scrolling past you. If you don’t hook them, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of your video is.

The 2-Second Visual Hook

In my experience, the first two seconds of your Reel are the most important part of your entire digital strategy.

Don’t start with a blank screen or you walking into the frame. Start with the action already happening.

• Move closer to the camera: A sudden movement toward the lens grabs the eye.
• Use On-Screen Text: Place a bold headline that identifies a problem your viewer has.
• The “Result” First: If you’re making a recipe or a DIY project, show the finished, beautiful product in the first half-second.

Hook Type	Why it Works	Example
The Negative Hook	Humans are wired to avoid mistakes.	“Stop doing [X] if you want [Y].”
The Curiosity Hook	It creates an “open loop” in the brain.	“I found a secret way to…”
The Relatability Hook	Makes the viewer feel seen.	“POV: You’re trying to…”

Use “Trending” Audio (But Don’t Rely on It)

You’ve heard this a thousand times: “Use trending audio!” But here is what actually works: using trending audio when it has between 2,000 and 10,000 uses.

If a song has 500,000 uses, you are a tiny fish in a massive pond. You’ll get buried.

Look for the tiny “rising arrow” icon next to the song name in the Reels feed. That is your signal that the song is about to blow up. If you jump on it early, your Reel rides the wave as the song gains popularity.

High-Contrast Lighting is Non-Negotiable

You don’t need a $2,000 camera. I shot my most liked Reel on an iPhone 12 in front of a window.

The secret? Contrast. The Instagram algorithm prefers high-quality, high-contrast visuals. If your video looks grainy, dark, or “muddy,” the AI will show it to fewer people because it’s perceived as low-quality content.

• Pro Tip: Clean your camera lens with your shirt before every single take. You’d be surprised how much “fingerprint grease” ruins your video quality.

The “Micro-Loop” Strategy

How do I get more likes on my reels? By getting people to watch them twice.

Instagram calculates “watch time.” If your Reel is 7 seconds long and the average watch time is 10 seconds (meaning people watched it 1.5 times), the algorithm thinks your video is literal gold.

How to create a loop:

• End the video abruptly.
• Make the last frame look like the first frame.
• Use a caption that says “Read that again” or “Wait for the end.”

Write “Saves-Driven” Captions

Wait, we’re talking about likes, right? Yes. But here is a secret: Saves are the new Likes.

When someone saves your Reel, they are telling Instagram, “This is so good I need to see it again.” Instagram then rewards you by pushing that Reel to more people who are likely to like it.

Instead of a one-sentence caption, try a “Mini-Blog” style:

1. Headline: (The Hook)
2. The Meat: 3-4 bullet points of actual value.
3. The CTA: “Like this if you’ve felt this way too.”

Stop Using 30 Hashtags

It looks desperate. It looks like spam. And honestly? It doesn’t work anymore.

I’ve found that using 3 to 5 highly specific hashtags is the sweet spot.

• One for your niche (e.g., #GraphicDesign)
• One for the specific topic (#LogoTips)
• One for the problem you’re solving (#SmallBusinessMarketing)

This helps the AI categorize your content. If you use 30 random tags, the AI gets confused about who to show your video to, and you end up with zero likes.

Engage Before and After You Post

The “Post and Ghost” method is a career killer.

I’ve tested this: If I spend 15 minutes before I post liking and commenting on other Reels in my niche, my own Reel gets about 20% more engagement in the first hour.

Why? Because you are making your profile “active” in the eyes of the algorithm.

The 30-Minute Rule:

• 15 mins before posting: Comment on 5-10 big accounts in your niche.
• Post your Reel.
• 15 mins after posting: Reply to every single comment you get. Yes, even the “cool video!” bots.

Use “Engagement Stickers” on Your Stories

When you share your new Reel to your Stories, don’t just put the “New Post” sticker over it.

Add a poll or a slider. Ask a question like, “Do you agree with this?”

When people interact with your Story, it signals to Instagram that they like your content. This makes your Reel more likely to appear at the top of their feed the next time they open the app.

The “Golden Hour” is a Myth (Mostly)

People say, “Post at 9 AM on a Tuesday.” But your audience might be night owls or located in a different time zone.

Instead of following a generic chart, go to your Professional Dashboard > Total Followers > Scroll to the Bottom.

This shows you exactly when your followers are online. If they are most active at 8 PM, post at 7:45 PM. You want to hit them right as they are opening the app.

Master the “Value-to-Length” Ratio

I’ve noticed a trend: The most-liked Reels are either very short (5-10 seconds) or very packed with info (30-60 seconds).

The “middle ground” (20 seconds) often fails because it’s too long to be a quick joke and too short to be a deep tutorial.

Video Length	Best Use Case
5-7 Seconds	Quick tips, relatable quotes, or aesthetic clips.
15-30 Seconds	Storytelling or “How-to” with a few steps.
60+ Seconds	Deep dives, vlogs, or detailed tutorials.

Use On-Screen “Calls to Action”

People often forget to like. It’s not that they don’t enjoy the video; they’re just on autopilot.

A subtle “Double tap if you agree” or a heart emoji appearing on the screen for a split second acts as a psychological nudge.

Don’t be annoying about it. Don’t beg. Just remind them that liking helps you create more free content.

Experiment with “Lo-Fi” Content

Sometimes, a highly produced video feels like an ad. And people hate ads.

In my experience, “Lo-Fi” (low fidelity) content—videos that look like they were filmed by a friend—often get more likes because they feel more authentic.

Try filming a Reel in your car or at your desk without a ring light. Talk directly to the camera like you’re FaceTiming a friend. That “Trustworthiness” factor (the ‘T’ in E-E-A-T) skyrockets when you look like a real human, not a brand.

Collaborative Reels

If you have a friend in the same niche, use the “Collab” feature.

This allows the Reel to show up on both of your profiles. You are essentially doubling your audience instantly. This is the fastest way I’ve ever seen a small account go from 10 likes to 1,000+.

Be Relentlessly Consistent (The 30-Day Rule)

I hate to say it, but the algorithm needs data. It needs to know who you are and who likes your stuff.

I’ve found that if you post a Reel every day for 30 days, by day 20, the algorithm finally “figures you out.” Suddenly, your likes will jump from 20 to 200 overnight because Instagram finally knows exactly which users to put your video in front of.

Summary: Your Game Plan

Getting more likes isn’t magic. It’s a combination of visual hooks, audience timing, and genuine interaction. Stop worrying about being perfect. A “messy” Reel that provides real value or makes someone laugh will always outperform a “perfect” Reel that is boring.

Which of these tips are you going to try first? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just focus on Tip #1 (The Hook). Once you master stopping the scroll, everything else becomes much easier.

ये भी पढ़ें 2026 में Instagram पर Zero से Growth कैसे शुरू करें? Beginners Roadmap