How To Get More Views On Instagram Reels? 10+ Working Methods 2026

Let’s be honest—nothing is more frustrating than spending three hours editing a Reel, picking the perfect transition, and finding the right audio, only to have it sit at 50 views for two days. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there.

You see creators posting “low-effort” videos that get millions of views, and you’re left wondering if the algorithm just has a personal vendetta against you.

The truth? The “algorithm” is just a mirror of human behavior. If people aren’t watching, it’s usually because of a few small, fixable tweaks in your strategy. In my years of managing social accounts, I’ve found that getting more views on Instagram Reels isn’t about luck; it’s about understanding the “Hook, Retain, Reward” cycle.

Here is the no-nonsense guide on how to get more views on Instagram Reels without losing your mind.

1. The 3-Second Rule (The Hook)

If you don’t grab someone’s attention in the first 3 seconds, they are gone. People scroll past Reels faster than they blink.

In my experience, the best hooks are either Visual or Textual.

• Visual Hook: A sudden movement, a bright color, or an unfinished action.
• Textual Hook: A bold claim like “Stop doing [X]” or “The secret to [Y].”

Don’t start your video with “Hey guys, welcome back.” By the time you finish that sentence, the viewer has already scrolled to a video of a golden retriever wearing sunglasses.

2. Stop Making Long Reels (Seriously)

The competitor’s advice was right—shorter is often better—but they didn’t explain why.

Instagram tracks Watch Time and Completion Rate. If your Reel is 60 seconds long and people drop off at 30 seconds, Instagram thinks your video is boring. If your Reel is 7 seconds long and people watch it twice, your “Watch Time” is over 100%.

That’s when the algorithm goes crazy and pushes your video to everyone.

Quick Comparison: Short vs. Long Reels

Feature	Short Reels (5-10s)	Long Reels (30-90s)
Primary Goal	High Re-watch rate / Viral potential	Deep Value / Storytelling
Best For	Trends, Quick Tips, Aesthetic clips	Tutorials, Vlogs, Reviews
Algorithm Boost	Very High (easier to loop)	Moderate (requires high intent)

3. The “Silent Viewer” Strategy

Most people watch Reels in public—on the bus, in line at a coffee shop, or (let’s be real) in a boring meeting. This means they often have their sound off.

If your Reel relies entirely on you talking, you’re losing 50% of your potential views.

• Use On-Screen Text: Summarize what you’re saying.
• Closed Captions: Use the “Captions” sticker in Reels. It makes your content accessible and bingeable.

4. Use “Trending” Audio, But Don’t Be a Sheep

You’ve heard this before: “Use trending audio.” But here is the secret I’ve learned: Catch the trend on the way up, not at the peak.

If an audio already has 500,000 Reels made with it, your video will get buried. Look for the little “Rising Arrow” icon next to the audio name. If it has between 2,000 and 20,000 uses, that is your sweet spot.

Pro Tip: You can even use trending audio at 0% volume while you talk over it. You still get the “boost” from the trend without the distracting music.

5. Write Captions for the “Save” Button

The “Save” is the most powerful metric on Instagram right now. When someone saves your Reel, it tells Instagram, “This is so good, I need to see it again.”

How do you get saves?

• Provide a list (e.g., “5 Tools for Productivity”).
• Share a recipe or a specific “how-to” guide.
• Write a deep-dive caption that adds more value than the video itself.

I’ve found that Reels with long, insightful captions often perform better because people stay on the post longer to read, which counts as “Time on Post.”

6. High-Quality Lighting Trumps Everything

You don’t need a $2,000 camera. Your iPhone or Android is fine. What you do need is light.

Instagram’s AI prefers high-definition, clear videos. If your video is grainy or dark, it won’t be pushed to the Explore page.

• Natural Light: Stand facing a window.
• Clean Your Lens: Seriously, wipe your camera lens with your shirt before filming. It makes a massive difference in clarity.

If you want to increase your Likes on Instagram Reels?

7. The Power of “Micro-Niche” Hashtags

Stop using #love, #instagood, or #viral. These are too broad. Your video will be lost in a sea of millions.

Instead, use a mix:

1. 2-3 Broad Tags: #DigitalMarketing #FitnessTips
2. 3-5 Specific Tags: #SocialMediaStrategy2026 #HomeWorkoutForMoms
3. 1 Branded Tag: #YourNameTips

I usually recommend 5 to 8 hashtags. Any more than that looks like spam and doesn’t actually help.

8. Engage with Your “Reel-State” (The Comments)

The first hour after you post is the most important. If people comment, reply to them!

I’ve seen Reels get a “second life” simply because the creator started a conversation in the comments. This signals to Instagram that your content is engaging and worth showing to more people.

Expert Insight: Try asking a question in your caption that is easy to answer. Instead of “What do you think?”, try “Are you a morning person or a night owl?”

9. Don’t Just Post and Ghost

One mistake I see all the time is people posting a Reel and then closing the app.

Instead, try this:

• Spend 10 minutes before posting engaging with other creators in your niche.
• Post your Reel.
• Share it to your Story with a “teaser” (hide the main part of the video with a sticker so people have to click to see it).
• Spend 10 minutes after posting replying to your new comments.

10. Avoid the “TikTok Watermark” Kiss of Death

If you download a video from TikTok and re-upload it to Instagram with that bouncing watermark, Instagram will actively suppress it. They don’t want to promote their biggest competitor.

Use tools like SnapTik or SaveTok to download your videos without watermarks, or better yet, edit your videos in an external app like CapCut or InShot before uploading to either platform.

11. Consistency > Frequency

You don’t need to post 3 Reels a day. That is a fast track to burnout.

In my experience, posting 3 to 4 high-quality Reels a week is much better than posting 7 mediocre ones. Quality always wins on Instagram. The algorithm remembers if your last few videos were “duds,” so make every post count.

12. Use the “Remix” Feature

Remixing a popular Reel is a great way to “piggyback” on someone else’s success.

• Find a video that is already viral.
• Remix it by adding your reaction or your own take on the topic.
• This places your video in the “Remix” tab of the original video, giving you access to their massive audience.

Your Daily Reels Checklist

Task	Why it Matters
Clean Lens	Removes blur and makes video “pop.”
Check Lighting	Ensures the AI recognizes the content.
Add Hook	Stops the scroll in 3 seconds.
Add Captions	Reaches the “silent” audience.
Share to Story	Notifies your most loyal fans first.

The Bottom Line

Getting more views on Instagram Reels isn’t a “set it and forget it” thing. It’s a game of small improvements.

If you focus on creating a strong hook, keeping your videos concise, and engaging with your audience, you will see your numbers climb. Don’t obsess over a single “flop”—even the biggest creators have videos that don’t do well. Just keep testing, keep learning, and keep posting.