How to get more views on Reels

How to get more views on Reels

If you’ve got a profile with lots of engaging reels, people are likely to dwell on your profile for hours. 

Ultimately, leading to more earnings if you have some monetization strategy in place — or it could lead to genuine growth of a strong community.

Both of which are valuable assets.

But if you’ve started with reels only recently, the number of views are something you might be getting hyped about….

But, is 1000 views on a reel good? Or do you need to hit 10k before considering your reel a hit?

In this post, we’ll get a clear answer to that. We’ll also explore the context behind view counts, and offer actionable tips to increase your reel views. 
At the end, we share some high-performing reels to help you enhance your content strategy. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Is 1,000 Views on Reels Good?

The true value of 1000 views depends on the size of your following and your engagement rates. Here’s a brief idea to help you visualize the scale:

1 – Small Accounts (Less than 1,000 Followers)

1,000 views can be a substantial milestone for small accounts. It indicates that your content is reaching beyond your immediate followers and attracting new viewers.

For these accounts, 1000 views per reel indicates high engagement rate and potential for follower growth.

2 – Medium Accounts (1,000 – 10,000 Followers)

For medium-sized accounts, 1,000 views might be an average result, suggesting steady engagement but room for improvement.

Such accounts should aim for higher engagement to stand out.

3 – Large Accounts (10,000+ Followers)

For large accounts, 1,000 views may be considered underperformance. It signals a need to reassess content strategy to engage a larger portion of followers.

If you have a large account and consistently achieve 1000 views per reel only, your content may not be resonating well with the audience. It’s time to try newer reel ideas

Average Views Per Reel — By Industry

Different niches have varying benchmarks for what constitutes a good number of views. Here’s how 1,000 views measure up across some common niches:

Niche

Avg Views for Small Accounts

Avg Views for Medium Accounts

Avg Views for Large Accounts

Lifestyle & Fashion

500 – 1500

1500 – 5000

10,000+

Tech & Gadgets

300 – 1000

1000 – 3000

5,000+

Health & Fitness 

400 – 1200 

1200 – 4000

8,000+

Food & Recipes 

600 – 1800

1800 – 6000

12,000+

Travel & Adventure 

500 – 1500 

1500 – 5000

10,000+

These figures are approximate and can vary, but they provide a general idea of what to expect in different niches.

Other Metrics that Matter….

Success on Instagram Reels isn’t solely defined by the number of views. There are some other key metrics as well that you should be monitoring.

These are:

  • Engagement Rate: Measures how actively your audience interacts with your content. Calculated as (Likes + Comments + Shares) / Total Followers.

  • Follower Growth: The rate at which your follower count increases after posting reels.

  • Reach: The number of unique accounts that have seen your reel.

  • Profile Visits: The number of times users visit your profile after viewing your reel.

  • Saves and Shares: Indicates the value and shareability of your content.

By focusing on these KPIs, you can get a more comprehensive view of your reel’s performance and make informed decisions to enhance your content strategy.

7 Tips to Make Your Reels More Engaging

Here are a few tips to help you get more than 1000 views per reel!

1. Focus on High-Quality Production

Consider investing in high-quality equipment like a good phone or a high-resolution, professional camera. A tripod can help with clear and steady shots.

For those who have an indoor working space only, it’s best to invest in lighting as well. Buy ring lights and softboxes as these can help in low-light conditions. If you’ve got an outdoor space, utilize natural sunlight!

Once recorded, use video editing software to refine your reel; you can add smooth transitions, effects, and sound. Or if you haven’t got the time to edit, we’re always here for you!

2. Hook Viewers in the First Few Seconds

Try capturing attention immediately with a strong opening. This could be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or an eye-catching visual.

In a recent post, we outlined what you should say in your YouTube intros. We gave a list of 9 super powerful hooks. You can use the same list for your Instagram reels.
Just make sure you give your viewers a reason to watch the entire reel by hinting at what’s to come. Do not reveal everything right at the beginning.

3. Keep it Short and Sweet

The total length allowed by Instagram is about 60 seconds. But it’s worth noting, the most engaging reels are often between 15-30 seconds.

So, try to keep it short. Be concise and to the point, ensuring your message is easy to understand and follow.

4. Use Trending Music and Sounds

Incorporate trending music and sounds that resonate with your audience. Instagram’s music library provides plenty of options. 

Also, be mindful that you choose music that complements the tone and theme of your reel, enhancing the overall experience. If you choose to go with a sad song for a day-at-work reel, it’s going to be boring and confusing for your audience. For such a reel, you’ll need upbeat audio.

5. Try to Add Captions in ALL of Your Reels

Ensure your content is accessible to all by adding captions for those who watch without sound. If you don’t want to use text for the entire script, consider highlighting key points. 

You can use text to emphasize important parts of your reel, guiding viewers and reinforcing your message.

6. Add At least One Engaging Element

In a reel, engagement elements look different. They could be:

  • A quick verbal game.
  • A question that asks them to make a guess

Or it could be a CTA, asking them to take a specific action such as following your account or sharing the reel forward. 

Currently, there are no clickable buttons or screens within reels (such as in long form YouTube videos). So, you can’t do that. 

But you can ask them to like, comment, save, or follow. 

Another great way to boost engagement on your reel is communicate with your audience by responding to comments. This builds a community around your content.

7. Experiment with Different Content Types

If people see the same kind of content from your channel for a long time, they’ll get bored. So, mix up your content to keep your audience interested. Experiment with tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks, challenges, and more.

As you experiment, make sure you keep an eye on Instagram insights. These analytics help keep track which types of reels perform best. You can then tailor your strategy accordingly.

Examples of High-Performing Reels

You cannot achieve great height if you don’t learn from the best.

 

For this reason, it’s best to keep an eye on the top-performing reels, particularly in your niche. Here are a few examples to get you started…

1 – Viral Trend

Creating a viral video is more about “entertainment” than anything else these days. Don’t give too much of thought to the value you can provide. Just be original, genuine, and engaging.

And of course, don’t forget to use a viral element of the Instagram. It could be…

  • A viral reel template
  • A viral audio
  • A viral act or challenge (that you follow in the video)

For example, recently this audio called blossomeffect went viral. Several videos on the same surfaced.

Here’s an example:

Key Learnings:

  • Trend Utilization: Leveraging popular trends and challenges can significantly boost visibility.
  • Clear Structure: When you follow a trend or initiate a trend, you want others to copy reel. So, make it easy to follow and replicate.

Engaging Music: If you’re not using a trending audio, use upbeat music to keep the reel lively and appealing.

2 – Brand Collaboration

An example of brand collaboration reel would be…

 Imagine a lifestyle influencer partners with a popular fashion brand to showcase a new clothing line. The reel features the influencer trying on different outfits, mixing and matching pieces, and providing styling tips. The video is set to trendy music and includes a discount code for followers.

Similarly, you must’ve seen several skin care influencers collaborating with various brands — for collab reels.
We’ve done some detailed posts on how to collaborate with other YouTubers and how much do sponsorships pay on YouTube. Although these are about YouTube, you can implement the same key learnings for Instagram reels.

Key Learnings:

  • Brand Synergy: Collaborations with well-known brands can attract more views and enhance credibility.
  • Personal Touch: Personalizing the content with styling tips and direct engagement can make it more relatable and appealing.
  • Exclusive Offers: Including discount codes or exclusive deals encourages viewers to engage and take action.

Ready to boost your reel views?

Essentially, there are only three ways to achieve 1000+ views on a reel for new accounts. These are:

  1. Creating genuinely irresistible reel content (that everyone likes!)
  2. Boosting the reel by paying Instagram
  3. Getting the reel edited by professionals for special, attention grabbing effects.

We encourage you to invest in all three methods. The quicker your reel views grow, the quicker your account will grow.

Feel free to try out reel editing service, where we offer 10 professionally edited reels in only $195!

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