As you most likely know, Instagram reels are THE best way to grow on Instagram. With the rise in popularity with short form video, you can’t afford to not include reels in your content strategy.
I’ve heard tons of times from people that they’re posting reels but can’t seem to get any traction from them. I personally grew my own Instagram from 0-30k in just 5 months almost exclusively with reels.
In this blog post I’m going to tell you 5 reasons your Instagram reels aren’t going viral and helping your grow your following.
You’re not stopping the scroll
Think about how you consume content, you probably scroll pretty quickly until something catches your attention. Your dream follower is doing the exact same thing which is why stopping the scroll in the first frame is crucial to whether or not your reel will get pushed out more by the algorithm. If your reel isn’t eye catching enough then they are going to keep scrolling on by. Having eye catching elements can really increase how well you stop the scroll. This could be by wearing a bright color, having movement, or using a zoom feature.
Your hook isn’t intriguing
Your hook is the first second of your reel and typically the text you use on the screen. It’s what gives motivation for someone scrolling to stop and watch your reel. Your hook should speak directly to your dream follower. This could be speaking to a problem they’re experiencing or a desire they have. Example: “This is why your Instagram reels aren’t going viral” or “How to lose weight without ever going to the gym”.
You’re being wordy
Instagram reels are typically anywhere from 5-7 seconds with the exception of talking head videos that could be upwards of one minute. If someone is scrolling and they see a video that has a ton of words and it feels like they’re reading a novel, they’re most likely going to scroll. Make sure to use the juiciest part of what you want to say as the hook and then you can expand more in the caption if you need to.
You’re waiting too long to hop on trends
Trends are a great way to reach more dream followers but if you’re waiting too long to hop on, you could be having the opposite effect. Another reason trends might not be working in your favor is if you’re not using the trend correctly. Make sure to do some research and figure out what a trend actually means before jumping on it. Try to do a trend when it’s under 20,000 uses (10,000 is best). Reminder: you do not (and should not) hop on every trend. It should make sense with your niche and still be relevant to your dream follower!
You’re not being consistent
You can’t get upset at your reels not helping you grow if you aren’t being consistent! Consistency is a huge part of not only Instagram growth but also of seeing results from your reels. Aim to post at least 4 reels per week. I recommend batching them at the top of the week to make it easier for you!
Your video quality is low
If your video quality is low, you are not going to get pushed out by the algorithm. Instagram actually has said they suppress videos with low quality. Make sure you use the best iPhone camera settings and do not add any heavy filters. In addition to high quality video, use easy to read fonts that aren’t going to make someone do mental gymnastics to read it. (AKA no cursive fonts!)
All in all, Instagram reels are amazing for growing on Instagram as long as you’re using them right. But it’s only one part of Instagram. If you are ready for real growth, I have a FREE class for How to Grow Your First 10k Followers on Instagram. Save your seat here!
