Instagram Reels is first introduced on 5th August' 2020. Since then, everything has changed on Instagram. Reels increase users screen time, engagement level, attention span, sharing trends, etc. This blog post is all about mastering Instagram Reels and how you can go viral in 2025
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are vertical videos, mostly from 15 seconds to 3 minutes. Instagram introduced it to increase engagement on its platform when users started switching to TikTok.
Instagram Reels is somewhat similar to TikTok videos, with the only difference that TikTok solely depends on short videos, but in Instagram we have other types of posts as well.
Pros of Instagram Reels
- Its super engaging. Users can spend hours just swiping Instagram Reels.
- Its Easy to Create. All you need to do is record a 15-second video.
- Fastest way to grow your Instagram followers.
- New monetization features, like stars, memberhips and catalogs
Cons of Instagram Reels
- Instagram Reels made users attention span shorter than 3 seconds. They wait at least 3 seconds on each reel; that's making it hard to deliver your idea.
- The number of copycats has grown because it is very easy to repost or remix others Reels.
- Decrease popularity of static posts.
- Extra stress on content creators for compressing big content into a small time frame.
How to make your Instagram Reels Go Viral?
There's no one method to go viral on Instagram through your Reels. Sometimes its your consistency, sometimes it's your influence. But in this blog post, we will uncover a step-by-step process to Master Instagram reels.
This method will work for everyone irrespective of their niche or type of content. So keep reading.
1. Grab Attention.
Check out these two images, and tell me which one grab your attention quickly
Obviously the second one. Although both images show books in some way, the second image grabs your eye because its colorful, interesting, and appealing.
In the same way, it works for Reels. You got 3 sec to hook your users, or they are gone.
Its not a rule, but that's how users minds work. If they don't find your Instagram Reel interesting at the start, they will not watch further and swipe up.
To hook your viewers, you can try any of these tips:
Use AI video or Image
Image or Video generated by AI are eye-catching. Its a brilliant idea to put a 3-second AI-created clip in the first 3 seconds of your Reel to hook your viewers. After that, you can mix your content.
Choose a Celebrity Face
Viewers often times pick a reel when they find a celebrity face whom they like or follow. Using a celebrity face in your first 3 sec will make your Reels click-friendly. Also, they will watch rest of the video if your content is interesting afterwards.
Use a famous Reel clip
You can also include a 3 sec clip from trending reels on Instagram at the start of your Reels to hook your viewers to watch the rest.
Make a strong promise
Just at the beginning of your Reel, make a strong promise like, 5 Ways You Can Earn Money At Home, or Best Way to Grow Your Hair in 30 Days, etc. This kind of promise works so well that they get hooked easily to watch the whole Reel.
Hit the Pain Point
If you are good at User research then find out the pain point of your audience and use it as hook in your Reels to grab the attention of your viewers.
Use Trending Sounds or Songs
Sometimes viewers also get hooked to their favorite trending songs or music. Choose a trending songs to or part of the songs that are popular among your audience.
2. Hold Your Audience
Grabbing attention is the first important part of making your Reel go viral, but after that, you need to make sure you hold their attention for at least 10 seconds.
The more, the better. Holding your audience will signal Instagram that users are really interested in watching your videos. This will pop more reels made by you to their feed.
There are few ways you can try to hold your audience's attention:
Use 3 Second Rule
Phsychologically, if you add a transition or do something new every 3 seconds in your reel, then it lets them keep watching your reel for longer. That's what is known as the 3-second rule.
Try adding transitions, elements, text overlays, subtitles, video clips, etc. every 3 seconds, and you will see that your average view duration will grow drastically.
Use Numbers
Using numbers in your Reels makes viewers to wait for the end. It becomes a milestone for them that they want to achieve. At the start of the Reel you can say something like,
- 5 ways to loose your weight
- 3 best gadgets under $300 , or
- 5 tips to grow your hair faster.
This kind of start will certainly let them wait until the last point that you want to disclose because they don't want to miss the chance of revealing all secrets.
Use Timers
Sometimes using a Countdown Timer at the start of the video will let your audience wait for 10 seconds at least. Although this method will not work if you don't have something interesting to show after the timer ends.
Also, don't put a long timer; that will certainly make them irritated, and they will skip your reel.
Ask Question
This works for those Instagram accounts that have an educational niche. If you ask a question that others need to solve for a few seconds and then you provide answers, it will hold them until they get the right answer.
You can try puzzles, quizzes, polls, calculations, number games, etc. to hold your audiences with you. But its important to not make the question too hard to solve or too easy to guess; make it moderate.
Use Instagram Features
Instagram automatically boost Reels that actively adapt to new features launched by Instagram. Make sure you use them in your Reel. Some of the features are Stickers, Filters, Polls, Ask a Question, Tagging etc.
3. Make your Reel a Battleground
Having longer watch duration is better, but if the viewers comment, like, save, or share your Reel. That counts like an achievement. Reels interface in Instagram is made in a way that makes it easy to swipe but hard to engage.
That's why you need to make your Reel a Battleground where viewers engage with it, like it or have a squence of conversation in comments. There are some ideas you can try to let them take action:
Remind them
For sure, they love to watch your Reel but the problem is they forgot things very easily. That's why you need to remind them to Like the video or share it with friends.
Its always a good idea to remind them at the start and end of the reel. You can do it by saying or showing on screen. both works!
Make Sharable Content
The best way to let them share your content is to make the content sharable itself. For example - you can make content about friends, office groups, or a video message, or a couple message etc.
Viwers nowadays get in to habit to talk via Reels. If they find something relatable they either share Reels on the other person's DM or their stories.
Save For Later
Create some content that include a List, or Steps. This type of content got saved by users easily as they can't remember the entire list in one go. Also, you can remind them at the end of the video to Save for Later so they won't forgot.
Ask Question for Comments
Asking questions is the best way to encourage them to comment on your Reels. Spark a conversation by asking simple questions. For example:
- Who is your best friend that lend you money?
- The first place you have travelled
- How will you propose your partner ?
- Whats your worst dream ?
Find relatable questions for your Reels and let it be simple so they find it easy to answer. Some people also have a habit of replying to others' comments, so their will be a chain of comments on your Reel.
Follow for More
Follow button is right in front of the viewers when the watch Reels. Its the easiest action they can take. They just need to tap the button. Always remind them to follow for more content.
If you can also specify the days when you post Reels, it brings more confidence to your viewers that they will get something certainly.
4. Be a Brand
Instagram Reels allow remixing content and even you download and repost others reels. This feature make it easier for people to copy your hard work. But you can stop it.
Brand your Instagram Reels. Create a logo, wear merchandise T-shirts, caps, or accessories while making videos, choose a color theme, or create a signature dialogue or music.
This will not just make it hard for stealers to copy your Reel but also make it easier for your loving audience to remember your content easily. So even other people copy it, you will get the credit for your hard work.
5. Credit your Audience
Have you ever thought about what they get by watching your Reel?
Entertainment. Education, Excitement. Well, most other people like you are giving the same with their reels. You should try giving Credit to your Audience.
Giveaway
A giveaway is one of the good ways to credit your audience. If you can afford to give small gifts to your followers or credit them in some way. I am sure they will never forget this gratitude ever.
Pass the Mic
Everyone like popularity. So if you pass the mic for a while to your audience, they will feel special and more likely to stick with you than others. One of the good ways to do it is to collaborate on reels.
Bring new guests to your Reels, let them share their thoughts; in return, you get a lifelong brand influencer for yourself.
Tag Them
Instagram has an easy way of letting others know that you create some content with them. That's called tagging. You can tag by using the @username of that person in your description.