Every Instagram and Facebook creator/business dreams of their reels going viral. However, this task isn’t as straightforward as it may seem, and there are many factors involved. With over 1 billion active Instagram users worldwide, there’s no shortage of competition. But don’t fret, because if you’ve been asking yourself questions like, ‘Why aren’t my reels doing well?’ or ‘How can I make my reel go viral?’ – you’ve come to the right place.

 

My Clients & Friends have asked this question a billion times and they often listen to dumb advice from Instagram coaches with no-real knowledge about marketing & consumer trust. If I had to sum up the Instagram Reels Strategy for you in few words, I would say.

Think before you act, Check before you publish. Then Rethink.

Only 10 words to focus for going viral on  Instagram Reels.

1. Your Hook Doesn’t Matter as Much as You Think

Contrary to popular belief, the first few words of your Reel aren't always the make-or-break point. Users often make the decision to continue watching or skip after a few seconds into the video, not necessarily after the first few words.

 

This skip behavior is usually triggered by either a lack of practical solutions offered to the viewer or a weak storytelling framework.

 

Do you know Casey Neistat? Casey’s videos have an overarching narrative structure that doesn't depend on hooks in the initial seconds but relies on a compelling storyline throughout the video.

 

The narrative follows a clear arc, where an event happens, a change occurs, and an outcome results. The event-change-outcome structure keeps viewers hooked, driving them to continue watching till the end.

His Youtube videos about Nike are worth studying for creators. In case you never saw any of them, Watch the one below and focus on how the video flows. Don’t watch or enjoy. Instead Study

 

 

2. The Importance of Visual Identity

 

The algorithm needs to identify your Reel's content to match it with the appropriate audience. Therefore, creating a visually identifiable brand that the algorithm can associate with a specific demographic is crucial.

For instance, if you're a fitness brand, your reels should feature workout sessions, healthy foods, or fitness tips, creating a visual identity that the algorithm will associate with fitness enthusiasts.

 

 3. Understand Trends Before You Jump On Them

 

Reels trends offer a great way to engage with your audience & earn virality, but it's vital to understand a trend before incorporating it into your Reel.

Study the trend, ensure it's relevant to your audience, and assess whether you've done anything similar in the past.

When the "Ice Bucket Challenge" went viral, it was because it resonated with a wide range of audiences and was easily adaptable across different industries. Trends like that apply to everyone.

Many Trends are often unique to an industry & community. Finding those trends within your community make you spark the most.

 

4. The Pitfalls of Watermarked Content

 

While Instagram's CEO, Adam Mosseri, confirmed that using watermarked content from other apps doesn't violate any policies, it's advisable to avoid it.

 

Removing watermarks, especially from repurposed TikTok videos, helps present your content in a more professional light.

 

5. Patience is a Virtue

 

Reels exist in a continuous loop on Instagram, unlike the regular home feed where the most recent and relevant content shows up.

 

Your reel might only start getting traction a few days after publishing when it has reached the right audience and received adequate interaction. It has happened to me in the past a few times and the engagement quality is always better. When reels go viral after few days of publishing.

 

For Further read into understanding Instagram Algorithm, I have a deepdive blog about Instagram & Social Media Algorithms .

 

6. Consistency with a Fresh Perspective

 

Your audience consumes video content much faster than regular content, meaning your content can become stale quickly.

Take a cue from MrBeast, who has achieved YouTube stardom not just by posting consistently but by continually bringing fresh and interesting challenges and charitable acts to his audience.

 

His approach emphasizes the importance of consistently publishing new ideas that resonate with the audience.

 

 

7. Don't Underestimate Video Editing

 

Video editing plays a critical role in the success of your Reel. Well-edited videos are more engaging and easier to understand. Instead of trying to do it all, hiring a professional video editor can help streamline your content and highlight the key points effectively.

 

I can’t tell how many brands & creators had low video quality & ugly transitions causing them low reach & engagement. Many people do get blind to some Reels Mistakes that matter. Other people & experts like Video editors can help you see & fix those mistakes.

 

 

8. Building Authority Takes Time

 

You have yet to build authority. Without that, your reels won’t go viral. Video content on Internet has always required authority building from creators & businesses. It took MrBeast years to crack the youtube system, and he said because when he started he knew his content wasn’t that good. Same case could be with you, you have yet to build your personal brand and authority through  content after that you will be able to go viral on reels.

 

From my experience, Instagram Stories & Profile Structure also help you build that authority. What you need is the focus to always have niched focus to create content that is connected to a set of different niched topics. Making sure you are becoming part of that authority circle.

 

Urgently need it fixed? You can book a consultation call with me.

 

 

9. Don’t Disallow Shares to Facebook

 

Allowing your content to be reshared to Facebook Reels can open up an entirely new audience base.

 

This cross-platform sharing can result in more engagement and validation for your content.

10. Harness the Power of Keywords

Strategically using keywords can make your Instagram Reel stand out and reach the right audience. Keywords help align what people are searching for with the content you provide.

Most online content, including your Reels, is indexed. This means that the right keywords can make your Reels appear in wider web searches, shining a light on your content for the right audience.

When creating your caption, integrate relevant keywords that correspond with your Reel’s content and resonate with your target audience. However, avoid keyword stuffing - the overuse of keywords. Your caption should be readable and provide value, with keywords incorporated naturally.

11. Use Instagram Reels Analytics

 

Analyzing your Reels' performance can help you understand what type of content resonates with your audience.

You should study your reels performance and find what’s the difference between engagement for different type of instagram reels. Analyse the best performing reels reaching the most followers and most non-followers. Give your 50-50 to them. Nurture your existing audience for authority & invite new audience through broad topics that worked in the past.

Plus, Instagram’s recent update provides insights into the average watch time for Instagram reels, allowing you to see how long viewers are engaged with your content. Retention is one of my favourite metrics to track for video content.

 

12. Adopt the AIDA Strategy

 

AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) is a classic copywriting strategy that can be adapted to your Reels.

The strategy works by first grabbing the viewer's attention, sparking their interest, creating a desire for whatever you're promoting, and then prompting them to take action.

 

A majority of creators & businesses have shifted this strategy a little bit by switching A (Action) from the end of the video to middle of the video. Asking the audience to take action when you are building interest of the audience in the reels.