If you aren’t leaning into Reels, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity for organic growth on Instagram. However, if you are posting Reels but they’re not getting viewed, you might be wondering, “Am I shadowbanned? What am I doing wrong?” If you’re pouring your heart into Instagram Reels but not seeing the traction you desire, you’re not alone. This is a very common experience amongst new and established creators alike. Understanding how to get views on Instagram is crucial for growing your account quickly and positioning yourself as a go-to creator in your industry. In this guide, I’ll delve into actionable strategies to enhance your Reels’ performance. I’ll share the 6 reasons why your Reels aren’t working and how you can fix them to increase your views on Instagram.

These 6 tips aren’t just theories with no substance – they’re real strategies I teach my students and apply to my own content. It’s how my students managed to grow their accounts from 0 to 200k in 2025, and how I grew my own account by over 100k new followers in the last year alone.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

1. You’re Not Hooking Them in Within the First 3 Seconds

According to experts, you’ve got 8 seconds to capture someone’s attention. While these findings were published in 2022, I’d argue that you have less time to hook people in, especially when they’re scrolling quickly through content. This is why knowing how to hook a viewer in is the first crucial element of getting more views on Instagram.

Capturing attention quickly is vital, and the first 3 seconds of your Reel are critical in determining your success. If you fail to capture a viewer’s attention in that 3-second window, they’ll decide to keep scrolling on.  

Actionable Tip: Start your Reel with a strong text or verbal hook. This is where you’ll want to know how to pull on those psychological triggers. For example, this is a simple way to open a curiosity loop, since those who are interested in what flying first class on Emirates is like will stay till the end. I share more data-backed psychological triggers in my free workshop, which you can watch on demand here!

Psst… If you watch the workshop till the end, you’ll also get your hands on my 45 Viral Hooks for Reels document for free!

2. You Don’t Have Fast-Paced, Visually Engaging Clips

Dynamic and visually stimulating content keeps viewers engaged. Reels that are fast-paced and visually appealing tend to perform better, as they align with the platform’s emphasis on short-form, engaging videos.​ This fast movement is also called a visual hook. If your Reel feels too slow, repetitive, or unclear, it’s less likely to perform well.

Actionable Tip: Utilize quick cuts, vibrant colors, text overlays, and dynamic transitions to maintain viewer interest throughout your Reel.​ You can try something as simple as picking up your camera, or try something with a fast and changing movement like this. 

3. Your Reels Are Lacking Storytelling and Value

Strong storytelling and value delivery are what keep your viewers engaged and watching till the end. If you’re wondering how to increase views on Instagram, hooking them in is just the beginning. The next part of the battle is convincing them to stay till the end. Storytelling adds depth to your content, making it more relatable and memorable. Incorporating a narrative or delivering value can significantly enhance engagement.​

The best Reels make people feel like they’ve gained something for their time. This could be a laugh, a new skill, or a fresh perspective. 

Actionable Tip: Structure your Reel with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Make sure to pack it with immense value, whether that’s entertainment, inspiration, or education. Once you have your text and/or verbal hook, be sure to deliver on the promise by providing tips, sharing experiences, or telling a story that fulfills what’s promised in the hook. If you don’t, you could lose long-term trust by baiting and switching your viewers. 

When thinking about what story or value you want to add, ask yourself:

• Does this Reel teach something useful to my target audience?
• Does this get people emotionally engaged and invested?
• Does it entertain my viewers?

4. You’re Not Using Trending or Complementary Audio

Audio plays a significant role in the storytelling aspect of Reels. Of course, there’s the idea that using trending or complementary audio can increase the chances of your content being featured on the Explore page. But it’s not enough just to slap on a trending audio and call it a day. You’ll need to use it as part of the experience–shaping your Reel like a score of a movie soundtrack. Without it, the Reel can feel flat and less impactful.

A well-chosen audio can keep viewers watching longer, increase engagement, and guide emotions.

Actionable Tip: While trending audios can boost performance, original or non-trending audios shouldn’t be overlooked while creating your Reels. Instead, think about how the audio complements the story you’re telling or the nature of your Reel. 

For example, this song matched the energy and vibes of the content in this Reel. The beats are also perfectly timed for the content I’m sharing throughout. Another example is this Reel, where the beat picks up as the visuals speed up.

5. You’re Not Using Captions or On-Screen Text

Many users scroll with their sound off. Think about it, if you’re out in public and you don’t have a set of headphones, you’ll likely scroll through with the sound off. On top of that, there’s also accessibility for those who are hard of hearing. Captions and on-screen text ensure your message is conveyed even without sound. They also help in retaining viewer attention.​

Captions grab attention, keep viewers watching, and improve discoverability by helping Instagram recognize keywords. 

Actionable Tip: Use clear, easy-to-read fonts and keep the text large enough to be legible. You’ll also want to keep your text within the safe zone, meaning you want to avoid placing it too low or too high so that it gets cut off by the profile details at the bottom.

For closed captioning, you’ll want to make sure that the captions are timed to match the spoken word. As for text boxes, keep them uniform, and if they change throughout the Reel, keep them in the same position.

6. Your Reel Doesn’t Inspire a Reaction

Reels that inspire a reaction beyond a view signal to the algorithm that it’s valuable and worth promoting. When people wonder how to get more views on Instagram, eliciting a like, comment, save, or share means that your Reels perform better with the algorithm. If your Reel evokes a strong reaction like surprise, curiosity, or excitement – the more likely your audience will watch the entire Reel, stay till the end, and take further action. 

Actionable Tip: Create Reels that entertain, educate, or inspire. Encourage viewers to comment, share, or engage with your Reel in some way.​ Better yet, create with shareability in mind. Since engagement is a key ranking factor for Instagram’s algorithm, and more interactions lead to more views. 

Wrapping Up

By addressing these 6 areas, you can enhance your understanding of how to get views on Instagram and improve the performance of your Reels. Remember, consistency and creativity are key. Keep experimenting and analyzing your content to see what resonates best with your audience.