I'm trying to figure out where to put my effort. Should I be making reels or static posts/carousels? or both?
reels take me way longer to create but they seem to get more reach. posts are easier but feel like they get buried in the algorithm
What's working better for you?
Instagram Reels vs Posts - what should I focus on?
Re: Instagram Reels vs Posts - what should I focus on?
I'm gonna give a different perspective: carousels actually have the highest engagement rate for me
while reels get more raw views, my carousels get way more saves and meaningful engagement. and saves are what really boost your content in the algorithm now
my best performing content:
- educational carousels with 5-7 slides of tips/advice
- before/after carousels showing transformations
- storytelling carousels that make people swipe through
these get 2-3x more saves than my reels and the followers i gain from them are way more engaged
reels bring in passive viewers. carousels bring in engaged followers who actually care about your content
my strategy: post 2 reels per week for reach, 2 carousels per week for engagement. the reels cast a wide net, the carousels convert casual viewers into loyal followers
Don't ignore static content just because reels are trendy. use both strategically for different purposes
while reels get more raw views, my carousels get way more saves and meaningful engagement. and saves are what really boost your content in the algorithm now
my best performing content:
- educational carousels with 5-7 slides of tips/advice
- before/after carousels showing transformations
- storytelling carousels that make people swipe through
these get 2-3x more saves than my reels and the followers i gain from them are way more engaged
reels bring in passive viewers. carousels bring in engaged followers who actually care about your content
my strategy: post 2 reels per week for reach, 2 carousels per week for engagement. the reels cast a wide net, the carousels convert casual viewers into loyal followers
Don't ignore static content just because reels are trendy. use both strategically for different purposes
-
SarahVlogs
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:04 pm
Re: Instagram Reels vs Posts - what should I focus on?
Reels are 100% the priority right now and it's not even close
instagram is pushing reels hard because they're competing with tiktok. the reach potential is way higher with reels
my stats to prove it:
- reels: average reach of 8k-15k
- carousels: average reach of 800-1,200
- single image posts: average reach of 600-900
reels are getting 10x the reach of static posts. instagram literally says reels get more distribution in their algorithm
Yes, reels take longer to create but the ROI is worth it. i post 3-4 reels per week and 1 carousel per week. the carousel is for my existing engaged followers, the reels are for growth
If you're trying to grow, reels need to be 80% of your content strategy. you can add carousels once you have the audience you want
Also reels bring in new followers way better than posts. people discover you through reels, then check out your profile and follow if they like what they see
instagram is pushing reels hard because they're competing with tiktok. the reach potential is way higher with reels
my stats to prove it:
- reels: average reach of 8k-15k
- carousels: average reach of 800-1,200
- single image posts: average reach of 600-900
reels are getting 10x the reach of static posts. instagram literally says reels get more distribution in their algorithm
Yes, reels take longer to create but the ROI is worth it. i post 3-4 reels per week and 1 carousel per week. the carousel is for my existing engaged followers, the reels are for growth
If you're trying to grow, reels need to be 80% of your content strategy. you can add carousels once you have the audience you want
Also reels bring in new followers way better than posts. people discover you through reels, then check out your profile and follow if they like what they see