Rising Creators Forum

My instagram reels are flopping hard. I'm getting like 500-800 views per reel and maybe 40-60 likes. my follower count is 2,400 so that feels really low

I feel like instagram doesn't push reels the way tiktok pushes videos. is the instagram algorithm worse or am i doing something wrong?

What's working for you to get reels seen by non-followers?

500-800 views with 2400 followers is actually okay, that's like 25-30% reach which is pretty normal for instagram

instagram doesn't push content to non-followers as aggressively as tiktok. their algorithm prioritizes showing content to your existing followers first, then expands if those followers engage

to get shown to non-followers you need:
- really high engagement rate from your current followers (save this, share this, watch it multiple times)
- people sharing your reel to their stories
- appearing on the explore page (this happens when engagement is really high)

also check your content. is it relatable? does it provide value? is it entertaining? instagram users have higher expectations than tiktok users for production quality

and don't just post reels, also post stories and regular posts. instagram rewards accounts that use all their features, not just one

i know people say "just post reels" but i've found that accounts that only post reels don't grow as fast as accounts that do a mix of content types

Instagram reels algorithm is definitely harder to crack than tiktok but it's not impossible

here's what worked for me to go from 600 views per reel to 15k average:

1. use trending audio - this is crucial on instagram, even more than tiktok. scroll reels and save audios that are being used a lot
2. post at peak times - instagram is more time-sensitive than tiktok. post when your audience is most active (check insights)
3. use 5-8 hashtags max - don't spam 30 hashtags like the old instagram days
4. engage immediately after posting - respond to comments in the first hour, it tells instagram your content is active
5. make the first frame eye-catching - people decide to watch in 0.5 seconds

also make sure your account isn't shadowbanned. post a reel and check if it shows up under the hashtags you used. if it doesn't appear you might be limited

instagram wants you to use reels because that's how they compete with tiktok, so they do push them. but you need to play by their rules