How to Make Popular Reels on Instagram

Creating Instagram Reels that people actually watch and share is the fastest way to grow your account right now. This guide breaks down the exact steps to go from brainstorming an idea to publishing a Reel that gets seen, covering everything from nailing the perfect hook to picking the right audio and hashtags. You’ll learn the simple, repeatable strategies that top creators use to make popular Reels every single time.

Understand What Makes a Reel Work

Before you hit record, it helps to know what Instagram is looking for. The algorithm’s main goal is simple: keep users on the app for as long as possible. To do that, it pushes content that people are actively watching and engaging with. For your Reel, this boils down to two primary signals.

• Watch Time: This is the big one. How long are people watching your video? Do they watch it all the way through? Even better, do they watch it on repeat (loop it)? High completion rates and loops tell Instagram your video is captivating. This is why short, punchy, and instantly re-watchable Reels tend to do so well.
• Engagement: This is a measure of how people interact with your Reel. The most valuable interactions are Shares and Saves, followed by Comments, and then Likes. When someone shares your Reel to their story or saves it for later, it signals that your content is highly valuable, motivating Instagram to show it to even more people.

Every piece of advice that follows is designed to help you nail these two metrics. Focus on making Reels that people can’t help but finish, watch again, and share with a friend.

Step 1: Stop Guessing and Find Winning Ideas

The best Reels start with a solid concept. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, you can find proven ideas by looking in the right places. A good content strategy balances trending formats with evergreen, value-driven topics.

Hijack Trends the Smart Way

Trending audio and formats are like a fast-track to visibility. The algorithm is already pushing that sound, so using it gives your Reel an immediate boost. But don't just copy what you see, adapt it to your niche.

• Where to find them: Spend 10-15 minutes a day scrolling the Reels tab. When you hear the same audio two or three times, tap the sound at the bottom of the screen. If it has fewer than 10,000 uses, you might be catching it early. Save the audio for later. Instagram will also sometimes show an “up” arrow next to audio, signaling it's trending upward.
• How to adapt them: Ask yourself, "How can I apply this trend to what I do?" For example, a real estate agent could use a trending "Point of View" sound to showcase a house tour. A personal trainer could use a trending lip-sync audio to bust a common fitness myth. The key is to blend the familiar trend with your unique knowledge.

Create Evergreen, Value-Packed Content

Trends come and go, but helpful content is always relevant. This is how you build authority and attract followers who stick around. Think about the common questions, struggles, or desires of your target audience.

• Tutorials and How-Tos: Break down a process into simple, quick steps. A chef could show a 3-step recipe. A graphic designer could demonstrate a quick Canva trick.
• "Mistakes to Avoid": People love to learn what they might be doing wrong. Frame your advice around common pitfalls. For example, "3 skincare mistakes that are aging you faster."
• Myths vs. Facts: Is there a common misconception in your industry? Use a short Reel to debunk it.

This type of content gets a lot of saves, which is an excellent signal for the algorithm. It positions you as an expert and builds lasting trust with your audience.

Step 2: Master the First 3 Seconds with a Powerful Hook

You have less than three seconds to convince someone to stop scrolling. If your opening is weak, the rest of your video doesn’t matter. Your hook should either spark curiosity or promise a clear benefit to the viewer right away.

Here are some hook formulas that you can adapt to any niche:

• The "Mistake" Hook: "You're making this ONE mistake when [doing a common activity]."
• The "Secret" Hook: "Here's the secret to [achieving a desired outcome] that nobody talks about."
• The "Don't Do This" Hook: "Stop [doing this common thing]. Do this instead."
• The "Numbered List" Hook: "3 ways to immediately improve your [area of focus]."
• The "Wish I Knew" Hook: "I wish I knew this simple hack for [a task] sooner."

Use on-screen text for your hook so it's impossible to miss, even if the viewer’s sound is off. Make it bold and clear. A strong opening grabs attention and dramatically increases your watch time.

Step 3: Build a Reel People Actually Want to Watch

Once you’ve hooked the viewer, the body of your Reel needs to deliver on that promise. The goal is to keep their attention from start to finish with engaging visuals, clear text, and appropriate audio.

Keep the Visuals Interesting

Static, boring shots are the enemy of engagement. People have short attention spans, so your visuals need to be dynamic.

• Use Quick Cuts: Aim for a new clip or angle every 1-3 seconds. This creates a sense of movement and makes the video feel faster and more professional.
• Change Your Angle: Don't just shoot everything from eye level. Mix in close-ups, wide shots, and shots from above or below to keep things visually stimulating.
• Leverage B-Roll: B-roll is supplemental footage that you layer over your main video (e.g., footage of you typing while you talk about writing an email). It’s perfect for adding context and breaking up monotonous talking-head shots.

Add Text Overlays and Captions

A huge percentage of users watch videos with the sound off. If your Reel relies on talking, you absolutely need text to get your message across. Use the text tool in Instagram to highlight key points, list out steps, or provide subtitles for your voiceover. Keep the text brief, easy to read, and time it to appear exactly when you want it to.

Bonus points for using auto-generated captions. Tap the “Stickers” icon in the editor and select “Captions.” Instagram will automatically transcribe your audio. It makes your content accessible and helps those watching on mute.

Pick the Right Audio

Audio dictates the entire vibe of your Reel. As mentioned, using trending audio is a great strategy for discoverability. However, sometimes a voiceover or original audio is more effective, especially for educational content.

• Trending Sounds: Great for entertainment, memes, and aesthetic lifestyle videos. Keep the music volume low enough that it doesn't overpower your own voice if you’re speaking.
• Voiceovers: Perfect for tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, and storytelling. Record a clear voiceover that guides the viewer through the visuals on screen.
• Original Audio: If you come up with a highly shareable or unique audio segment, it could become a trend itself! When people use your original audio, their videos will credit your account, driving traffic back to you.

Step 4: Polish Your Post Before You Publish

Your work isn’t done when the video is edited. The final details of your post - the caption, hashtags, and cover photo - play a big role in its performance and how it contributes to your brand image.

Write a Caption with a CTA

Your caption doesn't need to be an essay. It can add context to your video or stand on its own to deliver more value. The most important thing to include is a Call to Action (CTA). Tell your viewers exactly what you want them to do next. Examples include:

• "Save this for your next project!" (Encourages saves)
• "Comment with your favorite tip below." (Drives comments)
• "Share this with someone who needs to hear it." (Promotes shares)
• "Follow me for more daily tips like this." (Gets new followers)

Use a Smart Hashtag Strategy

Hashtags help Instagram understand your content’s topic and show it to relevant audiences. Avoid overly generic tags like #explorepage or #viral. Instead, use a mix of specific hashtags related to your niche.

A good strategy is to use 5-10 hashtags that combine a few categories:

• Niche-specific: Tags directly related to your industry or audience (e.g., #torontorealestate, #veganrecipes).
• Content-specific: Tags describing what’s in the Reel itself (e.g., #homedecortips, #canvatutorial).
• Broader community: Larger hashtags that your target audience follows (e.g., #interiordesignideas, #healthyhabits).

Design a Clean Cover Photo

When someone visits your profile, they see your Reels grid. A messy grid with blurry or awkward cover photos looks unprofessional. Before publishing, select a compelling frame from your video or upload a custom cover photo that includes the title of the Reel. This creates a polished, organized feed that encourages people to browse more of your content.

Step 5: Hit Publish and Maximize Your Reach

The moment of truth! Publishing at the right time and giving your Reel a little push right after it goes live can help it gain early momentum.

Post When Your Audience is Online

Check your Instagram Insights (under Professional Dashboard >, Total Followers) to see the days and times your audience is most active. Posting during these peak hours gives your content a better chance of getting immediate engagement.

Share Your Reel to Your Story

As soon as you publish, share your Reel directly to your Instagram Story. This alerts your most loyal followers (the ones who watch your Stories) that you have new content out. Use an interactive sticker like a poll or quiz to drive even more engagement directly from your Story.

Engage with Early Comments

When comments start rolling in, respond to them as quickly as possible. This early activity signals to the algorithm that your content is creating conversation, which can encourage it to push your Reel to a wider audience.

Final Thoughts

Creating popular Reels boils down to a simple formula: grab attention with a strong hook, deliver genuine value or entertainment without wasting time, and make it easy for Instagram to categorize your content with clear captions and hashtags. Consistently applying these strategies is how you turn posting into a predictable system for account growth.

Staying consistent is often the hardest part, especially when you’re juggling short-form content across multiple platforms. That’s why we built our platform to be video-first from the ground up. With Postbase, you can see all your scheduled Reels, TikToks, and Shorts in one single, visual calendar. It helps you stay organized and keep your content pipeline full, so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your audience and can just focus on creating great videos.