In one week's time, Reels handed me 6,000 new followers solely based on reach. Here are some commonalities based on the videos that have done well.
1. Hacks // Everyone wants to make life a little easier, and quick hacks that can be easily replicated have done especially well. I find that recording your hack in action with a voiceover is the best way to deliver content, like in this Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Hack Reel.
2. Content Strategy // I don't use my personal Instagram page, @daniellegervino, to talk a lot of strategy. However interestingly enough, strategy-focused Reels have also been a category that has brought in a lot of views. Use text boxes to deliver quick tips like in this How to Increase Your Instagram Story Views Reel. Think short, sweet and valuable.
3. Tutorials // I've only experimented with one tutorial-based Reel, but know that this type of content does well on TikTok. This can also fall into the Hacks/Content Strategy categories. Teaching someone something that they didn't already know and can utilize on their own is invaluable. Instagram Story tutorials like How to Add Custom Fonts to Your Stories Reel seem to be the sweet spot.
4. Clear Cover Pages // When recording your Reel, remember to snap a still photo to use for your cover! Create a title for your cover that's clear, easy to read, and centered so it's viewable as a still image if posting to your feed (titles that sit too high or too low will not be visible on your feed).
5. Hashtags // One of my favorite things about Reels is the ability to consistently land at the top of hashtag pages. Instagram has dedicated one slot at the top of every hashtag page to Reels. The best part? Hashtag pages are not yet saturated with Reel content, therefore your hashtagged Reels have a much higher chance of being seen.
For example, one of my Reels had a 2 week run as the top featured reel in the #bloggingtips category, because my Reel was one of the few Reels that contained the #bloggingtips hashtag at the time.