How to get a lot of views on Instagram now?

This article has been written by our Instagram expert who will tell you what are the most efficient strategies in your niche

What content format gets prioritized by Instagram's algorithm right now?

Reels dominate Instagram's algorithm in 2025, achieving significantly higher reach rates than any other content format.

Current data shows Reels receive approximately 30% average reach rates, while carousels achieve 14% and Stories maintain 13% reach rates. This represents a clear algorithmic preference for short-form video content that keeps users engaged on the platform longer.

Carousels still provide value, particularly for larger accounts and content designed to encourage saves, but they serve more as supporting content rather than primary growth drivers. Photos perform the weakest for organic reach, though they can work well for brand consistency and aesthetic maintenance.

The algorithm specifically rewards Reels that generate high completion rates, replays, and watch time. This means your Reel strategy should focus on creating content that viewers want to watch multiple times or share with others.

If you're struggling to identify what content works in your niche, we can help you figure it out.

How often should you post to maximize reach and engagement?

Strategic posting frequency varies by content type, with consistency being more important than overwhelming your audience with daily posts.

For feed posts, aim for 3-5 posts per week rather than daily posting, which can actually hurt engagement rates if your content quality isn't consistently high. This frequency allows you to maintain visibility without saturating your audience's feeds.

Stories require a different approach - post multiple times daily in series or batches to maintain top-of-feed placement among your followers. The algorithm rewards active Story creators with better visibility, and since Stories disappear after 24 hours, frequent posting doesn't create feed clutter.

Reels should be posted 3-4 times per week minimum, with daily posting being optimal for rapid growth phases. However, quality remains crucial - posting mediocre Reels daily will harm your account more than posting exceptional Reels 3 times per week.

Monitor your analytics closely, as optimal frequency can vary significantly based on your audience's engagement patterns and your niche's content consumption habits.

What's the ideal Reel length for maximum watch time in 2025?

60 seconds represents the current sweet spot for Reel length, balancing comprehensive content delivery with optimal algorithmic performance.

Reels around 60 seconds consistently achieve the highest view counts and engagement rates, while content up to 2 minutes may generate more comments and shares but often experiences reduced distribution. Anything exceeding 90 seconds typically sees significant algorithmic penalties.

For maximizing replays and completion rates, shorter 20-30 second Reels perform exceptionally well. These brief videos encourage multiple views and complete watch-throughs, both crucial signals for algorithmic boost.

The first 2-3 seconds remain critical regardless of total length - viewers decide whether to continue watching almost immediately. Your hook must be compelling enough to retain attention through those crucial opening moments.

Consider your content type when choosing length: tutorials and educational content perform well at 60 seconds, while entertainment and trend-based content often works better at 15-30 seconds.

What are the top ranking signals for Instagram's Explore page and Feed?

Ranking Signal	Feed Impact	Explore Page Impact
Watch Time/Dwell Time	Primary factor - time users spend viewing your content	Critical metric - requires 95%+ completion rates for viral potential
Engagement Actions	Likes, comments, saves in order of importance	Shares and saves weighted heavily, followed by likes
Profile Interactions	Profile visits and follows after viewing content	Profile clicks and subsequent follows crucial for discovery
Content Freshness	Recent posts get initial boost in followers' feeds	Trending topics and current events prioritized
Relationship Signals	Previous interactions with creator heavily weighted	Less important - focuses on content popularity
Share Velocity	Rate of shares and sends via DMs	Rapid sharing indicates viral potential
Content Relevance	Alignment with user's past engagement patterns	Topical relevance to trending subjects

Which hashtag strategies work best and how many should you use?

The optimal hashtag approach in 2025 combines 5-10 carefully selected tags that mix broad reach potential with niche specificity.

Using the maximum 30 hashtags now appears spammy to the algorithm and can actually reduce your content's reach. The platform has shifted toward rewarding relevance and quality over quantity in hashtag selection.

Your hashtag mix should include 2-3 broad, popular tags in your category, 3-4 medium-sized community hashtags, and 2-3 highly specific niche tags. This strategy maximizes discoverability across different audience segments while maintaining content relevance.

Placement flexibility exists - hashtags work equally well in captions and first comments. However, ensure your chosen tags genuinely relate to your content rather than simply chasing popular hashtags that don't match your post's theme.

Research hashtags by checking their recent posts and engagement levels. Avoid tags that are oversaturated with spam content or completely inactive, as these won't contribute to your discoverability.

When should you post for maximum visibility in 2025?

Weekdays between 10am-4pm consistently deliver the highest engagement rates, with early afternoon (around 3pm) representing peak performance windows.

Monday through Thursday maintain the strongest engagement patterns, while Friday engagement typically drops as users shift toward weekend activities. Weekend posting works best on Saturday from 9am-4pm, with Sunday morning (10am-12pm) showing moderate success.

Avoid late evening posts (after 8pm) and Sunday evenings entirely, as these time slots consistently underperform across most niches. The algorithm appears to prioritize content posted during active user hours for initial distribution boosts.

However, your specific audience may differ from general patterns. Monitor your Instagram analytics to identify when your followers are most active, and test different posting times to find your optimal windows.

Not sure why your posts aren't converting? Let us take a look for you.

How much do comment and DM responses affect your reach and growth?

Responding to comments and DMs has become equally important as content quality for algorithmic success and follower growth.

Instagram DMs now achieve up to 90% open rates and 60% reply rates, making them one of the most effective engagement channels on the platform. Active DM engagement signals to the algorithm that you're building genuine relationships, which boosts your content's reach.

Prompt comment responses within the first 2 hours of posting significantly impact your content's initial algorithmic boost. The platform interprets quick, meaningful responses as indicators of high-quality, engaging content worth showing to more users.

Beyond algorithmic benefits, consistent engagement responses build stronger follower relationships, leading to higher retention rates and more enthusiastic content sharing. This creates a positive feedback loop that compounds your growth over time.

Aim to respond to every comment and DM when possible, especially during your content's first few hours when algorithmic decisions are being made about distribution reach.

What's the best way to hook viewers in the first 3 seconds of a Reel?

Your opening 3 seconds must combine visual impact with compelling copy to stop users from scrolling past your content.

Start with high-contrast visuals, dynamic movement, or unexpected imagery that immediately captures attention. Bold text overlays with intriguing questions or surprising statements work particularly well for stopping the scroll.

Pose questions that spark curiosity ("This mistake costs creators 50% of their followers"), tease valuable information ("The Instagram feature 90% of people ignore"), or make bold claims that viewers want to verify ("This growth hack tripled my followers in 30 days").

Edit rapidly with cuts every 1.5-2 seconds to maintain high energy and visual interest. Quick transitions prevent viewer attention from wandering and increase the likelihood of complete video consumption.

Always include captions or subtitles, as 80% of users watch videos with sound off. Clear, readable text ensures your hook reaches viewers regardless of their audio settings.

How effective are collaboration posts for growth and how do you optimize them?

Collaboration posts can deliver up to 3.8x higher reach when executed strategically with 4-5 aligned partners.

While collab posts represent only about 1% of total posts on the platform, they drive disproportionate growth when both parties have genuinely engaged audiences and complementary content styles. The key lies in partner selection rather than simply pursuing accounts with large followings.

Optimize collaborations by choosing creators whose audiences would genuinely find value in your content. Analyze potential partners' engagement rates, comment quality, and audience demographics before proposing collaboration opportunities.

Successful collabs require unified visual themes and shared values rather than just mutual promotion. Create content that provides value to both audiences rather than obvious cross-promotion that users tend to ignore.

If you feel like your content isn't getting enough engagement, we can help improve that.

Should you use trending audio or create original audio in 2025?

Trending audio still provides significant algorithmic advantages for discoverability, but combining it with original elements creates the strongest performance.

Instagram's algorithm continues to prioritize content using popular sounds, especially for Reels and Stories. Trending audio gives your content access to users browsing that specific audio trend, expanding your reach beyond your existing followers.

However, original audio helps establish brand recognition and authenticity, particularly important for building long-term follower relationships. The most successful approach involves using trending audio as a foundation while adding your unique voice-over, commentary, or twist.

Monitor trending audio closely and act quickly when you identify sounds that align with your content style. Audio trends have shorter lifecycles than other content trends, making timing crucial for maximum impact.

When using trending audio, ensure it genuinely fits your content rather than forcing compatibility. Mismatched audio-visual combinations confuse viewers and reduce engagement rates.

How often should you post Stories and which features increase reach most?

Daily Story posting with multiple posts per day maximizes your placement at the top of followers' Story feeds.

Post Stories in series or batches throughout the day rather than single isolated posts. This strategy maintains consistent visibility and encourages viewers to watch multiple Story segments, increasing your total watch time metrics.

Interactive stickers generate the highest engagement and algorithmic rewards. Polls, questions, and quiz stickers drive direct engagement while encouraging DM responses, both crucial for reach optimization.

Stories that generate DM responses receive significant algorithmic boosts, as these indicate high-quality, engaging content that builds genuine connections. Design your Stories to encourage responses through questions, polls, or conversation starters.

Use Story highlights strategically to extend valuable content lifespan and provide new followers with easy access to your best Story content. Well-organized highlights can serve as mini-tutorials or showcases that help convert profile visitors into followers.

What growth metrics should you expect per 10,000 views and what's predicted for 2026?

Current engagement benchmarks indicate you should expect 50-120 engagements per 10,000 views, translating to 0.5-1.2% engagement rates across all content types.

Reels and carousels can exceed 2% engagement rates for highly compelling content, while standard posts typically maintain the lower end of this range. Accounts with 10K-50K followers generally see 2,400-2,500 impressions per Reel, while smaller accounts (5K-10K) average 1,000-1,100 impressions.

Growth rate expectations vary by account size: small accounts (1K-5K followers) can achieve up to 38% annual growth, while mid-size accounts (10K-50K) typically see around 34% growth when implementing consistent, strategic content approaches.

2026 predictions indicate continued shifts toward private engagement through DMs, saves, and shares rather than public likes and comments. The algorithm will likely prioritize authentic connections and user-generated content while incorporating more AI-driven content curation.

Micro-influencers and authenticity-focused content will become increasingly important as users seek genuine connections over polished, commercial content. Prepare for these changes by building real relationships with your audience now.

Conclusion

When in doubt about what to post, we've got your back.

Sources

1. Catarina Mello - The Future of Instagram
2. Trimark Digital - Instagram's Algorithm in 2025
3. Reddit - Instagram Algorithm 2025 Breakdown
4. Wolfpack Advising - Trending Audio on Instagram
5. PopularPays - Instagram Engagement Rates 2025
6. Social Pilot - Instagram Trends Report
7. NapoleonCat - Instagram Stories Posting Frequency
8. Social Insider - Instagram Reels Length
9. UpGrow - Instagram Reel Hooks
10. Gyre Pro - Instagram Algorithm Updates

Who is the author of this content?

NAPOLIFY

A team specialized in data-driven growth strategies for social media

We offer data-driven, battle-tested approach to growing online profiles, especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Unlike traditional agencies or consultants who often recycle generic advice,we go on the field and we keep analyzing real-world social content—breaking down hundreds of viral posts to identify what formats, hooks, and strategies actually drive engagement, conversions, and growth. If you'd like to learn more about us, you can check our website.

How this content was created 🔎📝

At Napolify, we analyze social media trends and viral content every day. Our team doesn't just observe from a distance—we're actively studying platform-specific patterns, breaking down viral posts, and maintaining a constantly updated database of trends, tactics, and strategies. This hands-on approach allows us to understand what actually drives engagement and growth.

These observations are originally based on what we've learned through analyzing hundreds of viral posts and real-world performance data. But it was not enough. To back them up, we also needed to rely on trusted resources and case studies from major brands.

We prioritize accuracy and authority. Trends lacking solid data or performance metrics were excluded.

Trustworthiness is central to our work. Every source and citation is clearly listed, ensuring transparency. A writing AI-powered tool was used solely to refine readability and engagement.

To make the information accessible, our team designed custom infographics that clarify key points. We hope you will like them! All illustrations and media were created in-house and added manually.