For those who make content, Instagram Reels presents a remarkable chance. It’s a great method to accelerate your Instagram success and one of the most popular tools on the app.

With a focus on the same genre of material, short-form video, Reels is a direct rival to TikTok. Recent data shows that while new TikTok influencers see about 18% higher engagement than influencers on other platforms, Reels see 22% more engagement than other Instagram posts.

By focusing just on Reels, some content makers were able to increase their subscriber base by 60K in just six months.

For what reason does this approach prove fruitful?

Reason being: Reels generate 22% more comments than standard posts.

You’ll need to beat Instagram’s Reels algorithm, though, if you want to be successful with Reels. This formula is what determines which posts on the site are shared the most.

Learn the ins and outs of the Instagram Reels algorithm right here!

Instagram’s Reels: How Does the Algorithm Work?

In August of 2020, Instagram introduced a new feature called Reels, where users could share reel-length videos.

Reels was made with the express purpose of competing head-on with TikTok, the dominant video-sharing app that has been particularly successful with the millennial generation.

The feeds of your current followers will be automatically updated as soon as you upload your Reel. However, beyond that, Instagram’s algorithm for its Reels will determine its final destination.

Insta-fams have two primary resources for coming across undiscovered Reels makers. The Instagram Reels Algorithm is responsible for selecting the content for both.

The first is a section of the app called “Reels,” which is Instagram’s answer to the “For You” section of TikTok.

The second is Explore, which provides users with a large selection of Reels in addition to Stories and standard postings.

Whether or whether your work appears in these sections is determined by the Instagram Reels Algorithm. If this is the case, your work will be seen by an entirely new set of eyes.

This algorithm evaluates your newly uploaded Reel based on a wide variety of criteria.

It classifies your material and determines if it will be interesting to others who don’t already follow you. For the simple reason that increasing user interaction is Instagram’s ultimate purpose. This is where the algorithm comes in; it will check your Reel to see whether it will aid in the desired outcome.

The Importance of Reels in Your Instagram Marketing Attempts

Reels is still one of Instagram’s most popular additions two years after it first debuted.

Although Reels has been pushed as a way to compete with TikTok and other platforms like YouTube Shorts, the site is still actively encouraging its use. This presents a tremendous opening for creators to expand their audience.

According to a recent study, Reels’ reach rates are significantly higher than those of any other Instagram content genre. Interestingly, this impact is magnified for younger accounts that are still expanding.

As an illustration, the average reach rate of Reels posted by accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers is 39.5%. More than 10 times as many as standard picture posts (2.4%) and carousel posts (3.5%) combined. Your percentages rise to 30.0%, 3.8%, and 2.5% if your account has between 5,000 and 10,000 followers.

Meta reported in April 2023 that Reels accounted for more than 20% of Instagram users’ total time spent on the app.

Users of Instagram typically view several reels every day, with the Instagram Reels Algorithm determining which ones are shown.

An enjoyable read: Take It in. You need to reel it in. This Is It: The Ultimate Instagram Highlight Reel Guide

What Is Instagram’s Reels Algorithm?

Instagram’s Reels Algorithm operates on multiple levels. Its primary function is to analyse your content and classify which of your intended readers would benefit the most from reading it.

What your clip is about and who could be interested in it are essential pieces of information for it to gather. So, it:

  • Looks at how you’ve labelled things.

  • Performs a thorough analysis of both the visual and audio components of your clips.

  • factoring in the time your Reel was uploaded.

  • considers how a creator’s audience has responded in the past.

First, this aids the system in determining what specific category your content fits within.

This analysis is also important for another reason.

The system also verifies whether or not your material is unique and tailored for Reels. Instagram will delete your account if you submit content that has been reposted from another platform (such TikTok or YouTube Shorts), has poor image quality, or violates the platform’s Community Guidelines.

Because Instagram values timely updates, the Reels algorithm takes into account when a Reel is posted. It’s unlikely that an older Reel (one that is more than a few weeks or months old) will gain widespread popularity.

To maximise the likelihood of positive reception, producers must carefully plan the release of their Reels.

The Instagram Reels algorithm will prioritise posts with high engagement in the future.

The recommendation is powered by user-generated content, thus reels with a decent amount of likes and comments already have a better chance of getting promoted. You will have a better chance of succeeding at Reels if your audience is already invested in your work.

On top of that, the system is far more likely to suggest your Reels to viewers who have interacted with your content before.

However, because of the complexity of the parameters the algorithm considers while deciding which Reels to promote, even inexperienced producers have a fighting chance.