How to Increase Instagram Reels Engagement and Get More Views

Instagram Reels have become one of the most effective tools for businesses and content creators looking to increase engagement and expand their reach. With Instagram prioritizing Reels in the algorithm, leveraging them strategically can help you attract more followers, generate interactions, and improve overall content performance.

This guide covers actionable strategies to help you increase Instagram Reels engagement, drive more views, and maximize your results both organically and through paid methods.

What is Reels Engagement?

Instagram Reels engagement refers to the interactions your Reels receive, including:

• Likes – Shows appreciation for your content.
• Comments – Encourages conversations and discussions.
• Shares – Expands reach as users share your Reel.
• Saves – A strong signal to Instagram that your content is valuable.
• Watch Time – The longer users watch, the more Instagram pushes your Reel.
• DMs – Users messaging your account about the content.

Why Reels Engagement Matters: Instagram's algorithm prioritizes content that drives engagement, meaning high-performing Reels will be pushed to more users on the Explore page and Reels feed.

Why is My Instagram Reels Engagement So Low?

If your Reels aren’t getting the engagement they deserve, it could be due to:

• Algorithm Changes – Instagram constantly tweaks its ranking system.
• Wrong Hashtags or Captions – Missing out on high-engagement hashtags.
• Low Engagement Rate – If users aren’t interacting, Instagram assumes the content isn’t valuable.
• Weak Content Strategy – No hook, weak CTA, or unappealing visuals.
• Inconsistent Posting – Irregular posting reduces visibility over time.

Solution: Optimize your Reels strategy by using the right hashtags, creating interactive content, and automating engagement (more on this later!).

How to Increase Reels Engagement

Optimize Your Instagram Reels Content

To create engaging Reels, implement the following best practices:

• Use trending audio and effects to increase visibility
• Keep videos concise, dynamic, and visually appealing
• Add captions to make content accessible and drive engagement
• Open with a strong hook to capture attention within the first three seconds
• End with a clear call-to-action encouraging likes, shares, or comments

Boost Reels Engagement with Hashtags & Captions

Hashtags and captions play a key role in increasing discoverability and interactions.

• Use a combination of trending, niche, and branded hashtags to maximize reach
• Write SEO friendly captions that prompt users to engage, such as asking a question or encouraging them to tag a friend
• Test different caption formats, including short, direct messages and storytelling approaches

Increase Engagement with Interactive Reels

Instagram prioritizes content that encourages active participation. Enhance engagement by:

• Adding polls, Q&A stickers, or quizzes to your Reels
• Creating Reels that encourage users to share their opinions or experiences
• Using storytelling techniques to make content relatable and shareable

By making your Reels interactive, you increase the likelihood of user engagement, which signals Instagram to push your content to a broader audience.

Boosting Instagram Reels Engagement with Paid Strategies

Boosting Instagram Reels can help increase visibility and engagement, especially when paired with a strong organic strategy. While organic reach builds long-term engagement, paid promotions can be used strategically to gain traction on high-performing content.

How to Boost Instagram Reels for Maximum Reach

To optimize the impact of boosted Reels:

• Select a Reel that has already shown strong engagement
• Define a targeted audience based on location, interests, and behaviors
• Set a budget and duration for the promotion
• Analyze performance metrics to refine future campaigns

Using a combination of organic and paid strategies ensures that your Reels reach the right audience while maintaining engagement over time.

‍Measuring and Improving Your Reels Engagement Rate

How to Check Your Reels Engagement Rate

‍To assess the effectiveness of your Reels, calculate the engagement rate using the formula:

‍(Total Engagements / Total Views) x 100

‍Monitoring engagement rates helps identify trends, measure content performance, and refine your strategy based on data-driven insights.‍

Why Engagement Drops and How to Fix It

‍A decline in Reels engagement may be caused by:

• Irregular posting schedule
• Decreased relevance of hashtags
• Changes in audience preferences
• Algorithm shifts affecting reach

To counteract engagement drops, analyze performance insights, experiment with new content formats, and refine your posting strategy based on audience behavior.5

Advanced Tips to Get More Views on Instagram Reels

Post at the Best Time for Maximum Engagement

‍Optimizing posting times can significantly impact engagement. Test different time slots to determine when your audience is most active. Generally, the best times for posting Reels are early mornings and evenings on weekdays, with mid-mornings performing well on weekends.‍

Instagram Reels vs. TikTok: Which Platform Gets More Engagement?

‍Comparing Instagram Reels with TikTok can help refine your content strategy. While TikTok generally offers higher organic reach, Instagram Reels are more effective for engaging with an existing audience and driving conversions. A cross-platform strategy can maximize visibility and engagement‍

‍Automate Responses to Reels Comments

‍Engagement is critical to keeping posts visible, but responding to every comment manually can be time-consuming. With automation tools like Inrō, you can:

• Automatically reply to comments under your Reels, including comment variation and AI re-writings to avoid sounding too robotic
• Set up automated responses to frequently asked questions in Reel comments
• Personalize interactions with predefined responses that maintain brand voice
• Keep conversations going, increasing engagement signals to the Instagram algorithm
• Send an automated DM with a direct product link

Using automation ensures that no potential lead is missed and that engagement remains high without requiring constant manual interaction.

Conclusion

‍Increasing Instagram Reels engagement requires a combination of strategic content creation, hashtag optimization, audience interaction, and automation. By implementing these best practices, businesses and creators can maximize reach, improve engagement rates, and leverage Instagram’s algorithm for long-term visibility. To streamline engagement, tools like Inrō provide an efficient way to automate interactions, track performance, and enhance Reels distribution. By combining organic and automated strategies, you can create a scalable system that keeps engagement high and drives consistent growth.