How to Crack the Instagram Reels Algorithm to Increase Engagement and Reach
Struggling to get your Instagram Reels seen?
With the ever-changing Instagram Reels algorithm, cracking the code to boost engagement in 2025 is more challenging than ever.
But don’t worry—by understanding how the algorithm works, you can optimize your Instagram Reels strategy and take your Instagram marketing to the next level.
Here’s how.
Key takeaways
- Optimize for 2 types of reach: connected reach (accounts that follow your brand) and unconntected reach (accounts that don't follow your brand yet)
- Watch time is king: high retention matters more than views; short, engaging Reels (7-15 sec) perform best
- Use data to refine strategy: track likes and shares to identify what works and continuously optimize content
How does the Instagram algorithm work for Reels?
As the Instagram algorithm for Reels is continuously evolving, its main focus remains unchanged: how people engage with content.
The new Instagram algorithm categorizes reach into two distinct types, each playing a crucial role in how your Reels perform:
- Connected reach – this includes people who already follow you.
- Unconnected reach – these are users who don’t follow you yet.
According to Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, there are three key Instagram metrics now that shape how Reels are ranked and distributed:
- Watch time – The longer people watch, the better your Reel performs. A high retention rate signals value, making strong hooks and pacing essential.
- Likes per reach – If a high percentage of viewers like your content, Instagram is more likely to show it to more of your existing audience.
- Sends per reach – When a Reel gets shared via DMs, it signals high value and increases its chances of being recommended to new audiences.
💡 Pro tip: If you want a clearer overview of how your Reels work, top social media analytics tools like Socialinsider can help by tracking watch time, likes, and shares—all in one place. This makes it easier to refine your video marketing strategy and maximize reach.
Instagram Reels ranking factors & best practices
To make your Reels stand out, you need to play by Instagram’s rules—and better yet, master them.
The current Instagram algorithm for Reels prioritizes content that keeps users engaged, entertained, and coming back for more.
So, what does that mean for your social media strategy?
It means that whether you're looking to boost reach, increase social media engagement on Reels, or stay ahead of trends, knowing the ranking factors and social media best practices can make all the difference.
Here’s how to crack the code and optimize your Reels for success.
#1. Pay attention to watch time
The Instagram Reels' latest algorithm update involves taking into account watch time as a key factor in determining a video’s reach.
Instagram favors videos that keep viewers engaged until the very end, meaning shorter content (typically 7-15 seconds) tends to perform better.
To maximize visibility, brands and creators should focus on keeping their content concise, engaging, and packed with value from the first second.
With Instagram Reels' length playing a crucial role, optimizing videos for completion rates can significantly boost performance and help crack the Instagram algorithm.
#2. Analyze engagement signals such as likes and shares
Instagram's Reels algorithm thrives on engagement— with likes and shares being the strongest ranking signals. The more social media interactions your Reel receives, the more likely it is to be pushed to a broader audience.
While Reels views are important, engagement signals tell Instagram that people are actively enjoying and interacting with your content—not just scrolling past.
As seen in the Reels analysis dashboard, strong viewership alone isn’t enough to drive maximum reach if engagement remains low.
To truly hack the algorithm, encourage interactions by using compelling captions, posing questions, leveraging trends, or creating share-worthy moments that make viewers want to react and spread your content.
#3. Use trending audio & sounds
Using Instagram trending audio is a strategic way to boost your Reels’ visibility and reach.
Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content that aligns with ongoing trends because it signals engagement potential—meaning, if a sound is gaining traction, the platform is more likely to push videos using it to a wider audience.
This happens because users are already interacting with that sound, whether by watching, liking, or creating their own Reels with it.
To identify trending sounds before they peak, use Instagram’s Reels Trends feature, which highlights rising audios and popular clips.
TikTok’s Trending Sounds tab can also be a useful predictor, as many audio trends start there before making their way to Instagram.
Another effective method is to actively monitor creators in your niche—if you notice multiple influencers using the same sound within a short time frame, it’s likely on the rise.
Staying ahead of audio trends ensures that your content feels fresh, engages more users, and gets a natural algorithmic boost for better discoverability.
#4. Use high-resolution videos
Instagram Reels algorithm change, but one thing is for sure—quality content always wins.
Blurry, low-resolution videos get deprioritized, while crisp, high-definition visuals are favored in recommendations.
Instagram experts have confirmed that clear, engaging content has a better chance of being pushed to a wider audience.
So, if your video looks polished, people are more likely to stop, watch, and interact—signaling to the algorithm that it’s worth promoting.
To maximize reach, always upload in the highest resolution possible, use proper lighting, and ensure smooth editing.
#5. Make sure your content is original
One of the biggest social media marketing challenges is staying original in a sea of trends and ever-changing algorithms.
That’s why you need to try to find your own voice and create content that feels authentic to your brand.
But this doesn’t mean you should ignore trends altogether—but rather adapt them in a way that makes sense for your style and audience.
Whether it’s adding a unique twist to a trending challenge, incorporating your brand’s humor, or using a signature editing style, originality within trends helps you stay relevant while standing out.
The more you refine your approach, the more recognizable—and memorable—your content becomes.
#6. Remember: NO TikTok watermarks
When it comes to social media video tips, one of the most important things to remember is that platforms prioritize native content.
If you want to maximize the Instagram Reels algorithm, avoid reposting videos with TikTok watermarks, for example.
Instagram has made it clear that watermarked content from other platforms gets deprioritized, meaning your reach and engagement could take a hit.
Instead, create videos directly in Instagram’s editor or use external editing tools before uploading.
This ensures your content looks polished and platform-friendly.
#7. Be consistent
If you're still wondering how Instagram Reels work, remember one key factor in cracking the code is consistency.
According to our recent study on social media benchmarks, brands post an average of six Reels per month, proving that regular content keeps you in the algorithm’s favor.
Posting frequently signals to Instagram that you’re an active creator, increasing the chances of your Reels being pushed to more users.
However, maintaining quality and engagement is just as important.
A steady posting schedule helps build audience anticipation, keeps your content top-of-mind, and improves overall reach.
#8. Stick to a clearly defined niche
Sticking to a clearly defined niche is crucial for achieving growth and success on Instagram—especially when it comes to Reels.
By focusing on a specific topic or theme, you establish an identity.
And by consistently creating content within a well-defined niche, the algorithm recognizes your expertise and recommends your channel to users who have shown an interest in that particular topic.
One way to maintain consistency is by defining your content pillars for social media —core themes that shape your posts and keep your messaging aligned.
These pillars ensure that your content stays relevant, engaging, and valuable while reinforcing your niche.
This, of course, increases your visibility and Instagram reach, ultimately leading to higher engagement and follower growth.
#9. Use storytelling to create relatable and insightful Reels
Another great way to boost engagement on Reels is by making them feel relatable and insightful.
And there’s no better way to do that than through storytelling.
People connect with narratives because they provide value beyond just visuals; a well-crafted story draws viewers in, making them more likely to watch till the end, engage, and share.
Whether it’s a funny everyday struggle, an inspiring transformation, or a behind-the-scenes moment, storytelling provides value by entertaining, educating, or sparking an emotional connection—keeping people hooked.
Beyond engagement, storytelling is also a great tool for improving Instagram SEO.
When you naturally incorporate relevant keywords in captions, text overlays, and voiceovers, your content becomes more searchable.
People looking for specific topics, trends, or interests are more likely to discover your Reels if they align with their searches.
#10. Use in-app creative tools
If you're stuck on Reels ideas, remember Instagram’s creative tools can help get the ideas flowing and boost how the algorithm sees your content.
Being a visually-driven social network, Instagram encourages innovative and aesthetically captivating content.
And capitalizing on the platform's capabilities—such as text overlays, camera effects, and filters—sends positive signals to the algorithm, rewarding your content with improved visibility, and pushing it up in users' feeds, the Explore page, and the dedicated Reels tab.
Moreover, each effect or filter you use makes your content more discoverable to users who enjoy similar styles, as they can click on the effect or filter used and find more content (including yours) using the same.
So, go ahead, and unleash your creativity with Instagram's range of tools to create show-stopping Reels.
#11. Leverage trial Reels
How does the Instagram Reels algorithm work?
Every social media strategist knows it’s all about experimentation—and trial Reels make testing content easier than ever.
These let you share videos exclusively with non-followers first, giving you a chance to test engagement before deciding whether to share them with your audience.
If a Reel performs well, you can confidently add it to your profile without overwhelming your followers with too much content.
#12. Create a data-backed Reels strategy
Monitoring your Reels’ performance is non-negotiable if you want to maximize reach and engagement on Instagram, and Socialinsider offers the data-driven insights to help you do just that.
By tracking critical performance social media analytics—including views, reach, impressions, watch time, and engagement rate—you can move beyond guesswork and understand exactly what makes your content click with your audience.
Instead of simply relying on vanity metrics, Socialinsider’s advanced sorting and filtering tools (as shown below) allow you to analyze performance at a granular level, ranking posts based on views, engagement, and other impact-driven indicators.
But the real power lies in identifying content pillars that consistently perform well.
By analyzing recurring themes, formats, and messaging styles that generate the most traction, you can refine your strategy, ensuring every Reel is backed by data rather than trends alone.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, winning on Instagram Reels isn’t about luck—it’s about precision.
The algorithm rewards those who understand its mechanics: engaging both followers and strangers, keeping eyes glued to the screen, and using cold, hard data to outshine the competition.
Remember: the brands who thrive aren’t just posting—they’re strategizing, adapting, and staying ten steps ahead.
Ready to be one of them?