Pivot Your Instagram Reels Strategy for maximum growth
Over the past few weeks, I’ve completely shifted my Instagram Reels strategy. Instagram just announced that they’ll NOW be recommending longer reels on the explore feed- something they did NOT do in the past.
Why the change?
Because Insta has realized people connect more with realness than perfection. They don’t need polished—they need practical, actionable advice from someone they trust.
Instead of relying on trending audio or flashy edits, I’ve leaned into—just me, looking directly into the camera, sharing valuable information in the most raw and authentic way possible. *(specific examples linked down below for you)*
No background music. No over-the-top effects. Sometimes not even makeup. Just me, speaking to my audience and getting straight to the point.
And guess what? It’s working. My views AND engagement have increased, and I’m building a deeper connection with my audience. Here’s a screenshot of my analytics after a week of flipping my own strategy.
If you’re considering this strategy, let me show you exactly how to make it work for you.
I explain this in more detail on my recent podcast episode: How to INCREASE your visibility in January:
4 tips to make long-form video work for you too:
1. Nail Your Hook (First 3 Seconds)
Grab attention immediately with a strong opening line.
Examples:
“Here’s what nobody tells you about [topic].”
“If you’re struggling with [problem], listen up!”
“Stop making this mistake on [platform/topic]!”
2. Keep It Focused
Address one specific problem or question per Reel.
Aim for 30–60 seconds. If it’s longer, consider breaking it into parts.
3. Optimize for Captions
Add on-screen text or captions since many people watch without sound.
Highlight key points with bold text or bullet points.
I’ve got a dedicated podcast episode on CAPTION AESTHETICS you can listen to here
4. ADD A STRONG CTA AT THE END
At the end of my Reel I make sure to have a strong CTA that drives more traffic.
Example: I made you take action by telling you to comment a specific word on my Reel that then sent you this document.
I then set that keyword up in ManyChat using DM automation to drive more engagement on my Reel. The more people comment, the more the algorithm thinks “hey her videos are gaining traction, let me keep showing this to more people”
The original Reel where I tested all of this, gained 30k views in the first couple of hours.
[ ManyChat is free up until you have a certain amount of followers, and then it starts charging you.. But it’s TOTALLY worth the investment because I get a LOT more traction when I don’t tell them to just ViSiT mY lINK in bIo (those days are dead yall, ain’t nobody going to click off your reel, click on your page, then go to your link in bio, then search through said link in bio– too much work for us these days)]
Example Reels:
EXAMPLE 1: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDFQuFOp0dt/
EXAMPLE 2: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDMpJczxKXg/
EXAMPLE 3: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDVmp6lJubQ/
Want to level up your instagram game with weekly Reels prompts sent straight to your email? Join club enfluence! For only $12 to get started, we’ll send you 3-4 weekly Reels to record, audio options, captions + a library of Canva templates!
P.S If you’re into podcasts and would rather listen to me explaining instagram growth tips verbally, you can check out Episode 44: Instagram Growth Strategies and Engagement Hacks: HERE
