This one Pivot Exploded My Reels Views to 1 Million+
Instagram Reels Strategy: Why Talking Head Videos Are Outperforming Trending Audio in 2025
Over the past few months, I’ve completely overhauled my Instagram Reels strategy—and the results speak for themselves. With Instagram’s latest update prioritizing long-form Reels on the Explore page, it’s clear the platform is shifting toward content that’s more real and relatable.
So what’s working now? Talking head videos.
Instead of chasing every trending audio or relying on fancy transitions, I’ve been showing up as me—raw, unfiltered, and straight to the point. These talking head Reels feature no background music, no high production value, and sometimes, not even makeup. Just honest, valuable advice delivered face-to-camera.
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Why this works:
Instagram is rewarding authenticity and longer watch times.
Viewers are craving practical, actionable content they can trust.
Talking head Reels increase both engagement and connection.
In fact, since shifting to this minimalist Reels approach, my views and engagement have consistently gone up.
Check out the screenshot below from just one week after implementing this new Reels strategy.
Want examples? I’ve linked a few of my top-performing talking head videos below so you can see exactly what’s working right now on Instagram.
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: we’ll send you 3-4 weekly Reels to record, audio options, captions + a library of Canva templates! We’ve got everything you need to grow on instagram, inside of this membership- you’ll also get access to me and my team of social media experts!
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
