How to level up Your Reels: Best Practices from Instagram’s Hidden Tips

Want to boost your Reels performance and actually see results on Instagram? You’re in the right place!

Instagram quietly dropped a list of Reels Best Practices inside the professional dashboard, but not everyone has access to it!🧐

So, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing them with you right here. No gatekeeping, bestie! 💻📲

These are the exact tips Instagram says will help you grow faster, show up more, and finally feel like your content is making moves.

Let’s get into it 👇🏼

🔢 Quantity counts

According to Instagram, accounts with the most significant growth are creating 10 or more Reels per month. That’s 2-3 Reels a week! If that number feels overwhelming, start with what’s manageable and build up.

🤝 Focus on deeper engagement

It’s not just about views. Getting more likes, comments, and shares per viewer increases your Reel’s visibility. Engage with your audience and give them a reason to talk back to you.

👋🏼 Be relatable

If your viewers say “Omg that’s literally me,” you’re doing something right! Bonus points if you add humor people love sharing content that makes them laugh or feel seen.

📲 Maximize your first few seconds

Hooks. Are. Everything. Use text hooks, visual hooks, and speaking hooks right away to stop the scroll and keep people watching.

🎥 Reel length

Instagram says that Reels between 30–60 seconds tend to get better engagement and reach more people. But don’t panic if yours are shorter or longer. Test different lengths and see what performs best for your audience!

#️⃣ Relevant hashtags

Use trending but relevant hashtags for your reel. Don’t just slap on popular tags make sure they’re connected to your actual content.

🎶 Trending audio

Trending audio plays a huge role in distribution. But remember, not all trending sounds are equal. Choose wisely (and if you’re not sure, check out my Instagram where I share tips on this often!).

🔎 Keep it high-resolution

Clear, high-quality content performs better. If it’s blurry or hard to read, it might get skipped over. That said, don’t let this stop you from being consistent. Do your best and keep showing up!

💬 Reply to comments (within 7 days!)

This is a big one. Engaging with your comments helps generate more engagement and increases reach. Always, always engage with your audience it makes a difference!

💻 Share across platforms

Instagram says sharing your content on IG and other platforms at the same time boosts your visibility. If you’re already posting on Facebook, TikTok, or Pinterest try syncing your posts and see what happens!

🚫 Instagram Don’ts

Instagram also mentioned some content no-nos:

• Avoid reels with watermarks from other apps

• Skip the engagement bait (like “comment YES if…”)

• Don’t take credit for content that’s not yours

• Stay within community guidelines to keep your reach healthy

All of these best practices are helpful, but don’t forget the secret sauce: consistency.

No matter how many tricks or tips you use, if you’re not posting regularly, it’ll be hard to build momentum.

So if you need help staying consistent, planning your reels, or showing up with a strategy that feels right for you…

Join the Brandakin Besties Community!
We’re talking:
✅ Reel planning
✅ Strategy chats
✅ Caption support
✅ Full-blown content packages

Whether you’re DIYing your social media or need a full takeover, I’m here to help you grow in a way that doesn’t burn you out.

Tap here and I’ll send the info your way! 🫶🏼

You’ve got this. Let’s uplevel your Reels together. 💛