5 Strategies to Make Your Videos Go Viral on Instagram

by Gabriela Silva Apr 3, 2025 9 min read

How to Go Viral on Instagram? You've probably seen some viral Instagram videos before. If you're in the habit of watching Reels, that number is probably even higher, as it happens frequently there. So, you decide to create a Reel and post it on the social network, but your video doesn't go viral. It seemed easy, right? What went wrong? It may seem simple, but every viral Reel video has a strategy behind it. Sometimes it's the type of content itself, as in the case of more spontaneous videos, made with little or no planning. Of course, investing in strategies like buying views for Instagram Reels helps a lot, but that's the only factor responsible for the success of viral videos. So, if you want to discover how to go viral on Instagram Reels, this text is for you! Keep reading and check out 5 strategies to make your videos go viral and start today!

Understand what's best about Instagram Reels.

Before we present strategies for making your videos go viral on Instagram , it's important to better understand what Reels are. This is actually part of a successful strategy for generating engagement on Instagram , since posting a Reel with the wrong settings can ruin your video, no matter how interesting the content is. A Reel video is short content, with a maximum duration of 3 minutes. These videos are presented in vertical format, in a 9:16 aspect ratio, where it's possible to use music, images, and voice. Despite their popularity, Reels are relatively new to Instagram and were created to compete with TikTok videos , which have experienced very rapid growth since their emergence in Brazil. So, first of all, consider that your video should be in vertical format and be good content for up to 3 minutes of viewing time. Because, despite being short videos, it's very easy for Instagram users to skip your content in less than 3 seconds, and in these cases, you don't get any views, which is essential for going viral on Instagram Reels. Having trouble growing on Instagram? Try buying real Instagram followers and expand your profile's reach. It's fast, safe, and affordable!

How to go viral on Instagram? 5 strategies for creating viral videos.

Some Instagram Reels simply explode and reach millions of people, while others fail to break through the thousands mark, if they even reach that milestone. The truth is that going viral on Instagram isn't luck; it's a matter of proper planning, the effective use of mental and psychological triggers, content creation patterns, and knowledge of your target audience's preferences. With that in mind, we've compiled 5 strategies below to make your Instagram Reels videos go viral, which are easy to implement and even a beginner can benefit from!

1. Understand the pain points of your target audience well.

To go viral on Instagram Reels, it's not enough to create a video you find funny, or even a complete piece of content that you've researched thoroughly. You need to understand the pain points of your target audience to identify the mental and psychological triggers that will keep users interested in your video for as long as possible. People aren't interested in how much work went into making that video, or whether the content creator finds it funny. Some users might care about that, but they are few. What people are looking for is content that aligns with their interests, content they can personally identify with. To achieve this, it's important to understand:

Who are the people you want to reach with the video?
What motivates this audience?
What types of content most emotionally engage your audience?
What problems does your target audience want to solve?
What is it that your audience absolutely cannot tolerate?

For example, if your audience is university students, well-planned, dynamic, and fun content on topics like exam week, college professors, lack of time to study, or the day-to-day life of university students are certainly good bets. But you can also focus on discussing topics that generate outrage among your audience, because people usually love to express their opinions about what they dislike. For example, if your audience is very conservative in customs and habits, you can discuss topics related to the liberalization of social customs in younger generations to generate active participation from your audience. Now, be careful: this type of strategy needs to be well-executed; otherwise, the audience may lose interest in your content, and you won't go viral on Instagram that way. A good way to engage while maintaining interest is to ask a question like "Do you agree with this?" or "What do you think about what's happening now?" Then, present the topic and let the audience respond. Also read: step-by-step guide on how to change your Instagram password . One of the easiest strategies for engagement is to follow Reels and discover what types of videos are trending at the moment. By producing similar content, as long as it's well-made, your chances of going viral on Instagram are very high. For example, at a certain time humor and entertainment videos might be popular, at another it might be tutorials or lists, and so on. Remember that Instagram is a social network where people like to spend time having fun, but that doesn't mean you can't go viral with more serious content. People also like to learn on Instagram, receive tips and news updates. Another important point is to always use trending music on Instagram to complement the content. Audio is very important for the Reels video strategy, as it engages the audience with your content and promotes greater identification of the target audience with your post. In fact, the popularity of the video's music itself can make the user stay watching for precious extra seconds, just to enjoy the sound. In this case, opt for audio that, in addition to being popular, matches the video's content . Users evaluate in seconds whether the music fits the post or not, whether it hinders understanding the video's content or not. And they may skip your reel if it's confusing or has music that interferes with the overall comprehension of the post's content.

3. Use the right captions to go viral on Instagram.

Although audio is very important, research conducted by Verizon Media and Publicis Media indicates that 92% of users watch videos with sound . However, to go viral on Instagram even without audio, these videos need some extra appeal to motivate complete viewing, and that appeal is precisely an assertive caption, well-positioned in the video. This way, you allow users who watch content in mute mode to understand what's happening in your video. The same applies to people with hearing impairments, who can benefit from your post in the same way as a user without this condition, having fun, learning, and perhaps interacting with your video through likes and comments. But don't forget that your captions must follow a quality standard that the Instagram algorithm requires, being legible, well-positioned, and clear to go viral on Instagram. Another important point is your audience's preferences. So, it can be useful to conduct a poll, for example, to find out how your viewers prefer captions. Important tip: your captions shouldn't cover the video content or make it difficult to watch. They should be well-positioned, use a legible Instagram font , and be the right size to be read without interfering with the reel's visual content. Posting videos downloaded from other social media platforms on Instagram is a common practice. For example, many TikTok users first post on TikTok and then download the video to post it on Instagram and other social media platforms. There's nothing wrong with doing this, as long as you remove the watermark. After all, Instagram itself has revealed to its users that one of the secrets to going viral on Instagram is not posting content with watermarks from other networks. Ideally, post videos without any kind of tagging from other apps. The platform's algorithm identifies when you post content with this type of tagging and displays your video with lower priority among the thousands of reels posted daily. To remove the watermark, you can use a video editor; there are several apps you can download or even online options like Online Video Cutter . If you don't know how to remove it, it's worth taking the time to learn, as this is a key factor in going viral on Instagram.

5. Invest in quality images and choose the right times to post.

Even though Reels are short videos, nobody likes watching a video with poor image quality, as this makes it difficult to understand and view the content . Recording with quality image and sound may not seem like much, but it's already a differentiator that sets your content apart from hundreds of other Reels videos that aren't made with this care. You don't need to invest in a super visual production, but you need to maintain minimum standards of quality and readability, allowing the message to be understood clearly. But, of course, if you have the resources and time to invest in a video with better production, do it! Because it will greatly help your video go viral on Instagram, especially if it's creative content. And we can't forget that there are best times to post on Instagram , a detail that can make a big difference in your success. Some times generate more engagement and views than others, and the first few hours after publication are crucial for any Reels video to go viral on Instagram. So, don't rush after creating your content. Decide carefully what time you will post, as this will make a big difference in your results for going viral on Instagram! Would you like to download videos, audios, and images from Instagram, but don't know how? Discover our essential Instagram download tools and get started today!

Post frequently to go viral on Instagram.

Going viral on Instagram with your very first video is difficult. Of course, some lucky ones achieve this feat, but the truth is that most videos that go viral on the social network are the result of continuous work and improvement by their creators, who don't give up and try something different with each new video until they get it right. Posting frequently on Instagram Reels allows you to gain valuable insights, learning in practice what your target audience's preferences are, what type of video format works best, and what mistakes need to be corrected for future content. As a result, with each new video you publish, your content will be more effective, attracting even more attention. By posting regularly, you have yet another advantage: the Instagram algorithm starts paying more attention to you, understanding your profile as an active content creator, and therefore, begins to recommend your video more frequently to other users, not only in Reels, but even in the Instagram feed. That's it! We've reached the end of this article! Did you like the strategies for making your videos go viral on Instagram? Leave your comment, we'd love to know your opinion and how our content helps you grow on Instagram! Thank you for your time!