Imagine this: Just a few weeks ago, your Instagram Reels were getting 100K, 300K, and even 500K views. Every time you hit post; the numbers skyrocketed. But now? 2,000. Maybe 5,000 on a good day. You might be wondering, “What suddenly happened to my views?” Did Instagram change its algorithm? Did your audience lose interest overnight? Or are your Reels just not reaching the right people? There can be a lot of reasons behind this.
If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. Many creators and brands struggle with this problem, but that’s not the end of your reach. You need to understand the root cause, fix the issue, and bounce back even stronger. In this blog, we will share the key reasons why your Instagram reels views are dropping and how to fix it. Following the right strategies can help you boost your reach and regain those numbers.
The Algorithm Has Changed
Instagram algorithms change from time to time. One of the most common reasons behind dropping your reel views can be a change in algorithm. If your content does not align with updates, Instagram may not push your reels much, leading to decreased reach and views. For example, Instagram now prioritizes original content over reposted content from other platforms.
How to Fix it?
- Stay updated on Instagram algorithms and adjust your content accordingly.
- Follow social media pages and Instagram’s official blog to stay aware of updates and changes.
- Experiment with reel content and posting times to see what works best for you.
Posting Irrelevant or Boring Reels
The most important aspect of gaining views and engagement is high-quality and relevant content. If your reel lacks creativity and value, is poorly edited, or is copy-paste content from some other platform, it may not get good views. For example, if you copy content directly from some website without adding some unique information, it may be useless for the audience, and they may scroll down.
How to Fix it?
- Create original, high-quality, and engaging content that resonates and offers value.
- Ensure the visuals of your content are bright and of high quality.
- The content should fulfill its purpose, whether it’s funny, educational, relatable, or inspirational.
- Stay updated with trends and use them while adding your own twist.
Your Video Quality is Low
In today’s highly competitive space, where many creators use DSLR cameras to shoot Reels, quality is extremely important. Posting blurry, dark, or low-resolution videos can hurt your reach, as Instagram’s algorithm does not promote such content. They favor high-quality, visually appealing videos only. In the initial phase, you can buy Instagram views to fuel your reach and maximize visibility and engagement.
How to Fix it?
- Upload high-quality content (1080+).
- Use good lighting like natural sunlight or ring light.
- Ensure the reels have a good sound.
- Make sure videos don’t have absurd filters or are cropped awkwardly.
- Edit the videos properly for a more refined look.
Not Hooking Viewers in the First Few Seconds
Capturing attention in the first 3 seconds is extremely important to hook the viewers till the end. Instagram prioritizes content that holds attention, so if your Reel doesn’t grab interest right away, viewers will scroll past. This signals low-quality or irrelevant content that doesn’t engage the audience, making it less likely for Instagram to promote.
How to Fix it?
- Use an intriguing hook in the first three seconds. It can be a bold statement, an engaging question, a fascinating fact, an important statistic, or anything that draws people in.
- Make sure that the hook relates to the content of the reel.
Inconsistent Posting Schedule
Instagram algorithms prioritize accounts that post consistently and showcase responsibility and professionalism. If you post inconsistently, it may signal to Instagram that you are not serious, and your content is not worth prioritizing. This results in decreased reach, which means low views and engagement. Moreover, even your audience loses interest, which also decreases views.
How to Fix it?
- Stick to a schedule, whether it’s daily, alternate days, twice a week, or anything else.
- Create a content calendar consisting of what to post, and when to post along with caption, hashtags, and engagement strategies.
Posting at the Wrong Time
Timing matters a lot when it comes to reach and views on Instagram. Your audience isn’t active 24/7; therefore, posting at the right time is extremely important to reach them and boost views. If you post at the wrong time, it can lead to a drop in views, making it harder for your Reels to get the engagement they deserve. This is indeed one of the biggest reasons behind drop in views in most cases.
How to Fix it?
- Post at the best times offered by Instagram, which are 7 AM – 9 AM, 12 PM – 2 PM, and 8 PM – 11 PM.
- Use the Instagram insights section to find out at which time your target audience stays active and post accordingly.
- Identify your best-performing content using Instagram analytics and post at the same time as them.
You Are Not Using Trending Audio
Trending audio significantly boosts reel visibility on the Explore page, making it reach a wider audience. Even Instagram’s algorithms promote content on trending sounds, boosting its reach and views. If you don’t use trending music, your Reels may struggle to reach a wider audience and gain views and engagement.
How to Fix it?
- Use relevant, trending audio in your reels.
- You can find trending audios via:
- Browse the reels feed and find trending audios with a little arrow sign next to the sound name.
- Check Instagram’s ‘Trending’ Playlist from the Reels music library.
- Use your professional dashboard to find trending audios.
Using the Wrong Hashtags
Instagram’s algorithm favors content with relevant hashtags, helping it appear in the right category and reach the right audience. Using the wrong hashtags (whether too broad or irrelevant) can hurt your reels’ reach instead of boosting it. Your content may get lost in unrelated posts, reducing engagement and its chances of being promoted by Instagram.
How to Fix it?
- Use a mix of trending, niche-specific, and content-specific hashtags that match your reel subject.
- Add your brand hashtags, also, if available.
- Combine popular hashtags with less competitive ones.
- Limit your hashtags to 8-10 only, as using 20-30 hashtags is not valuable.
Shadowban or Violating Community Guidelines
If your account gets shadowbanned or violates Instagram’s community guidelines, your reach may be restricted. Shadowban basically limits the reach and visibility of your account without any notification. Your posts may not appear under hashtags, search results, explore page, reels section as well as trending audio page, reducing views drastically.
How to Fix it?
- Check Instagram’s guidelines and ensure you follow them all.
- Avoid posting controversial content.
- Never use banned hashtags.
- Don’t comment on spamming or engage in activities that lead to a shadow ban.
- Once you check and rectify everything, reach out to Instagram to remove the shadow ban.
Not Engaging with Your Audience
Instagram is not just a content-posting platform. You have to connect and interact with your audience, understand their concerns, and provide them with relevant solutions. If you’re just posting and not interacting, Instagram may not prioritize your content. This hurts the reach of your content, ultimately decreasing the reach and views.
How to Fix it?
- Respond to as many comments as possible.
- Reply in DMs to foster engagement.
- Follow and interact with similar creators in your niche.
- Conduct Q&A sessions on stories.
- Host live sessions to engage with your audience in real-time.
Conclusion
A drop in Reels views doesn’t always mean your content isn’t good; there can be multiple reasons at play. From inconsistent posting and low-quality reels to incorrect hashtags and shadowbans, various factors can impact your views. Identifying the right causes and fixing them as soon as possible is important to boost your views. Stay consistent, leverage trending audios, use the right hashtags, post at the best times, and engage with your audience to bounce back!
