How to get more views on Instagram: Optimise your account for the new focus👀📲

In a major shift, Instagram is changing the way it measures success on the platform. Gone are the days of obsessing over follower counts—now, it’s all about views. Instagram’s Chief, Adam Mosseri, has made it clear that views will be the key metric for all your content, whether it's Reels, photos, carousels, or Stories. With this update, it’s more important than ever to adapt your strategy to get your content seen by as many people as possible.

So, how do you adjust to this new focus and start racking up the views? Let’s dive into the changes and offer practical tips to help you get more eyes on your content.

Followers Are Out ❌ Views Are In: Here’s Why It Matters

Instagram’s recent updates reflect changes in user behavior. These days, over 50% of the posts you see in your feed are from accounts you don’t follow, thanks to Meta’s AI-powered recommendations. The shift from following accounts to discovering new content via algorithmic suggestions means views are now more important than your follower count or even likes.

Instagram wants creators to focus on reaching a broader audience, not just growing a massive follower base. The more your content is viewed, the more it’s likely to be recommended—leading to even more views and reach.

6 Tips to Crush It with Views (And Leave Follower Obsession Behind) 👥

1. Make Content So Good, They Have to Share It 📲

Forget begging for likes—give them something worth sending to their mates.

To maximise views, your content needs to catch people’s attention and keep them engaged. High-quality visuals, compelling stories, and value-driven posts are more likely to be shared, which boosts your reach.

Pro Tip: Content that sparks high-dominance emotions like inspiration, admiration, or joy is more likely to be shared. Think motivational quotes, relatable experiences, or feel-good customer stories.

2. Shorter is Hotter: Keep Those Reels Snappy 🕤

Because no one’s sticking around for your 3-minute masterpiece.

Instagram's algorithm favors Reels, and the shorter, the better. Reels under 90 seconds are more likely to be recommended, making them prime real estate for boosting your views.

Pro Tip: Use trending audio and hashtags to increase the chances of your Reel being picked up by the algorithm and shared widely.

3. Two Creators, One Post—Double the Reach 👯

Collabs aren’t just trendy; they’re your shortcut to more eyeballs.

Partnering with other creators through Instagram’s Collab feature can significantly increase your visibility. When you co-create a post, it’s shared with both of your audiences, boosting your reach and views across the board.

💡Pro Tip: Tagging collaborators and using Enhanced Tags helps your content get discovered through Search, Explore, and Reels recommendations.

4. Hacking the Algorithm: How to Get Instagram to Do the Work for You

Let the robots push your content while you sit back and relax.

Understanding how Instagram’s ranking system works is key to optimizing your account for views. The platform looks at signals like likes, comments, and shares to recommend content to new users. The more engagement your post gets quickly after it’s posted, the higher it will rank in people’s feeds.

💡 Pro Tip: Schedule posts at peak times for your audience to increase initial engagement, which boosts your content’s chances of being recommended by the algorithm.


5. Stop Guessing and Start Tracking: Insights That Matter🤔

Follower counts are old news—this is the data you really need to watch.

Instagram Insights can give you a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not. Look at which posts are driving the most views and engagement, and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

💡Pro Tip: Pay close attention to the "Accounts Reached" and "Views" metrics, especially from non-followers. These numbers indicate how much your content is breaking beyond your follower base.

6. No Copycats Allowed: Keep It fresh, or get Left behind 🐈

Reposts? Original content is the only way to stay in the game.

Instagram wants to recommend content from original creators, so avoid reposting content that’s already been widely shared on the platform. Instead, focus on creating fresh, unique content that hasn’t been seen before.

Pro Tip: Instagram is less likely to recommend content with watermarks or reposted Reels. Use Instagram’s Remix feature to create fresh takes on popular trends instead.

Views beat followers every time—Here’s why It’s good News🗞️

The shift to views as the primary metric signals a broader change in how Instagram wants creators to engage with their audience. Building a loyal follower base is still important, but now, reach is king. This means you need to focus on creating content that appeals to Instagram’s algorithm to get your posts seen by more people—whether they follow you or not.

DMs are the new likes: Focus on "sends per reach"📩

Another key metric to watch is Sends per Reach—how many people are sharing your post in their DMs. This is where Instagram sees the future of sharing happening. Fewer people are liking posts, but more are privately sending content to friends. By focusing on creating content that people want to share, you’ll naturally boost your reach and views.

💡Pro Tip: Posts that evoke strong emotional reactions or have a surprising twist are more likely to be sent via DMs. Create content that makes people feel something—whether that’s humor, awe, or motivation.

Want to Stay Relevant? Play by Instagram’s new rules

Instagram has specific Recommendation Guidelines that determine what content gets suggested to non-followers in Explore, Search, and Reels. If your content doesn’t follow these guidelines, it may not be recommended, limiting your potential reach.

To ensure your account stays in Instagram’s good graces:

• Avoid reposted content from other creators.
• Stick to the platform’s Community Guidelines to prevent shadowbanning.
• Monitor your Account Status to check if your profile is eligible for recommendations.

Ready to ditch the follower chase and boost your views?🚀

Instagram’s shift to views might feel like a big change, but it’s a great opportunity to grow your reach and get your content in front of new audiences. By focusing on creating engaging, original content and leveraging Instagram’s algorithm, you can boost your visibility and drive more views—no matter how big or small your follower count is.

So, don’t get hung up on followers. Focus on views, shareable content, and playing to the algorithm—and watch your reach grow!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these changes, don’t worry! The Classroom’s Social Media Strategy and Content Masterclass is designed to help you navigate Instagram’s latest updates and craft a winning content strategy that drives real results. Ready to boost your views and engagement? Sign up today and take your social media game to the next level!