People post reels on Instagram for a variety of reasons. The main reasons are to entertain, engage with followers, gain more followers and views, express creativity, promote brands or businesses, make money, and boost self-confidence.
To Entertain and Engage Followers
Many Instagram users create fun, entertaining, or humorous reels as a way to make their followers laugh, smile, or be entertained. Reels allow users to showcase their personality and connect with their audience in new, creative ways through short videos. Posting entertaining reels is a way to lighten up someone’s day, share a laugh, or simply entertain. It helps creators engage better with their existing followers.
Additionally, when reels go viral and are widely viewed and shared, it allows creators to reach and engage new audiences. So entertaining reels help foster engagement and connection with both existing and new followers on Instagram.
To Gain More Followers and Views
Posting reels is an effective way for Instagram users to get more views and followers. The reels format allows short videos to be more discoverable than posts in the main Instagram feed. Reels have their own dedicated section at the top of the explore page.
When a reel goes viral and gets viewed by many users beyond one’s own followers, it gives the creator more exposure and helps them gain new followers organically. The algorithm favors reels and helps push viral reels out to new users. So for anyone looking to grow their Instagram following, consistently posting engaging, high-quality reels that get views is a proven growth strategy.
To Express Creativity
Reels provide a new creative outlet for Instagrammers. The ability to create 15-30 second videos using fun effects, edits, transitions, music, voiceovers, and more allows users to showcase their creativity. For aspiring content creators, reels are a way to experiment with different visual styles and editing techniques.
Even casual Instagram users enjoy being able to self-express through creating fun reels or taking part in trending reels challenges. Reels are inspiring creators to flex their creative muscles in ways that photos and standard Instagram posts do not allow.
To Promote Brands and Businesses
Influencers, businesses, brands, public figures, and other commercial Instagram accounts utilize reels as a new format for promoting products, services, offers, events, and more. Reels allow showcasing products in action, behind-the-scenes business content, employee spotlights, events coverage, and other marketing content in an engaging video format.
Businesses find reels effective for reaching new demographics, driving traffic to websites, promoting offers, and generally building brand awareness. The vertical full-screen format is ideal for mobile, which is crucial for brands trying to reach users in the Instagram ecosystem.
To Make Money
Popular Instagram creators and influencers can monetize reels by joining the Instagram Reels Bonus program. Participants receive payouts ranging from $600 to $35,000 per month based on the views their reels receive.
Brand sponsorships are another lucrative wayInstagrammers earn income from reels. Brands pay influencers to create sponsored reels promoting their products. The more views and engagement a user gets on reels, the more earning potential through sponsorships and brand partnerships.
Reels also boost earning potential on Instagram by helping creators grow their following. A larger, engaged following means influencers can charge higher rates for sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and other monetization avenues. So reels help Instagram users earn both directly and indirectly.
To Boost Confidence
Posting reels helps some Instagram users overcome shyness, combat insecurities, and boost their confidence. Having an audience view and appreciate their reels gives positive reinforcement. Getting entertaining content out to the world and receiving positive comments can make creators feel proud.
Seeing the likes, comments, and view counts go up on reels provides external validation. For aspiring or new content creators especially, receiving positive feedback on their creativity from complete strangers can tremendously help self-confidence.
To Share Memories
Many Instagrammers use reels as a visual medium for capturing, saving, and sharing memories. People post reels showcasing fun trips, weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special moments to reminisce. The short video clips capture memorable moments in a format that feels more engaging than standard posts.
Adding music, effects, and creative edits makes memory reels even more lively and shareable. The interactive features like duets, stitches, and green screen give users new ways to compile old photos and videos into fresh reels that recapture meaningful memories.
To Teach and Inform
Educators, experts, and thought leaders leverage reels to create informative how-to tutorials, share tips and hacks, and teach skills or knowledge. The short video format allows bite-sized lessons and insights to be shared in engaging ways. Useful reels can help people fix problems, learn new things, or gain knowledge on topics they care about.
Cooking demos, DIY projects, health and fitness guidance, and educational content thrive on Reels. Viewers appreciate being able to quickly learn something new or useful via Reels. And creators fulfill their passion for teaching through informative Reels that help others.
To Showcase Talents
Reels provide a space for Instagrammers to highlight their unique skills and talents to the world. People post reels displaying singing, dancing, acting, comedy skits, stunts, sports tricks, and any other talents. The short video format allows compact talent showcases.
Getting positive feedback and appreciation for their talents helps creators feel proud and motivated to keep honing their skills. Reels also help talent get discovered – many casting directors, agents, record labels, and other industry figures actively scout Instagram Reels for emerging talent.
To Share Opinions
Reels give Instagrammers a soapbox for sharing opinions, perspectives, and hot takes. People post review reels critiquing products, shows, recipes, and more. “Rant” reels allow passionate takes on current events, politics, pop culture, and other topics.
Reaction reels show funny or exaggerated responses to viral tweets, news stories, memes, and other online content. The short, visual nature of Reels makes them conducive for sharing opinions and commentary.
To Participate in Trends
Hopping onto viral Instagram reels trends and challenges is a major motivation for posting reels. Partaking in trends like outfit transitions, dance challenges, audio memes, and other bandwagons allows people to creatively take part in cultural moments.
Trends give people templates for creating easily shareable content. And recreating a popular trend is an easy way for someone to post their first reel. Overall, capitalizing on trending challenges helps accounts gain visibility and followers.
For the Thrill of Going Viral
Many people enjoy the dopamine rush of their reels blowing up and potentially going viral. Watching view counts dramatically rise excites creators and motivates them to keep posting. The possibility that the next reel could launch an account or be seen by celebrities fuels the drive for virality.
Having a post go viral leads to a major surge in followers and attention. So chasing the viral thrill encourages users to regularly post reels in hopes of eventually landing a hit. Even semi-viral success tastes sweet.
Conclusion
Instagram Reels provide creators and casual users endless opportunities for engagement, self-expression, entertainment, connection, fame, and fun. While different people have varying motivations, the overarching incentives for posting reels include interacting with followers, being creative, growing an audience, making money, and participating in trends.
Reels have become hugely popular because they allow Instagrammers to showcase talents, opinions, memories, skills, brands and more in an fun, shareable short video format that feels native to the platform. The interactive features, viral potential, and creativity unlocked by Reels will ensure they remain a go-to tool for Instagram users into the future.