How to Get 100K Views on Reels (Proven Strategy That Actually Works in 2026)

90% of Instagram creators fail to get 100k views on their Reels because they don’t even try to understand the Instagram Reels algorithm. They rely on random posting, trending audio, and hashtags, just like everyone else, getting lost in the crowd. Because of this, they never truly understand how to get 100k views on Reels strategy and eventually give up on Instagram.

The truth is, the Instagram Reels algorithm works differently, and only by understanding it correctly can you achieve 100k views on your Instagram Reels. Due to the large number of content creators, you don’t get views on Reels by luck, but based on specific behavioural signals. If you want to increase Instagram Reels views organically, you need to give the algorithm the right signals. Otherwise, no matter how good your content is, it won’t reach more than 5k–10k views.

In this guide, I’m sharing the proven steps that force the Instagram algorithm to push your Reel to 100k+ views without ads or fake engagement.

If you genuinely want to know how to get 100k views on Reels organically, then this article is for you. I will explain the techniques that consistently help creators increase Instagram Reel views organically. Whether your account is new or old, you will see growth.

Why Most Reels Never Cross 10K Views (Before 100K Is Even Possible)

Most creators on Instagram assume that the algorithm judges each Reel individually. But the reality is that Instagram’s algorithm doesn’t just do reel-level evaluation — it does account-level evaluation. Simply put, if your Reels don’t get 100k views or go viral, the problem isn’t with that specific Reel — often, your account has very low trust with the algorithm, so your Reel isn’t even recommended.

The Instagram algorithm decides the following before allowing a Reel to reach 100k views:

• Do people actually watch this creator’s content, or do they skip it?
• Do IG viewers want to watch more Reels from this account after watching one?
• Do people spend time on this profile, or do they just scroll past?

If the answer to these questions is “NO,” then no matter how good your content is, Instagram will throttle that Reel after only 10K views.

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How to Get 100K views on Instagram Reels

Here are some important points to get 100k views on Instagram Reels:

• Use a strong hook in the first 3 seconds
• Use trending audio (low to medium usage)
• Post high-quality videos (1080p, good lighting)
• Always use vertical format (9:16)
• Create relatable content
• Keep reels short (7–12 seconds works best)
• Make loopable reels (ending connects to start)
• Add clear, bold text overlays
• Write curiosity-driven captions
• Use 3–5 relevant hashtags
• Be consistent (daily or alternate days)
• Post at peak time (6–9 PM)
• Add engagement triggers (ask viewers to comment)
• Show your face (faces perform better)
• Create original content
• Follow trending topics
• Use fast cuts / jump cuts
• Avoid watermarks (especially TikTok)
• Make shareable content
• Analyze performance & repeat what works

Reels Distribution Trust Score (RDTS) — Instagram Hidden System

No one tells you about the Reels Distribution Trust Score (RDTS) in any how to get 100k views on Reels strategy, which most competitor blogs miss. This is an essential concept for organically increasing Instagram Reel views, and understanding it is crucial.

RDTS is an imaginary but efficient metric that explains how much the Instagram algorithm trusts your account to distribute your Reels to a wider audience.

Instagram doesn’t show the RDTS directly, but your results clearly reflect it. This is what helps you get 100k views on Instagram Reels.

Instagram Reels Distribution Stages (Based on RDTS)

Instagram Reels don’t appear to 100K people at once. The algorithm pushes Reels in stages, and in each stage, your RDTS is tested to determine how far your Reel will reach.

0–10K Views → Testing Phase

In the first stage, Instagram checks:

• Are people skipping the Reel in the first 3 seconds?
• Is the average watch time acceptable?
• Is the reel completion rate strong?

If your Reel’s signals are weak here, the Reel dies at this stage.

10K–30K Views → Engagement Validation Phase

In the second stage, the algorithm verifies:

• Are people liking, commenting, saving, or sharing?
• Is the engagement coming only from followers or also from non-followers?
• Are people visiting the profile after watching the Reel?

This is where most reels get stuck, preventing them from reaching 100k views on Instagram.

30K–100K Views → Mass Distribution Phase

If your Instagram reel reaches this stage, it means:

• Your account’s RDTS is high.
• The Instagram algorithm has received the signal that “this creator’s content is worth pushing.”
• It is aggressively pushed in both Reels Explore and Reels Feed.

This is where you succeed in getting 100K+ views organically on Instagram.

💡 This is where the difference lies:

Competitors only say in their blogs and videos — “Post consistently, use trending audio.”
But the reality is that until you build your Reels Distribution Trust Score (RDTS), consistency alone cannot get you 100K views on your reels.

Exact Factors That Push a Reel to 100K Views

If you genuinely want to know how to get 100k views on Reels naturally, keep one thing clear:
Instagram Reels don’t go viral based on motivation, consistency, or luck.

They are only pushed based on data-driven signals.

Below, I’ve given you the exact factors for how to get 100k views on Instagram Reels that force the algorithm to decide whether your Reel crosses the 100K views threshold or not.

1. First 3 Seconds Retention (MOST CRITICAL)

The first and most crucial filter of the Instagram algorithm is:

Does the viewer scroll past in the first 3 seconds or stop?

If the Instagram audience scrolls past in the first 3 seconds:

👉 The Instagram Reel instantly dies, no matter how strong and good the rest of your content is.

Therefore, the job of the hook in Instagram Reels is not just to grab attention, but to create curiosity + leave the information incomplete.

So, here’s the Effective Hook Formula:

• Trigger curiosity
• Don’t reveal the complete information
• Force the viewer to watch the next second

Example (Without Storytelling):

“Nobody tells you this about Instagram Reels…”

This type of hook gives the Instagram algorithm a clear signal:

• The viewer will stop on your Reel
• Interest will be built
• Audience retention will improve

2. Average Watch Time > Reel Length (LOOP LOGIC)

This is where most creators and competitor blogs make a mistake.

The Instagram algorithm doesn’t just look at how long the Reel was watched, it looks at:

Whether Average Watch Time > Reel Length or not.

Simple Example:

• Reel length: 15 seconds
• Average watch time: 18–20 seconds

This means:
👉 Your Instagram Reel is looping. When your Instagram Reel loops, the algorithm receives these signals:

• The content is engaging
• Viewers are willingly watching it again
• The Reel is scroll-stopping

🔥 Instagram’s algorithm gives looping Reels a free views boost, without requiring extra engagement.

This logic is rarely clearly explained by competitors, but it’s the best way to get 100k views on Reels.

3. Shares > Likes (Hidden Growth Signal)

Most people don’t know about this either! This factor will permanently remove the question of “How to get 100k views on Reels” from your mind because it’s a hidden but compelling factor that makes Reels go viral.

Important Truth:

Instagram treats shares as intent-based engagement, not vanity engagement.

• Likes on Reels are easy to get.
• Shares are deliberate.

When someone shares an Instagram Reel:

• Either they want to provide value to someone
• Or they save/share it for later reference

This means it’s clear to the algorithm:
👉 This Instagram Reel is valuable, not just entertaining.

That’s why you often see:

• Low likes
• High shares
• Yet the Reel still explodes

For the algorithm:

• Shares = strong distribution signal
• Likes = surface-level validation

💡 Bottom line:
If you intentionally optimise these 3 factors, you won’t just be hoping—you’ll be forcing the Instagram algorithm, through data, to push your Instagram Reels to 100k views.

Common Mistakes That Kill 100K Views on Instagram Reels

Here are common mistakes that kill 100K views on Instagram Reels:

• Weak or boring first 3 seconds
• Using non-trending or overused audio
• Posting low-quality / blurry videos
• Wrong aspect ratio (not 9:16)
• Making reels too long without value
• No clear message or point
• Bad or cluttered text overlays
• Too many hashtags
• Using irrelevant hashtags
• Posting inconsistently

How Instagram’s Algorithm Tests Reels Before Pushing Them to 100K Views

When Instagram sees a Reel being posted, it doesn’t immediately send it to a mass audience. The algorithm first follows a controlled testing flow, where at each stage it decides whether the Reel is worth promoting further. Understanding this process is the most advanced part of learning how to get 100k views on Reels organically.

First, Instagram shows your Reel to a small, selected audience—and this audience is often made up of non-followers. This is crucial for increasing your Instagram Reels views to 100k. The reason is simple: Instagram followers already know you, but non-followers’ behaviour provides a more honest signal to the algorithm. This is where the algorithm wants to see if your content can hold attention even without brand recognition.

During this initial test, the algorithm evaluates in real-time whether people stop watching the Reel within the first 3 seconds or immediately scroll past it. If your Instagram Reel has a high scroll rate, the Reel’s reach slows down at this point. But if viewers stop to watch, your Reel moves on to the next internal check.

The next step is retention-depth analysis, a key hack for getting 100k views on your Reels. Here, the algorithm doesn’t just look at whether the Reel was watched, but it measures how much of the Reel people are consuming. As your Instagram Reels views increase and the retention graph remains smooth and stable, it signals to the algorithm that the content is not only eye-catching but also engaging.

After that, the algorithm tracks re-watch behaviour. If viewers watch the Reel again after watching it once—whether due to looping or intentionally—it becomes a strong signal to Instagram, and your 100k Reels views start rolling in.

When all these signals are positive, Instagram moves the Reel to a wider distribution bucket. Now, your Instagram Reels are no longer restricted to a limited test audience, but are aggressively pushed to Explore, the Reels feed, and similar interest-based clusters. This is where views grow exponentially, and this is the strategy to get 100k views on your Reels.

💡 So here’s the difference:
Creators who only focus on “trending audio” and “posting more” often see their Reels fail in the initial testing phase. But creators who design their content around the algorithm’s testing flow see their Reels cross the 100K views on Reels threshold organically.

7-Day Reels System to Reach 100K Views

If you want to get 100k views on Reels organically, you need to move beyond theory. The Instagram algorithm rewards execution patterns, not just ideas. This is where competitors fail — they give “tips” but not a system.

Below is an actionable 7-day execution framework that gives the algorithm a clear signal that your goal isn’t just posting, but to achieve 100K views on Reels for free and sustainably.

Day 1–2: Format Testing Phase

The goal of the first two days isn’t to go viral, it’s to identify a winning format. At this stage, you test the same topic in different formats — such as hook style, text placement, reel length, and delivery speed. The Instagram algorithm observes your account’s behaviour here, not just the views.

Day 3–4: Retention Optimization Phase

Now that one or two formats have been identified as causing the scroll to stop, the focus shifts to improving retention. In these two days, you make the hook sharper, cut unnecessary pauses, and intentionally design the reel to be loop-friendly.

Day 5–7: Scaling the Winning Format

Now comes the phase where most creators panic, but this is where the algorithm rewards you. In these three days, you only scale the winning format — the topic can change, but the structure remains the same.

The Instagram algorithm sees consistency as a way to reduce risk. When it sees that the same format consistently generates strong signals, it loosens the distribution limit. At this stage, reels move out of the test bucket and into a wider push, where you start getting 100k Instagram Reels views.

💡 Why this system works:
Competitors only say “post daily” or “use trending audio.” This system clearly shows the algorithm that optimizes content based on data. This is why this framework is realistic and repeatable for getting 100K views on Reels for free.

Metrics You Must Track If You Want 100K Views on Reels

Hook Retention %

• How many people continue watching the reel after the first 3 seconds?
• Low hook retention = reel fails in the early testing phase
• High hook retention = the algorithm starts distributing the reel

Average Watch Time (vs Reel Length)

• If the average watch time is equal to or greater than the reel length
• Example: 15 sec reel → 18–20 sec average watch time
• This means the reel is looping
• Instagram algorithm gives free reach to looping reels

Shares per 1,000 Views

• How many times is the reel being shared per 1,000 views?
• Shares = intent-based engagement
• More shares = “high-value content” signal for the algorithm
• The reel can cross 100K views even with low likes

Conclusion

100k views on Instagram Reels are never a result of luck. These results come when you give the Instagram algorithm clear, measurable signals — through retention, watch time, re-watches, and shares.

Consistency and experimentation are crucial for growing Instagram Reels views organically. Using the strategies we’ve outlined can increase your chances of reaching 100K views. So, you can easily follow these steps and start increasing your Instagram Reels views.

Creators who follow this system don’t just win with one reel — They win the Instagram algorithm’s trust. Scaling on Instagram becomes easier when strategy replaces guesswork. With the right guidance, you can refine your content, improve retention signals, and build a sustainable path toward your first 100K views on Instagram reels.