If you want to up your Instagram game and get more followers, creating reels is a great way to do it. These short and exciting videos will help you gain popularity and may even let you know if you have a public account.
When creating Instagram Reels, one of the things you may be interested in is who is watching them. If you want to know who viewed your Instagram reels, this article is for you. We will discuss this issue in detail and provide important information about Instagram Reel statistics.
Can you see who's watching your reels on Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn't allow you to see who has viewed your Instagram Reels. There are several potential reasons for this.
First off, if you have a public account and post a reel, it will likely get thousands and thousands of views. Providing a list of all viewers would potentially create technical difficulties for Instagram. Also, the functionality would become cumbersome over time. Imagine scrolling through thousands of names just to see if you can find a specific person or two who have viewed your reel.
Another thing to consider is privacy. While you might want to know who watched your reels, think of the reverse situation. When you're browsing reels and viewing one, you may not want anyone to know you've seen it. Keeping your identity private while viewing reels is an advantage, not a disadvantage.
Although you can't see who has viewed your reels, you can see how many people have viewed them:
- Open the Instagram app and go to the reels section.
- Find the reel for which you want to see the number of views.
- Tap the number under the heart icon.
- You will see the number of times your reel has been played.
On top of that, you can actually see a list of people who have liked or commented on your reels:
- Open the Instagram app and go to the reels section.
- Find the reel you want to see a list of people who have liked or commented on it.
- To view the list of people who have liked it, tap the number under the heart icon. To view the list of people who have commented on the reel, tap the number under the speech bubble.
Since there's no direct way to see who watched your reels, you can use one of the alternatives to at least see who liked or commented, which can give you some insight. These methods are not reliable, but they can help.
Another method to see who has liked or commented is to post your reel to your story. If you also share your reel with your Instagram stories, you will be able to see who has viewed it. Just tap "Add Reel to Your Story" when you're done recording it.
The next method that can help you determine who has viewed your reel is to check the stories sections. Usually the first people in the section are the people you interact with frequently. Of course, this doesn't mean these people have actually seen your reel, but it can give you an idea of who is most likely to have seen it.
Finally, watch out for people who frequently like and comment on your posts and stories. These people usually see your reels too.
How to Check Your Instagram Reels Stats
Apart from the basic stats mentioned above, Instagram has a feature called Instagram Insights. This function allows you to know more about the trends of the reels you have recorded. You can see what your audience likes and dislikes, which reels are most popular, and more. Instagram Insights allows you to draw conclusions and adjust your strategy to attract more viewers.
Keep in mind that this option is only available on the Instagram mobile app. Also, you can only access this option if you have a business or creator account. Fortunately, you can easily switch to them. It's worth mentioning that if you have a private account, switching to a business or creator will make it public.
Follow the steps below to upgrade to a business or creator account:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap your profile picture in the lower right corner.
- Tap the three lines in the upper right corner.
- Tap “Settings”.
- Tap "Account".
- Tap "Switch to Business Account".
- If you're switching from a personal account, you'll see a list of categories to select to specialize your profile. Some of the categories are artist, blogger, community, education, writer, photographer, etc.
- Link a Facebook page to your Instagram account if you wish.
- Complete your account setup.
You will now have access to Instagram Insights. Here's how to find them in your Instagram mobile app:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap the three lines in the upper right corner.
- Tap on “Insights”.
If you want to display information for a specific reel, do the following:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap on your profile picture and open the reels section.
- Find a reel you want information about and tap the three dots.
- Tap "Show Stats".
Instagram Insights allows you to gather valuable information about your reels and the general trends associated with them. Here is what you can see:
- Reached Accounts – This shows you how many people have viewed your reel. You will see the number of people who viewed your reel at least once.
- Plays – This shows you how many times your reel has been played. This number is usually higher than the number of accounts reached because some people will see your reel more than once.
- Likes – This metric shows how many people liked your reel.
- Comments – This shows you the number of comments on a reel.
- Saves – This data tells you how many people have bookmarked your reel.
- Shares – This number tells you how many times Instagram users have shared your reel or sent it to someone else.
As mentioned earlier, you can view this information for all of your reels and each reel. The data will help you gain detailed insight into what your audience prefers, allowing you to adjust your reels accordingly.
If you're new to Instagram Insights and Reels, there are a few things you can do to experiment and quickly find out what your audience likes:
- Try different styles – At first it can be hard to tell what your audience likes. By experimenting with different styles, you can gauge how many likes, comments, saves, and shares each style gets, gaining insight into what works for your audience. Feel free to experiment with different filters and effects. Over time, you will learn what works for you and your audience.
- Experiment with lengths of reels – The maximum length of a reel is 60 seconds. But that doesn't mean you should always make your coils that long. Sometimes shorter rolls are more effective. Depending on the type of reels you post and the preferences of your audience, you can choose the optimal length.
- Test out different audio settings – In addition to enjoying the reel itself, your viewers appreciate good sound. There are a few things to consider regarding the audio of your reels. First of all, you can choose to use the original sound of your video. It's a good option if you're at a concert or recording a conversation. Pay attention to the sound quality; if it's mediocre, your viewers probably won't like it. Another option is to use narration. If you're recording a recipe or explaining a process, recording your voice and using it in your reel is a good idea. You can also use a song from the Instagram music library. Whatever you choose, make sure it matches your reel type and purpose.
- Try posting reels at different times and days – Timing is key. For example, if you post a reel at 1 a.m., you probably won't attract the same number of viewers as you did when posting at 18 p.m. attention than those posted on Sunday morning. Of course, there are no universal times to post a reel. Much depends on your audience, age, etc. Let's say you are targeting an older audience. If you post your reel at 2am on a Saturday, you probably won't get many views.
How to Check Someone Else's Instagram Reel Views
Besides checking your reels' views, likes, and comments, Instagram lets you do the same for someone else. If you want to check how many people have viewed someone else's Instagram Reel, follow the steps below:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Find the reel you want to check views for and tap on it.
- Tap the number under the heart icon. You will see the number of games and a list of people who liked the reel.
Seal the deal with coils
While Instagram doesn't let you see who specifically watched your reels, it does let you see the number of people who viewed them. Plus, you can always see a list of people who have liked and commented on your reels.
If you want to track your reels trends and progress, upgrade your account to pro and enjoy Instagram Insights. The feature allows you to dig deep into your reels and adjust them according to your audience's preferences.
Do you often post reels on Instagram? Do you keep track of how many people view them? Tell us in the comments section below.
