n3xtgenphantom
BANNED
- Apr 9, 2026
- 34
- 27
Reels still work but carousels are catching up. Mix both. Hook first 3 seconds. Value over viral. Consistency beats one lucky reel.
Do Reels Still Drive the Majority of Growth on Instagram?
- Thread starter pixelrankforge
- Start date
- May 27, 2016
- 11,045
- 2,512
Yes reels are the main driver of growth because they enable you to get discovered easier. You should mix up normal posting and stories with the reels in order to get the maximum effect/reach that you can.
achrafimintoo
Newbie
- Oct 30, 2017
- 32
- 7
Reels = reach,
Stories = retention,
Carousels = authority.
If you only do Reels, you get views but not loyal followers. You need all the 3
Stories = retention,
Carousels = authority.
If you only do Reels, you get views but not loyal followers. You need all the 3
- Feb 18, 2025
- 1,913
- 443
In some cases; there are agencies that use CRMs to help schedule posting so that you can have an account continue to post that way you have a higher chance of getting on the explore page.
jennybegod
Newbie
- May 9, 2025
- 10
- 0
quick question, anyone else notice reels reach dropping lately? been trying to grow my account but it\'s like hitting a wall. wondering if it\'s just me or a wider trend.
- Apr 12, 2026
- 100
- 32
Reels are still the main growth driver from what I’m seeing, but they’re not as easy as before. A basic Reel with a weak hook doesn’t go anywhere now.
What seems to matter most is retention. If people watch the first few seconds and stay until the end, the Reel still has a good chance to move. But random posting or copying trends without fitting your niche usually gives inconsistent results.
Other formats can help too, especially carousels for saves and stories for warming up your existing audience, but for reaching new people, Reels still seem to be the strongest format.