How to Create the Perfect Viral Reel

Reels. If you're like me, they're your favourite type of content. There's something about a perfectly crafted a reel that can capture attention, drive engagement, and even go viral. In the fast-paced world of social media, a viral reel can be your ticket to massive exposure, helping you reach a larger audience in a short amount of time. But how do you create the perfect viral reel? It’s all about the little details, from the music to the hashtags to the timing. Let me walk you through how we created our viral reel that reached 1.3 million views in no time!

1. Start with a Hook

The first few seconds of your reel are crucial. You need to hook the viewer immediately. Social media users scroll fast, so if your content doesn’t grab them right away, they’ll keep moving. For our viral reel, we kept it simple yet effective: a 12-second video of a laptop screen with our website moving down the page. It was visually dynamic and had enough intrigue to make viewers stop and watch. The key is to think of something that will make your audience want to stay, even if it’s just for a couple of seconds.

2. Use Trending Sounds and Music

Music is essential in creating a viral reel. One of the most important factors to consider is using trending sounds or songs. Trending audio tracks are often more likely to get pushed to a larger audience. In our case, we paired our website scrolling reel with trending music, which made it not just visually appealing, but also sonically enticing. When you use popular or trending sounds, it increases the likelihood of your content being featured by the algorithm, putting your reel in front of more eyes.Make sure the music complements your video. If it’s a fun and energetic reel, pick something upbeat. If it’s calm and soothing, go for a relaxed melody. The right combination will elevate your reel and make it more likely to go viral.

3. Hashtags Are Your Best Friend

Hashtags play a huge role in amplifying the reach of your reel. When I created our viral reel, I used a combination of trending hashtags and niche-specific ones to get the right kind of attention. By using hashtags that are popular, but also relevant to your content, you increase the chances of your reel reaching a broader audience.

For example, I used hashtags like #TrendingReels, #ViralReels, and more specific ones related to our business niche. The goal is to make your content discoverable to those who are actively searching for similar posts.

4. Posting at the Right Time

Timing is everything. Posting your reel at the right time increases its chances of going viral. I’ve found that certain times of the day yield better results, typically when your target audience is most active. For us, we experimented with different days and times and found that posting in the evening worked best for our audience.

Each audience is different, so it’s essential to experiment with your posting times and track the results. When you post at the right time, your reel is more likely to catch the wave of activity and gain initial traction quickly.

5. The Power of Thumbnails

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good thumbnail! Thumbnails are the first impression of your reel and can significantly impact its click-through rate. A strong thumbnail grabs attention and entices users to click and watch. I always ensure that the thumbnail represents what the video is about and is eye-catching enough to stand out in a crowded feed.

For our viral reel, we made sure the thumbnail had a dynamic image of the laptop screen with our website showing clearly. It was simple yet captivating. Whether you choose to use a still from the video or create a custom thumbnail, make sure it’s visually appealing and aligns with the message of your reel.

6. Keep it Short and Sweet

Reels are all about brevity. Attention spans on social media are short, and your goal is to deliver your message quickly. Our viral reel was just 12 seconds long, short enough to keep viewers interested but long enough to convey what we wanted.

The key here is to be direct and punchy with your content. Focus on delivering value in a few seconds, whether it’s entertainment, education, or brand messaging.

7. Engage with Your Audience

After you post your reel, don’t just leave it hanging. Engage with your audience! Respond to comments, like their feedback, and encourage shares. When you interact with your audience, it helps build a sense of community and boosts engagement. The more engagement a reel gets in the first few hours, the more likely it is to be pushed out to a larger audience.

8. Measure, Analyse, and Improve

After posting, it’s important to track the performance of your reel. Look at metrics such as views, likes, comments, shares, and saves. With this data, you can understand what works and what doesn’t, so you can tweak future reels to increase your chances of going viral.

When our 1.3-million-view reel went viral, we took note of everything that contributed to its success—from the use of trending sounds to the specific hashtags we used. By analysing the results, we gained insights that helped us refine our social strategy for future reels.

Conclusion: Crafting Your Perfect Viral Reel

Creating a viral reel is not an exact science, but with the right combination of elements, it can happen. Start with an engaging hook, use trending music and sounds, pick the best hashtags, and post at the right time. Don’t forget the importance of thumbnails, and always keep your content short and to the point.

At Finbogo, we’re always experimenting with different formats and styles to see what resonates best with our audience. Our viral 1.3-million-view reel is proof that the right combination of content and strategy can help you make a massive impact. So, get creative, have fun, and remember: creating the perfect viral reel is a journey of trial, error, and constant improvement. Keep going and keep experimenting until you hit that sweet spot.

Happy Reeling! 🎬✨