Forget Posts & Stories — Reels Are the Only Thing Growing Accounts in 2025

Once, it seemed like there was a formula for achieving success: posting reliably, writing thoughtfully, and staying active on Stories felt like a formula for success. And for a while, it was. I remember spending hours tweaking grid layouts and writing captions that read like microblog essays — all for a couple of dozen likes and maybe a new follower or two. However, by mid-2024, the metrics began to dip. What used to work simply… stopped working. 

I then uploaded a Reel. It was casual, fast-paced, and cut to a trending sound. Within three days, it had outperformed everything else on my page combined. Not just on reach and impressions — people were actually interacting with this post. My follower count was moving again, and my DM count was about to spill over. That was when it dawned on me: Reels aren’t just the future; they are the present. If you’re still relying on static posts or passive Stories in 2025, you’re working twice as hard for half the result. No wonder if you go on the big brands like Nike’s Instagram grid – it’s just a combination of reels. Need more convincing?

Reels Are Instagram’s Priority

When you look at your feed or at the Explore page, one thing is for sure: Reels reign supreme. They are the new default. Now autoplaying, Reels are even more attention-grabbing (and addictive) than posts were. You could say they represent a new frontier of video on Instagram, not just because they are hosted here, but because they follow you no matter where you go within the app. Reels have been reincorporated across the platform in a way that looks borderline obsessive.

It was stated directly by Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram: “To grow on Instagram in 2025, you must post Reels. There’s no other way. Period.”

Reels’ increasing prominence in not just Instagram’s design, but also its algorithmic functions, can’t be overstated. Statements like the one above highlight how engaging, interactive, and stickily profitable Reels are becoming. They engage users for more extended periods, incite more interactions, and provide Instagram with the behavioral signals it needs to keep everything else it’s doing “sticky” (in the sense that users will want to keep sticking around for more). 

And Instagram folks are certainly not shy about talking up in their statements the ways in which Reels are already making Instagram more profitable.

This has become very clear from the algorithm. Content on Reels is discovered in places where even static posts cease having any reach. Still basing your content strategy on Stories and just regular grid posts puts you some distance from expressing in a way that should elicit growth, and it pulls against the algorithm.

Smart Creators Are Promoting Their Reels — Because Visibility Isn’t Guaranteed

But just making a great Reel isn’t enough. With millions of videos uploaded daily, even strong content can get buried before it has a chance to gain traction. That’s something I learned the hard way. I used to spend hours editing videos that would fizzle out after a couple of hundred views — not because they weren’t good, but because they didn’t get seen.

That’s when I started taking the promotion more seriously. Strategic visibility is what separates content that disappears from content that scales. One of the simplest ways to give your videos that essential kickstart is by buying targeted reels views through trusted paid promotion services like PopularityBazaar. It’s not about chasing fake numbers — it’s about getting your content in front of real people long enough for it to perform.

When your Reel starts strong, it sends a signal to Instagram’s algorithm that it’s worth showing to others. That initial push can lead to more shares, more engagement, and ultimately, more organic reach — the kind that sticks.

It’s Not Just About Views — Reels Are the New Entry Point to Influence

For a long time, I thought engagement was the metric that mattered most. However, the fundamental shift occurred when I realized how Reels were functioning like digital front doors. New followers weren’t discovering me through grid posts or hashtags. They were watching a single Reel — and from there, exploring everything else. My link-in-bio clicks went up. So did DM replies. Reels were pulling people into my world in a way no other content ever had.

Agencies working with US-based influencers report that accounts prioritizing Reels are seeing up to 47% higher follower growth over a 60-day window. It’s not because their content is wildly different — it’s because the format is doing the heavy lifting. Reels are being served more often, to more people, in more places across Instagram’s ecosystem.

So, if you’re still prioritizing Stories or static posts while treating Reels as optional, it might be time to reframe how you think about growth. Reels aren’t an extra. They’re the main stage.

2025 Is the Year of Short-Form, Cross-Platform Growth — and Reels Are Leading the Charge

Short-form video is no longer just a TikTok phenomenon. In 2025, it’s become the backbone of every platform — from YouTube Shorts to Pinterest Video Pins. But nowhere is the shift more visible than on Instagram. According to DataReportal’s 2025 Q1 update, Reels now drive over 30% of all time spent on Instagram, making them the platform’s most consumed content type, even ahead of Stories.

This has wide-reaching implications. Brands are shifting their ad budgets toward Reels campaigns. Creators are being offered paid partnerships specifically tied to Reel performance. And new monetization features are being released for Reels-first accounts before anyone else.

If you’re serious about growing a brand or audience on Instagram — or even across platforms — Reels are the smartest entry point. They don’t just boost visibility; they create momentum. And momentum is everything in 2025.

Final Thoughts: Reels Aren’t Just Trending — They’ve Rewritten the Rules

In 2025, growing on Instagram has less to do with aesthetics and more to do with adaptability. The creators who are winning right now aren’t necessarily better — they’re just paying attention to where attention is flowing. And right now, that’s Reels.

If your account growth has plateaued, or if you’re spending more time creating than being seen, the fix might not be more content — it might be better visibility. Posting Reels consistently is the foundation. But making sure they’re actually seen? That’s where smart promotion comes in.

You’re not late to the game, but it is time to start playing by the new rules.