The Top 5 Types of Instagram Posts That Get Views

Instagram is crowded, but the right kind of content can still stop the scroll. Current 2026 benchmark data shows that carousels are generating some of the strongest view counts across account sizes, while Reels remain especially valuable for discovery, comments and shares.

So, what should you post?

1. Educational Carousels
Tips, checklists, mini-guides and “how-to” posts give people a reason to swipe, save and revisit your content. Carousels currently lead Instagram formats in average views and engagement, making them especially valuable for businesses with something useful to teach.

2. Short, Entertaining Reels
Quick videos that are funny, surprising, visually satisfying or culturally relevant can help your content travel beyond your existing followers. Keep the opening strong—the first few seconds should immediately give viewers a reason to stay.

3. How-To and Demonstration Reels
Show the product in action. Explain a process. Answer a common customer question. Useful video content combines Instagram’s discovery potential with information audiences can actually use.

4. Before-and-After or Transformation Posts
Transformations naturally create curiosity. Whether it is a makeover, renovation, recipe, design project or business result, audiences want to see how the story ends. Carousel formatting works particularly well because viewers actively swipe through the progression.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Content
People like seeing the process and personality behind a brand. Show preparation, production, packaging, an event setup or a candid moment customers normally would not see.

The takeaway? Give people something worth watching, swiping, saving or sharing. Do more than appear on a screen—Be a show-stopper.