How To Analyze Instagram Reels To Conduct A Competitive Analysis

Standing out on Instagram Reels can feel like a race where everyone’s competing for the spotlight. But here’s the secret: winning isn’t about reinventing the wheel—it’s about refining it. By studying what your competitors are doing—what works, what doesn’t, and where they’re missing the mark—you can craft a strategy that not only keeps up with them but that also takes the lead.

Analyzing Instagram Reels will provide you with all the insights necessary to fill in the gaps. It reveals the trends and opportunities that can help you create content your audience loves while saving you time and effort. Why guess when you can know exactly what’s driving engagement in your niche?

Ready to turn your competitors’ playbook into your biggest advantage? Let’s get started on this step-by-step guide and discover how to use competitive analysis to dominate Instagram Reels.

What is a Competitive Analysis on Instagram and Why You Should Do It?

Competitive analysis involves studying your competitors to understand their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses. On Instagram Reels, this means examining how your competitors use the platform to engage their audience. This analysis helps you identify trends, refine your own content strategy, and avoid common pitfalls.

Why is Competitive Analysis Important?

• Identify Trends: Stay updated on what’s working for others in your niche.
• Understand Audience Preferences: Discover what type of content resonates with your shared target audience.
• Avoid Mistakes: Learn from your competitors’ shortcomings to improve your strategy.
• Benchmark Performance: Set realistic goals by comparing engagement metrics.
• Stay Ahead: Develop unique content that sets your brand apart.

How to Analyze Instagram Reels Accounts For Competitive Analysis

Step 1: Identify Your Competitors

Before analyzing Instagram Reels, you need to identify who your competitors are. These could include:

1. Direct Competitors: Businesses offering the same products or services.
2. Indirect Competitors: Brands operating in a related space but targeting a similar audience.
3. Industry Leaders: Major players whose strategies influence the market.

How to Identify Competitors on Instagram

• Search relevant hashtags in your niche.
• Look at businesses followed by your target audience.
• Use Instagram’s “Suggested for You” feature.
• Analyze who your customers mention or tag in their posts.

Once you’ve compiled a list of competitors, narrow it down to 5–10 accounts for detailed analysis.

Step 2: Audit Their Reels Content

Start by analyzing your competitors’ Reels to understand their overall approach. Here’s how:

Content Themes

• What type of content do they post? Are they focusing on tutorials, entertainment, behind-the-scenes, or product showcases?
• How often do they post Reels? This gives you an idea of their content cadence.

Visual Style

• What kind of visuals are they using? Are their videos polished and professional, or casual and relatable?
• Do they incorporate consistent branding elements like logos, fonts, or colors?

Tone and Messaging

• Is their tone humorous, inspirational, or informational?
• How do they communicate their brand values?

Length and Format

• Are their Reels short and snappy (under 15 seconds), or do they take full advantage of the 90-second limit?
• Do they use text overlays, voiceovers, or captions?

Pro Tip: Take notes on recurring themes and styles. For example, if most of your competitors are posting behind-the-scenes Reels that get high engagement, consider incorporating similar content into your strategy. 

You can use tools like Shortimize to get an instant snapshot of the optimal lengths for your niche’s videos based on how they’re performing in your competitors’ accounts.

Step 3: Analyze Engagement Metrics

Numbers don’t lie, and understanding engagement metrics is crucial for competitive analysis. While Instagram doesn’t show detailed analytics for competitors, you can observe visible metrics such as:

• Likes and Comments: Which Reels generate the most interaction?
• Shares and Saves: Look for Reels with high shareable value.
• Views: Check the view count to gauge audience interest.

Tools to Simplify Engagement Analysis

• Social Blade: Provides public metrics for Instagram accounts.
• Shortimize: Offer advanced competitor analysis features. Track any account’s growth, views, and engagement over time
• Manual Tracking: Create a spreadsheet to track visible metrics over time.

Tip: Pay special attention to the type of content that consistently performs well, as it reveals what resonates most with their audience.

Step 4: Examine Hashtags and Captions

Hashtags and captions are essential for discovery and engagement on Instagram. Analyzing your competitors’ choices can help you optimize your own.

Hashtag Strategy

• What hashtags are they using? Are they niche-specific or broad?
• Are they consistent in their hashtag usage, or do they experiment with different tags?
• How many hashtags do they include in their captions?

Caption Style

• Are their captions short and snappy or detailed and informative?
• Do they use call-to-actions (CTAs), like “Comment below” or “Tag a friend”?
• How do they integrate emojis and storytelling into their captions?

Pro Tip: Test different caption styles and hashtags inspired by your competitors’ successful posts to see what works best for your brand.

Step 5: Observe Content Promotion and Collaboration

Reels aren’t just about organic reach—they’re often boosted through promotions or partnerships. Analyzing these efforts can provide insights into your competitors’ broader strategy.

Paid Promotions

• Are they running Instagram ads featuring their Reels?
• Which Reels are being promoted, and why might these have been chosen?

Influencer Collaborations

• Are they partnering with influencers or creators to produce Reels?
• What kind of influencers are they working with (micro, macro, or mega)?
• How do these collaborations enhance their brand presence?

Tip: If influencer collaborations are common in your niche, consider partnering with creators who align with your brand values.

Step 6: Evaluate Their Use of Trends

Trends are the lifeblood of Instagram Reels. Competitors often tap into viral challenges, music tracks, and themes to increase visibility.

How to Analyze Trends

• Identify which trending audio or challenges your competitors are using.
• Check how they adapt trends to fit their brand messaging.
• Observe the timing—do they hop on trends early or after they’ve gained popularity?

Pro tip:  Stay ahead by regularly browsing Instagram’s Explore page and following accounts that spotlight trending Reels content.

Step 7: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses

After collecting data, it’s time to draw insights from your findings. Create a SWOT analysis for each competitor:

• Strengths: What are they doing exceptionally well? (e.g., consistent branding, high engagement)
• Weaknesses: Where are they falling short? (e.g., poor video quality, lack of originality)
• Opportunities: What gaps can you exploit? (e.g., unexplored content themes)
• Threats: How are they outperforming you? (e.g., larger follower base, better collaborations)

Step 8: Apply the Insights to Your Strategy

Once you’ve completed your competitive analysis, use the insights to refine your own Instagram Reels strategy. Here’s how:

Content Creation

• Develop Reels that fill gaps identified in your competitors’ strategies.
• Experiment with content types that have proven successful in your niche.

Audience Engagement

• Mimic effective CTAs and engagement techniques used by your competitors.
• Engage with your audience through comments and DMs to build stronger relationships.

Consistency

• Maintain a consistent posting schedule based on your analysis of competitor frequency.

Differentiation

• While it’s important to learn from competitors, ensure your content reflects your unique brand identity. Avoid copying—stand out by adding your own twist.

Step 9: Monitor and Reassess Regularly

The world of Instagram Reels is evolving rapidly, and competitive analysis is not a one-time task. Set a schedule to reassess your competitors’ strategies every few months. Use this as an opportunity to adapt to new trends and keep your brand relevant.

Final Thoughts

Conducting a competitive analysis using Instagram Reels is an essential step in building a robust social media strategy. By understanding what works for your competitors—and why—you can craft content that not only resonates with your audience but also sets your brand apart in a crowded marketplace.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to imitate your competitors but to learn from them and innovate in ways that elevate your brand. With consistent effort and creativity, Instagram Reels can become a powerful tool for driving engagement, building brand loyalty, and achieving your marketing goals.