Mistakes that kill your reach on Reels and Shorts

Hi everyone!

I’m Marina Mogilko, and I’ve achieved millions of views on my Reels thanks to strategic content planning.

During our internal creative session for video content, we reviewed tons of videos, and guess what? We saw the same issues cropping up again and again. So, here are five practical fixes you can implement right away:

Mixing Languages

Imagine watching a video and suddenly, you’re hit with two languages - it can be confusing, right? Well, the algorithm thinks so too. To maintain clarity, choose one language for voice overs, subtitles, and hashtags.

Narrow Topics

If reach is your goal, you’ve got to think bigger. Some topics just don’t resonate with a wide audience. Here's a trick I learned: find topics with broad appeal that still align with your expertise. It’s all about meeting your viewers where they are!

Lack of Structure

A well-structured video keeps viewers engaged. Whether you’re making expert content or vlogs, without a logical flow, people drop off halfway through. Try this simple structure to keep viewers hooked:

• Hook – Grab attention with a bold question or statement.
• Tease the Answer – Tell them the big reveal is at the end.
• Main Content – Dive into the topic, keeping it engaging.
• Answer – Share the promised answer.
• Call to Action – Encourage them to follow, like, or comment.

Inappropriate Formats

If you’re only posting talking-head videos, it’s time to mix things up! Experiment with different styles like storytelling, vlogs, challenges, tips, top 3 lists, or before/after transformations. Variety can work wonders.

Poor Presentation

The fastest way to lose a viewer’s attention? Poor visual appeal. We’ve seen it all:

• Subtitles that are missing or hidden by text overlays.
• Overloaded thumbnails with way too much text.
• Titles that don’t actually explain what the video’s about.

Make sure your thumbnails and titles are clean and clear, and your subtitles are easy to read. This will help keep viewers engaged.

Ready to improve your content?
Follow my next emails for more insights and tips!