My 5 highest-performing posts on Instagram

I was amazed by your reactions to my last email about LinkedIn’s top-performing posts — so let’s do the same, but this time for Instagram 🚀

The #1 metric for Instagram growth isn’t likes - it’s shares and saves.
Here’s a curious thing I discovered recently - carousels perform SO MUCH BETTER than Reels these days. See the stats below and you’ll be blown away!

Here are 5 Instagram formats that went viral for us for the last 90 days:

1. An inspiring carousel post

• Carousels are now one of the strongest formats for gaining traction and driving higher reach.

• Story: a 15-year-old intern from LinguaTrip grew into a Forbes-listed entrepreneur.

• Inspiring content gets saved, shared, and spreads through positive word-of-mouth.

  My result: 722 918 views

2. A humorous conference Reel

• Idea: wearing a giant QR code on my back so people could scan and connect.

• Humor + exaggeration + “hack” effect = highly shareable.

• Easy to replicate, which encouraged others to try it.

  My result: 734 677 views

3. A sponsored Reel that broke the rules

• Normally ads get fewer views — this one hit almost 700K+.

• Why? We tied it to a trending topic: LABUBU.

• Showcased an AI video generator app in a way people wanted to save for later.

• The audience loved it, and the advertiser was thrilled.

  My result: 699 940 views

4. A child’s take on an adult question: “What do you do for a living?”

• Children’s answers feel authentic and instantly capture attention.

• The mix of humor, surprise, and innocence makes it highly shareable.

• Format: simple Q&A clip — one short question, one unfiltered response.

  My result: 270 701 views

5. A real screenshot from a financial app

• Personal data attracts high engagement - money always sparks curiosity.

• Format: portfolio breakdown with real percentages, not abstract numbers.
  (Spoiler alert: I invested $90K and earned $52K - without adding a single extra dollar)

• Investing is a trending topic - audiences love a behind-the-scenes look at how others manage and allocate funds.

  My result: 269 945 views

These formats won’t guarantee 500K views every time - but they consistently give your content the best shot at going viral.
Use them, make them yours, and let the numbers surprise you.