Why This Instagram Video Hit 1.2M Views: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
You can film a video like this today. There’s nothing special about the production or editing. In this post, I’ll break down exactly what made this video work, why it’s a proven video structure, and what I’d do differently now, in hindsight, to make it even better.
1. A specific topic, paired with voiceover + subtitles
“Tattoos” is a broad niche. But finger tattoos are very specific—and specificity drives curiosity.
People are always interested in pain levels when it comes to tattoos, especially in areas they’re considering themselves. If someone is thinking about getting a finger tattoo, they’re naturally going to stop and listen to real people sharing their experiences.
The voiceover and subtitles made the video easy to consume with or without sound, which is critical for short-form content.
2. Humor and an approachable tone
Everyone in the video gives an honest reaction, and the humor feels natural—not forced.
That authenticity makes the video relatable. It doesn’t feel scripted or overly polished, which helps viewers connect and stay engaged.
3. Short and to the point
The entire video is only 15 seconds long.
If this were stretched to 30 seconds, people probably wouldn’t care to hear three or four more people say the same thing. Keeping it short increased retention and made it easy to rewatch—both of which help performance.
Watch the original video that was posted to Instagram 👇
Proven Structure
This format has proven itself time and time again — it didn’t just produce a single viral hit with 1.2 million views, but has consistently driven hundreds of thousands of views across multiple videos that I have created.
How I would improve this video today
If I were to remake this today, I would definitely use a shotgun mic for cleaner audio. I also didn’t include background music. Now, I’d add music very subtly, or use a trending audio if I didn’t plan on boosting the post.
I filmed this video before I owned any gear—just my phone. And it still went viral.
That alone proves you don’t need anything fancy to create high-performing content.
GO CREATE YOUR NEXT VIRAL VIDEO TODAY!
