how to make your app go viral on Instagram with 15M+ views

SUMMARY

Desmond shares strategies for creating viral Instagram Reels for his SaaS app Rise, achieving 15M+ views, drawing from personal experiments in content approaches, algorithm insights, and cultural resonance.

STATEMENTS

Short-form videos like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts share similar platform logic but require platform-specific tweaks for optimal performance.
Instagram Reels support diverse content including entertainment and educational videos, unlike TikTok's U.S.-centric culture or YouTube Shorts' localization and face-focused preferences.
Virality in shorts relies on resonating with culture and subcultures, which are hard to engineer compared to programmable marketing channels like SEO.
To create viral content, deeply understand your target audience's followed accounts, liked posts, and preferred cultures or subcultures like memes or gaming.
Reels success involves luck and testing content approaches; time alone isn't sufficient, but testing around 25 variations can break through luck barriers.
Only about 4% of tested content approaches may go viral, emphasizing the need to find fitting strategies for your SaaS niche.
After the first viral Reel (100K+ views), algorithm pushes subsequent content more readily, creating a snowball effect, though algorithm risk persists.
Content variables like video quality and audio matter most for initial distribution; performance metrics like watch time (aim for 80%+) drive virality.
Avoid buying followers or relying on friends for engagement, as organic beginner traction tests true interest; algorithms detect low-quality or copied content.
Content approaches include memes, POV videos, and daily series; integrate them while always relating to your product for SaaS promotion.
To find fitting approaches, immerse in audience culture or replicate viral content from niche accounts your audience follows.
Generate ideas by daily scrolling Reels as your target audience, noting viral patterns and adapting them to promote your SaaS.
Use tools like CapCut for quick edits; for mobile apps, employ good cameras to showcase UI effectively.
Profile setup is secondary but optimize for a consistent vibe (e.g., chill and goofy) that aligns with your brand and audience.
Post Reels without overthinking; consistency until first viral hit is key, then space out to avoid distribution penalties.
Virality timeline varies; persistence through 10+ weeks of testing multiple accounts and approaches may be needed.
Enrich cultural exposure beyond books by observing daily Instagram trends and transforming them into product-relevant Reels.
Diversify marketing channels and avoid over-relying on engagement groups or paid boosts, which offer limited organic benefits.

IDEAS

Shorts encapsulate cultural resonance over supply-demand economics, making virality unpredictable yet mass-immersed creators like teenagers excel naturally.
Engineering culture is impossible without deep audience immersion, turning content creation into a probabilistic gamble rather than a formula.
Luck acts as a bottleneck in Reels, but systematic testing of 25 content variations can elevate odds from random to strategic breakthrough.
The 4% rule highlights that only a tiny fraction of efforts yield virality, rewarding ruthless experimentation in niche-fitting approaches.
Instagram's diverse algorithm avoids regional biases like TikTok's U.S. focus, enabling global creators harder-hit by localization elsewhere.
High watch time (80%+) signals quality to algorithms, incentivizing replays through hooks like jokes to skyrocket distribution.
Beginner accounts gain organic traction without followers, as algorithms prioritize engagement signals over account size initially.
Memes and POV videos thrive for B2C SaaS by blending humor with product plugs, while B2B may need testimonials over jokes.
Replicating competitors' viral formats accelerates discovery, bridging cultural gaps for non-native creators targeting distant audiences.
Daily 10-minute Reels scrolling as your audience uncovers adaptable patterns, transforming irrelevant virals into product-specific ideas.
CapCut enables rapid meme adaptations by swapping captions and audio, preserving viral elements while inserting SaaS narratives.
Profile vibes like "chill and goofy" boost follow-through rates, but overthinking alignment can delay posting viral potentials.
First viral Reels (100K views) unlock snowballing growth, yet daily posting post-breakthrough risks algorithmic fatigue.
Algorithm detects low-effort copies via AI screening, punishing unedited reposts with zero views.
Cultural enrichment via Instagram observation empowers replication, turning passive consumption into proactive SaaS promotion.
Patience and multi-channel diversification mitigate Reels' high-risk timeline, as some breakthrough in days while others never do.

INSIGHTS

Virality hinges on cultural immersion rather than technical perfection, positioning outsiders as perpetual learners in audience subcultures.
Testing trumps time in breaking luck barriers, as diverse content approaches amplify probability in an otherwise random distribution game.
Watch time as the paramount metric reveals that retention hooks, not just visuals, dictate algorithmic favoritism and exponential reach.
Organic beginner bonuses underscore algorithms' impartiality to follower count, valuing genuine engagement over artificial inflation.
Replicating niche virals democratizes success for non-locals, leveraging competitors' cultural insights without original invention.
Content approaches must hybridize for SaaS fit, blending entertainment with utility to navigate B2B/B2C variances effectively.
Profile optimization serves as a subtle converter, where vibe alignment sustains traffic beyond initial Reel impressions.
Post-viral spacing prevents saturation, balancing momentum with algorithmic rest to sustain long-term distribution health.
Zero-view pitfalls signal quality deficits, prompting iterative editing to evade AI detection of inauthentic efforts.
Cultural observation evolves creators from consumers to architects, abstracting trends into resonant, product-infused narratives.
Risk diversification across channels tempers Reels' volatility, ensuring SaaS growth isn't singularly beholden to short-form whims.
Breakthrough timelines reflect market hardness, advising abandonment thresholds to redirect energy toward viable alternatives.

QUOTES

"Short is all about attention and attention that resonates to your culture."
"You can engineer culture it's very it's a very fake terms and that's why for art marketing channels like SEO like s or Co email you can all done programmatically automatically or through algorithm because you can calculate something but culture cannot calculate culture."
"If you can answer these three questions congratulations you have you're very close to getting fire hello."
"Only 4% around 4% of your content could go viral so that's 25."
"Your videos can be crappy but um there's some kind of content approach like memes that accept low quality or video thatti dozen takes you a lot of effort to edit."
"Watch time matters the most I'll explain why so these are two videos that I made that went the most viral for me and then hold on right so this one it is 10 this is 12 second long and then it got 10c average watch time which is about 80% people watch a whole ass video this is crazy."
"Don't buy followers or ask all your friends to follow you that's related to the algorithm because um imagine if you just post a r and the r algorithm it would try to reach people who might be interested in your content."
"Post don't overthink this is an example the most FAL r that I made is is kungu Panda uh MIM I have to sit in my draw for two weeks after I edit it I didn't post it for two weeks because I thought it didn't allow with my brand."
"The first viral is at least 100K views that is fireal any other any less is not viral."

HABITS

Scroll Reels for 10 minutes daily while imitating target audience accounts to spot viral patterns and generate ideas.
Test ruthlessly by drafting lists of 20 audience-followed accounts and 10 content approaches, then adapt and post consistently.
Record content ideas immediately upon inspiration, using tools like Notion pages to catalog adaptations for later execution.
Post Reels every day until achieving the first viral hit, then reduce frequency to avoid algorithmic penalties.
Immerse in target audience culture by following 50+ relevant accounts and observing daily trends without overcomplicating creativity.
Enrich exposure to diverse cultures through regular Instagram use, critically analyzing immersed vibes for replication opportunities.
Learn basic video editing via quick YouTube tutorials, applying skills in CapCut for efficient Reel production.

FACTS

Desmond's Rise app Reels achieved up to 13.8 million views, driving over 35,000 monthly website visitors solely from Instagram.
Average watch time for viral Reels reached 80-100%, far exceeding the typical 20-30% benchmark for short-form content.
Testing 12 content approaches across four accounts over 10 weeks led to the first 100K+ view viral Reel.
Beginner accounts with just 10 followers can organically hit 10,000 views if content quality engages algorithms early.
Instagram Reels algorithm pushes content to interested users first, scaling based on engagement before broader distribution.
Repurposed content performs worse on TikTok and YouTube Shorts due to platform-specific cultural and localization preferences.
Paid Reel boosts under $50 may signal seriousness to algorithms but rarely trigger organic virality alone.

REFERENCES

Rise app (mobile habit app for self-improvement).
Instagram account: /riseapp.life.
Notion guide: https://design-and-build.notion.site/... (for Reel strategies).
X account: /desmondhth.
CapCut (free video editing tool with powerful features).
Kung Fu Panda meme (adapted for viral Reel).
Google Analytics dashboard (tracking Instagram-driven traffic).
Marketing AI project (upcoming launch on Product Hunt).
Waitlist for Marketing AI.

HOW TO APPLY

Identify your target audience's culture by listing three key elements: accounts they follow, posts they like, and subcultures they engage with, then immerse by following 50 similar profiles.
Draft 20 audience-relevant accounts and 10 content approaches like memes or POV videos, ensuring each ties back to your SaaS product for relevance.
Scroll Reels daily for 10 minutes in audience mode, noting viral patterns; adapt one idea immediately by downloading, editing in CapCut, and swapping captions to feature your product.
Shoot your first Reel using a good camera for UI demos, edit basics in CapCut via a 30-minute tutorial, and plug your product explicitly unless building personal brand.
Optimize profile with a clear bio using your tagline and link, aiming for a vibe like chill-motivational that matches audience preferences, then post without delay.
Maintain daily posting until hitting 100K views on one Reel, tracking watch time and engagement; post multiple accounts simultaneously to accelerate testing and iteration.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Test diverse content approaches ruthlessly to break viral luck barriers and resonate culturally with your SaaS audience on Instagram Reels.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Prioritize watch time optimization by incorporating replay hooks like jokes in short 8-12 second Reels to exceed 80% retention.
Avoid overthinking brand alignment; post edited Reels immediately to capitalize on organic beginner traction before scaling.
Replicate viral formats from niche competitors rather than inventing originals, adapting 20% fitting approaches for your market.
Diversify beyond Reels early by exploring SEO or email, reducing reliance on algorithm risks and extending breakthrough timelines.
Enrich daily cultural exposure through targeted scrolling, transforming observed trends into product-plugged content for sustained resonance.
Limit paid boosts to under $50 initially, focusing on organic signals like high-quality edits to build genuine algorithmic trust.
Create multiple test accounts to parallelize 10-12 approach experiments, shortening the path to your first 100K-view viral hit.
Integrate memes for B2C or testimonials for B2B, always ensuring product relevance to convert views into website traffic.

MEMO

Desmond, the creator behind the self-improvement SaaS app Rise, has turned Instagram Reels into a powerhouse for growth, amassing over 15 million views and driving 35,000 monthly visitors to his site. In a candid mini-course drawn from his X giveaway, he demystifies the art of virality, emphasizing that success isn't about polished perfection but cultural resonance. Shorts like Reels, TikTok videos, and YouTube clips share a core logic of capturing fleeting attention, yet Instagram stands out for its diversity, welcoming entertainment, education, and everything in between without the U.S.-heavy bias of TikTok or the localized, face-centric bent of YouTube. For SaaS marketers, this openness is a boon, but Desmond warns: virality defies calculation. Unlike SEO's predictable algorithms, Reels thrive on unengineerable culture—broad life experiences and niche subcultures like memes or gym routines—that demand deep audience empathy.

At the heart of Desmond's strategy lies a probabilistic mindset, where luck looms large but can be outmaneuvered through relentless testing. He illustrates this with a graph of effort versus outcome: mere time investment yields flat results, constrained by randomness. Instead, experiment with 25 content approaches—memes, point-of-view (POV) skits, daily series—to hit the "4% rule," where only a sliver of efforts explode. His breakthrough came after 10 weeks, four test accounts, and 12 strategies, including anime edits and quote overlays, culminating in a Kung Fu Panda meme that netted 13.8 million views despite initial doubts about brand fit. The algorithm, Desmond hypothesizes, prioritizes watch time above all—aim for 80% retention in 8-12 second clips by embedding jokes or hooks that prompt replays. Audio trends and minimal hashtags guide initial distribution, but performance metrics like shares and saves propel wider reach, snowballs forming post-first viral (defined as 100,000 views).

Finding the right approach starts with immersion: follow 50 accounts your audience loves, scroll Reels for 10 minutes daily, and adapt virals to your product. Desmond demonstrates live, downloading a motivational meme, swapping its caption in CapCut to "How it feels starting a life reset with my bro—and failing," then layering his app as the solution. For mobile SaaS like Rise, good cameras capture UI seamlessly; web apps tolerate simpler setups. Profiles matter less than content but set the vibe—chill and goofy for his motivational niche, with a tagline bio linking to the site. Post without hesitation: overthinking delayed his biggest hit, and zero views often signal lazy copies, as Instagram's AI sniffs out inauthenticity. Beginners get an organic boost, even with 10 followers, proving algorithms reward quality over quantity.

Virality's timeline is unpredictable—some strike on day one, others toil endlessly amid "algorithm risk." Desmond advises patience, cultural enrichment via daily trend observation, and diversification into other channels to hedge bets. Engagement groups and modest Reel boosts ($20-50) offer marginal help but can't buy organic magic; Meta ads suit paid plays better. For sponsors, he teases a bonus on collaborative Reels, underscoring community ties. Ultimately, Reels aren't a silver bullet but a high-reward gamble for SaaS visibility, rewarding those who treat culture as clay—mold it into product narratives that echo the masses' unspoken yearnings for improvement.

In wrapping his course, Desmond plugs his upcoming Marketing AI tool on Product Hunt, inviting course completers to message him on X for deeper chats. His journey from zero traction to millions of impressions reveals a counterintuitive truth: the creators closest to cultural pulses—teens immersed in subcultures—dominate effortlessly, while marketers must bridge gaps through replication and grit. For SaaS founders eyeing explosive growth, this blueprint urges action over analysis: test boldly, post daily until breakthrough, and let resonance, not formulas, fuel the fire.