Reels vs. Grid: How to Use Both to Grow on Instagram in 2025
You may already know that posting Reels can drastically improve your discoverability and reach on Instagram. But does that mean you should stop posting to your Grid? And are Grid posts and Reels two separate tracks, or part of the same strategy?
The short answer: they’re both essential, and when you use them together intentionally, they strengthen your brand and help you grow your audience.
Here’s how to think about Grid posts and Reels in 2025, and how to plan a posting strategy that works for both.
Why Reels and Grid Posts Serve Different Purposes
Reels and Grid posts are both important, but they work differently in the algorithm — and in your audience’s experience of your brand.
Think of Reels as your growth engine.
Reels are designed to reach people who don’t follow you yet.
They show up in Explore, Reels tabs, and suggested feeds, making them your best tool for discoverability and audience growth.
Think of Grid posts as your relationship builders.
Your static Grid posts, still images and carousels, are mostly seen by people who already follow you.
They’re where you deepen connection, tell longer stories, and create posts people save, comment on, and share privately.
If you only post Reels, you’re missing the chance to nurture the people already here. If you only post Grid content, you’re missing the chance to get in front of new audiences. Bottom line: you need both.
How to Plan Reels and Grid Posts Together
When you plan your content calendar, you don’t need to choose between the two formats; you just need to make sure they complement each other.
For example:
Post a Reel that tells a short, emotional story, then follow up with a carousel or still on your Grid that expands on it or links to your blog or Substack.
Use your Grid to guide people toward next steps; like reading your story, saving your post, signing up for your list, or commenting.
Both formats are part of the same brand story, they just serve slightly different purposes in your audience’s journey.
How often should you be posting both?
Once you understand what each format does, the next question is: how often should you post?
The good news is, Instagram doesn’t “punish” you for posting more; but consistency and quality matter more than quantity.
For most creators building a personal brand:
Post three to five Reels per week to keep growing.
Post two to three Grid (carousel or still) posts per week to nurture your audience.
Show up in Stories daily to keep your audience engaged between posts.
If you have the content and the bandwidth, you can experiment with posting more, even one Reel per day, as long as you can maintain quality and your sharing something of substance.
What Can Hurt You on Instagram
If you sacrifice storytelling, editing, or clarity just to hit higher volume, your average watch time will dip, which can hurt reach.
If your audience feels overwhelmed or fatigued, engagement can drop.
If you post multiple Reels too close together — for example, two Reels within 12 hours — the second one may not perform as well because the first is still being pushed.
What Can Help You on Instagram
Consistency is better than bursts.
Stick to a steady rhythm, three to five per week, rather than posting daily for a week and then disappearing.
Space Reels out by at least 24 hours (ideally 36–48) to give each one room to perform.
Focus on saves, shares, and watch time, not just likes or comments, since those signals drive the algorithm.
You Don’t Need to Post Like a Media Company to See Success on Instagram
If you’ve watched massive media brands like Good Morning America or ESPN, you know they post dozens of times per day. But remember, media companies play by different rules. They have millions of followers, so each post reaches different segments of their audience. Their audience expects constant updates. And their content is transactional (news, highlights, and updates), not relational.
Your audience connects with you on a more personal, emotional level. Your stories are meant to make people feel something, not just scroll past. That’s why posting more intentionally, with both Reels and Grid content, works better for a personal brand.
Key Takeaway: Deploy A Balanced Strategy
If you want to grow on Instagram in 2025, you don’t need to choose between Reels and Grid posts, you need both.
Reels help you reach new people.
Grid posts help you keep the ones who are already here.
Start here:
Three to five Reels per week.
Two to three Grid posts per week.
Daily Stories to tie everything together.
If you can sustain more without losing quality, go for it, but don’t feel pressured to post like a newsroom. When you use each format for what it’s best at, they’ll work together to grow your audience and deepen your connection with them at the same time.
If you’re ready to map out a strategy for your Reels and Grid posts, one that actually works for your goals and your bandwidth, join us inside Personal Brand Accelerator. We help creators just like you tell better stories, grow their audience, and build a brand that feels as good as it looks.
