The idea in the reel is simple: watch which topics are taking off for creators in your niche, then make your own take on them. This guide shows two tools that do the tracking, a free manual method, and prompts that turn a trending topic into an original script.
What you need
An Instagram professional account so you can see your own insights.
A list of 10 to 30 creators in your niche, including some at your level and some bigger.
One tracking tool (optional, paid after a trial):
Sandcastles: a Channel Feed that tracks up to 50 channels across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts and flags "outlier" videos that beat that creator's own average. Has a 7-day free trial. Sandcastles (details via The GTM Directory)
Virlo: finds outlier Reels in your niche, tracks competitors, shows a daily trend tracker and writes scripts. Starter plan is listed at $34 a month (billed yearly) with a 7-day trial. Virlo
Any AI chatbot for the scripting prompts below.
The reel does not name the website it uses, so we could not confirm which tool it shows. The tools above do the same kind of job.
Step by step
Build your watchlist. Add your 10 to 30 niche creators to the tool. No tool? Make a simple sheet with each creator's handle and check their Reels tab once a week.
Find outliers, not just big numbers. A reel with 200K views on an account that usually gets 10K is a stronger signal than 1M views on a page that always gets 1M. Note the topic, the hook and the format (talking head, screen recording, list, story).
Group them into topics. After a week you will see 3 to 5 themes that keep working. Those are your topics, not the individual videos.
Write your own take with this prompt:
I make Instagram reels about [your niche] for [your audience].
Here is a topic that is performing well in my niche: [topic in one line].
Here is the angle other creators took: [one-line summary, not their script].
Write 3 different angles I could take that are clearly my own:
1. one from my personal experience: [add 1-2 real details about you]
2. one that disagrees or adds a caveat
3. one practical "how to" for beginners
For each: a 1-line hook, 3 key points, and a closing question.
Do not reuse the other creator's wording, examples or structure.Turn the best angle into a script in your voice:
Here are 3 captions or scripts I have written before, so you can learn my
voice: [paste 3 of your own past captions].
Using that voice, write a 30-second reel script for this angle: [angle].
Short sentences. Hook in the first 2 seconds. One clear takeaway.
End with: "Comment [WORD] and I'll send you [what you are giving]."Film it yourself. Use your own visuals, b-roll and examples. Do not re-upload, screen-record or mirror another creator's clip.
Review weekly. In Instagram insights, compare reach and saves for each topic. Double down on the topics that work for your audience, and retire the rest.
Good to know
Inspiration, not copying. Topics and formats are fair game; someone's exact script, footage, visuals or jokes are not. Copying can get reels removed for copyright and hurt your reach.
No guarantee of going viral. This method improves your odds of picking topics people want. It does not promise views or a follower count.
Tool data comes from public posts. Use these tools as their terms allow, and check prices on their sites before you subscribe; trials need cancelling before they renew.
Credit when you build on someone. If your reel responds to a specific creator's idea, tagging them is good practice.
Sources
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