Top Instagram Reel Trends in 2025 Every Small Business Should Try - Part 2
- Vera Bajado
- Sep 8
- 12 min read
Updated: Nov 3
Instagram Reels aren’t slowing down anytime soon. As we move further into 2025, fresh trends are giving small businesses new ways to stay visible, relevant, and engaging. From seasonal themes to creative editing shifts, these trends can help your brand stand out in the feed while aligning with what your audience loves most. For solopreneurs and small business owners, following Instagram Reels trends isn’t just about joining what’s popular. It’s about shaping a content strategy that expands reach, boosts engagement, and turns followers into customers.
And you don’t have to track or test these trends alone. An AI social media assistant like Alkai can help you spot what’s working, plan your content, and create scroll-stopping Reels that match each trend to your unique brand voice.
Part 1 of this series covered the must-try Instagram Reels trends from earlier this year. In this blog, we’re highlighting the next wave of must-try trends for small businesses that want to stay relevant and grow!
Table of Contents
What are Instagram Reels Trends?
Instagram Reels trends refer to the popular styles, challenges, or themes that are currently trending on the platform. These trends often involve a catchy song or audio, and can range from dance challenges to showcasing products or services.
Trending Reels typically feature specific audio clips, visual effects, or themes that resonate with a wide audience. By participating in these trends, businesses can tap into the collective excitement and increase their chances of being discovered by new followers.
Why Follow Instagram Reels Trends?
Following Instagram Reels trends is beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to increase visibility and engagement, as trending content is more likely to be seen by a wider audience. When you create Reels that align with current trends, the Instagram algorithm is more likely to favor your content, boosting its reach.
Secondly, it allows businesses to connect with their audience on a personal level, showcasing their personality and creativity.
Finally, it provides a unique opportunity to showcase products or services in a creative and engaging way, making your brand more memorable and relatable.
Instagram Reel Trends for November 2025
Stop Talking Dirty to Me
Trend Format:
This trend uses a Taylor Swift audio clip with the phrase “stop talking dirty to me.” Creators lip-sync the line while on-screen text shows a seemingly innocent statement that they find amusingly exciting or satisfying.
Why It Works:
The humor comes from the contrast between the innocent text and the dramatic, playful lip-sync. It’s flexible, relatable, and highly shareable.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small business owners can use the trend to react to exciting or satisfying business moments.
Examples:
On-screen text: “Your first big order just came in”
On-screen text: “A customer just left a glowing review”
On-screen text: “Your product just went viral”
On-screen text: “A wholesale client wants 50+ units”
On-screen text: “Your package finally arrived on time”
What Do You Even Do All Day
Trend Format:
Users pace or circle the screen while adding text overlays of the tasks they do throughout the day, set to a looping or buzzing trending audio clip. The trend humorously highlights multitasking, chaos, and the overwhelming aspects of daily life.
Why It Works:
Relatable content sells. Audiences, especially small business owners, connect with the behind-the-scenes reality, making the trend funny, engaging, and highly shareable.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Film yourself or your team pacing or circling while adding text overlays of your daily tasks.
Examples:
Boutique owner: “Restocking,” “packing orders,” “answering DMs”
Interior designer: “Site visits,” “Pinterest boards,” “install reschedules”
Therapist: “Notes,” “client no-shows,” “billing”
Jewelry biz: “Sourcing,” “packaging,” “custom orders”
Wig seller: “Shipping,” “tracking numbers,” “making reels”
Hidden Talent
Trend Format:
The "hidden talent" challenge features users looking confident and ready to sing. The twist is that the performance is usually off-key or imperfect, creating a funny, self-deprecating reveal. Sam Smith’s Stay With Me is a popular audio choice.
Why It Works:
The humor comes from the confident attempt versus the unexpected, funny outcome. It’s relatable and highly shareable because viewers enjoy seeing playful, everyday moments paired with captions that poke fun at themselves.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small business owners can use captions to humorously join the trend.
Examples of captions for this trend:
“Back to work I go”
“Guess I’m still your content creator after all”
“Maybe my day job isn’t over yet”
“Not quitting today either”
“Still have orders to pack…”
Betrayal List
Trend Format:
The "betrayal list" trend has creators list frustrating or ironic aspects of their life. It highlights relatable struggles in a humorous way.
Why It Works: Small business owners resonate with the shared struggles, making the trend relatable and highly engaging.
How Small Businesses Can Use It: Create a funny, relatable list with text overlays.
Examples:
The algorithm not promoting your best content
Abandoned online checkouts
Running out of phone storage
Customers asking “Why is this so expensive?”
Only having 24 hours in a day
Appointment no-shows
“What’s Up, Beez in the Trap” Mashup
Trend Format:
The "What’s Up, Beez in the Trap" mashup has two people standing back-to-back, lip-syncing to a remix of 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up? and Nicki Minaj’s Beez in the Trap. The humor comes from the contrast between the serious rock anthem and Minaj’s explicit rap verse.
Why It Works:
Unexpected audio combinations are funny and surprising. It plays on nostalgia and allows creators to show personality and humor.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small business owners can collaborate or show playful interactions while lip-syncing the two-part audio.
Examples:
Two business owner friends showing contrasting roles (e.g., one managing finances, one creating products)
Staff members or collaborators acting out different sides of the brand
A “before and after” of a product reveal or process, synced to the audio
Maui Wowie
Trend Format:
The "Maui Wowie" trend on Instagram and TikTok is a viral challenge set to the chorus of Kid Cudi’s 2008 song “Maui Wowie.” It typically shows creators hanging from street signs or other overhead objects while lip-syncing to the lyrics, capturing a carefree, summery vibe.
Why It Works:
It’s a refreshing break from the usual dance or lip-sync trends — bold, funny, and visually unexpected. The challenge element makes it instantly eye-catching, while the relaxed audio adds a lighthearted, carefree feel.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small business owners are using this trend to creatively showcase their products and brand vibe.
Examples:
A creator wearing their new clothing line while joining the challenge
A smoothie brand featuring their drink to match the song’s tropical energy
A business owner using the audio with text like “POV: still trying to stay chill while running a business”
⚠️ Note: This trend involves some physical movement, so recreate it safely or use creative camera angles to capture the same energy without actually hanging from anything.
Instagram Reel Trends for October 2025
When did you get hot?
Trend Format:
A before-and-after transformation set to the viral “When did you get hot?” audio. The switch happens right on the beat drop.
Why it Works:
Transformation content is always engaging because viewers love a reveal. The timing with the beat makes it even more satisfying to watch and share.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Show your workspace or product in the early stages, then cut to the polished “after.”
Examples:
Packaging before → after rebrand
Messy desk → neat shop or restaurant setup
Founder in casual mode → CEO mode
I know ball
Trend Format:
A playful trend where you highlight a skill or area of expertise people might not expect you to have. The audio sets up the line “I know ball,” then transitions into clips or proof that you do know what you’re talking about.
Why it Works:
It flips expectations. Viewers first see a surprising or underestimated skill, then get a quick reel of evidence showing your knowledge. That combination of humor and authority makes it highly shareable.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Show off the expertise behind your brand in a fun way. It’s a creative way to prove your credibility without being too serious.
Examples:
Candle maker: “I know ball” → clips of testing wax blends, pouring candles, packaging orders
Coffee shop: “I know ball” → latte art, roasting beans, curating the menu
Skincare founder: “I know ball” → mixing formulas, testing products, explaining ingredients
Unfortunately, I do love…
Trend Format:
The creator shows a list of things they unfortunately can’t resist,
like guilty pleasures, cringy or corny favorites, or even unpopular opinions.
Why it Works:
It’s witty, relatable, and personal. By leaning into guilty pleasures or quirks, creators invite their audience to laugh with them and often spark comments from viewers who share the same “unfortunate” loves.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Share playful quirks about yourself or your brand. It’s a lighthearted way to humanize your business and connect through humor.
Examples:
“Unfortunately, I do love… taste-testing every menu item”
“Unfortunately, I do love… spending hours on packaging design”
“Unfortunately, I do love… buying too many supplies for the studio”
[XYZ]-holic
Trend Format:
A fill-in-the-blank trend where you label yourself an “[XYZ]-holic” to highlight obsessions.
Why it Works:
It’s quick, flexible, and highly relatable. Everyone has an obsession they can poke fun at.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Customize it to your niche. Coffee shops can do “Latte-holic,” skincare brands can do “Serum-holic,” and boutiques can do “Accessory-holic.”
You can even spotlight customer favorites with it!
Examples:
Coffee shop: “Latte-holic” while holding a seasonal latte
Skincare brand: “Serum-holic” while showing product lineup
Boutique: “Accessory-holic” with a stack of jewelry or bags
Ghost Blanket Season 👻
Audio: Jack Sauber - Oh Klohoma
Trend Format:
One or two people throw on a white sheet with eye holes to create a simple ghost costume. They then stand in or around the business, such as inside a restaurant, outside the storefront, or in another recognizable spot. The clip is usually paired with seasonal or spooky music.
Why it Works:
It’s silly, fun, and instantly recognizable as a Halloween classic. Because it is so easy to pull off, creators love bringing it back every October. This makes it a piece of evergreen seasonal content.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
A fun way to bring Halloween spirit into your business. Have one or two “ghosts” stand in front of your shop, sit at a table in your restaurant, or appear in your studio. You don’t need elaborate acting since the humor comes from how out of place the ghost looks in a normal setting.
✨ Evergreen Content ✨
Also, utilize the photos you've snapped for the reel and post them as static images to create even more content!
Examples:
Ghost sitting at a restaurant table with food served
Ghost standing at the entrance of a shop holding shopping bags
Ghost at a studio desk working on products
Instagram Reel Trends for September 2025
I love summer, but…
Trend Format:
This trend starts with the text overlay “I love summer but…” paired with a summery clip. Then it switches to “I have an itch” while showing something that hints at fall or October vibes — like cozy décor, seasonal products, or a new hairstyle.
Why it Works:
It taps into seasonal transitions that people are already feeling. The mix of summer nostalgia with excitement for fall makes it instantly relatable and shareable. It also gives creators a chance to highlight new products, moods, or routines in a fun, timely way.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small businesses can jump on this trend to tease fall launches, show seasonal products, or highlight a shift in mood/style. It’s a clever way to get your audience looking forward to what’s coming next.
Examples:
A hair salon — Show sun-kissed beach waves, then cut to rich fall tones or a fresh autumn haircut.
A coffee shop — Start with iced lattes in the sun (“I love summer but…”), then cut to steaming pumpkin spice lattes (“I have an itch”).
A boutique — Show breezy summer dresses, then switch to cozy knit sweaters or jackets.
Bonus:
This trend works as a carousel too! Recreate it with Slide 1 showing “I love summer but…” over a sunny or summery photo, and Slide 2 showing “I have an itch” paired with cozy fall visuals like décor, seasonal products, or a new look
✨ Want to save time creating both the Reel and the carousel? Alkai can generate video posts and carousels for you in just a few clicks, complete with captions and hashtags tailored to your brand.
Sad, but not really
Trend Format:
This trend shows the creator faking crying about something that sounds disappointing or frustrating at first. But on the audio’s beat, they look straight at the camera and stick their tongue out, showing they’re actually unbothered.
Why it Works: The joke is in the contrast — something that should feel upsetting flips into a lighthearted “I’m fine” moment. It’s funny, relatable, and super easy to recreate in just one clip.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small businesses can use this to turn common frustrations into playful flexes. It’s a way to show resilience, humor, and confidence while giving audiences a peek at what really happens behind the scenes.
Examples:
A beauty coach — Fakes cry about a client cancelling last minute, then tongue out because the payment was already secured.
A baker — Pretend to cry at a last-minute order change, then tongue out while showing they already sold out everything else.
A product-based shop — Fake cry over a customer saying, “I’ll just get it on Amazon,” then tongue out while showing loyal repeat orders.
A new season has begun
Trend Format:
This trend uses a Sex and the City Carrie Bradshaw voiceover with the line “a new season has begun…” paired with autumn-themed clips like cozy décor, seasonal products, or fall fashion.
Why it Works:
The familiar voiceover paired with seasonal visuals makes it instantly engaging. It blends nostalgia with timely content, and viewers love the cozy, aesthetic vibes that come with fall transitions.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Small businesses can use this trend to announce seasonal collections, highlight fall-ready products, or show a behind-the-scenes mood shift. It’s a stylish way to align with the season while keeping content on-trend.
Examples:
Candle business — “a new season has begun…” → show cozy fall candles lit with autumn décor.
Crochet shop — “a new season has begun…” → show from summer tops to chunky fall scarves or blankets.
Home décor brand — “a new season has begun…” → show to pumpkins, earthy tones, and warm table settings.
No matter the occasion
Trend Format:
This trend shows a business in action, repeating the same clip of them getting ready to do their work. The text changes each time to highlight different reasons a client might book — from special events to everyday self-care. The message: no matter the occasion, the business has been there with clients through it all.
Why it Works:
The repetitive clip emphasizes reliability and consistency, while the changing text keeps it fresh. It also taps into emotional storytelling, reminding customers that this business is part of their big and small milestones.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Any service-based business can adapt this trend to show they’re always there for their clients, no matter the occasion. It builds trust and reinforces loyalty by highlighting how integral the business becomes to customers’ lives.
Examples:
Nail tech — Clip: putting on gloves → Text: “I have a vacation” → “I have a birthday party” → “I’m getting married” → “I’m treating myself.”
Bakery — Clip: mixing flour → Text: “It’s my birthday” → “It’s my anniversary” → “It’s the holidays” → “I just need something sweet.”
Florist — Clip: arranging flowers → Text: “I have a date” → “I have a graduation” → “I have a wedding” → “I just love flowers.”
I Love Stuff
Trend Format:
This trend uses the audio that says “I love stuff, I like these kinds of stuff, these stuff…” Creators show different items that they like, usually in a quick, sequential montage. Many businesses simply feature their products, highlighting multiple offerings in a visually appealing way, often with playful transitions or movement to keep viewers engaged.
Why it Works:
The trend is fast, fun, and highly relatable. People love seeing a variety of items presented quickly, and the upbeat audio adds energy. Creators can tailor the content to their niche, making it perfect for showcasing products, services, or even personal favorites.
How Small Businesses Can Use It:
Businesses can use this trend to highlight multiple products in a single Reel, like best-sellers, new arrivals, seasonal collections, or staff favorites. It’s a playful way to show off your offerings while keeping content light, fun, and easy to watch.
Examples:
Skincare brand — Show 5–6 favorite products in a line, moving to the beat of the audio.
Sticker shop — Feature a variety of sticker designs, packs, or seasonal sets.
Boutique accessories store — Showcase outfits or accessories, quickly cutting from one item to the next to match the rhythm.
How Alkai Can Help You Stay on Top of Instagram Reel Trends
Want to use Instagram Reel trends to boost engagement—but not sure where to start? That’s where Alkai comes in.
Alkai is your AI-powered social media assistant, built to help small businesses and creators turn trends into scroll-stopping content—fast.
With Alkai, you can:
✅ Get Reel ideas tailored to your brand, industry, and goals
✅ Generate on-brand captions, CTAs, and hashtags in seconds
✅ Design polished visuals using your brand kit
✅ Auto-schedule Reels across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more
Whether you want to hop on a trend early, remix it for your audience, or keep your content calendar full of timely posts—Alkai makes it effortless.
Stay relevant. Stay consistent. Let Alkai help you ride the trend wave every month.
Final Thoughts
Staying consistent with Instagram Reel trends isn’t just about chasing views or jumping on viral moments—it’s about showing up where your audience already is, with content that feels timely, relevant, and engaging. These trends are your monthly roadmap to what’s capturing attention across the platform, giving you endless opportunities to connect with your audience in creative and authentic ways.
Use this roundup as a starting point: remix sounds, adapt formats, or add your own spin to stand out while staying on trend. Whether you’re promoting a product, building your personal brand, or growing a small business, timely Reels can help boost visibility, engagement, and even sales.
Just remember—Instagram trends change fast. What’s hot this week might be old news the next. That’s why we keep this blog updated monthly, so you always have access to fresh, actionable ideas. Bookmark this page, revisit often, and stay ahead of the curve with Reels that work right now.
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