You can promote your brand, reach new people and engage your audience with Instagram Reels.
Instagram Reels is a content format that allows you to create and share short engaging videos.
What’s the difference between Instagram Reels and Instagram Stories?
Unlike Instagram stories, Instagram Reels don’t disappear after 24 hours.
In this post, we will show what Reels are and how to drive results using them!
What are Instagram reels?
Instagram Reels are short, 15 or 30-second videos.
Like Tiktok, Reels offer a set of editing tools that allow users to create engaging and fun video footage. Reels can include multiple video clips, filters, captions, interactive backgrounds, stickers, and more.
A scrollable tab full of trending Reels can be accessed through the Reels icon at the bottom of the Instagram app’s home page.
How to Create Reels
Select Reels at the bottom of the Instagram camera. You’ll see a variety of creative editing tools on the left side of your screen to help create your reel, including:
- Audio: Search for a song from the Instagram music library. You can also use your own original audio by simply recording a reel with it. When you share a reel with original audio, your audio will be attributed to you, and if you have a public account, people can create reels with your audio by selecting “Use Audio” from your reel.
- AR Effects: Select one of the many effects in our effect gallery, created both by Instagram and creators all over the world, to record multiple clips with different effects.
- Timer and Countdown: Set the timer to record any of your clips hands-free. Once you press record, you’ll see a 3-2-1 countdown, before recording begins for the amount of time you selected.
- Align: Line up objects from your previous clip before recording your next to help create seamless transitions for moments like outfit changes or adding new friends into your reel.
- Speed: Choose to speed up or slow down part of the video or audio you selected. This can help you stay on a beat or make slow-motion videos.
Reels can be recorded in a series of clips (one at a time), all at once, or using video uploads from your gallery. Record the first clip by pressing and holding the capture button. You’ll see a progress indicator at the top of the screen as you record. Stop recording to end each clip. (From Instagram)
Use These 5 Tips to Drive Results With Instagram Reels
1. Add Text to Your Reels
Adding text to reels ensures your content is accessible to more people, and it’s also a creative and fun way to make your content more engaging. To help the algorithm understand what your content is about and serve it to the right audiences, use hashtags, text overlays, and descriptive captions. Check out this tutorial.
2. Tag products to showcase what you’re selling
Make it easy for customers to discover and purchase what you’re selling by adding product tags to your reels. You can also announce your sales and exclusive deals. Join Lauren Kohli, Instagram Business Marketing Manager, for a quick step‑by‑step lesson on tagging your products in reels.
3. Keep it fun!
Make your reels entertaining by creating a consistent format and theme that people can easily recognize as yours. Remember to make it relatable for everyone and easy to recreate.
Think of the virality of what you are creating. The more accessible your reels are the more likely they are to turn into trends. You don’t need to make a high production reel, keep it simple by just using your phone and the effects available in your Reels camera.
4. Don’t be afraid of the green screen
Use the green screen to change your background. With this effect, you can change your virtual background while remaining in focus for your viewers.
5. Engage your community with Reels
Regardless of your industry, Instagram Reels can help you spark creativity and drive results.
With Reels, you can put creativity at the forefront of your business by producing short, entertaining videos on Instagram. You can also edit your videos directly in the mobile app before sharing them with a global and diverse audience.
So, now the question is how can I use reels for my business? Let’s look at these five tips from Instagram Business.
1. Showcase your products in an authentic way.
When sharing the story about your brand or business, you want to make sure it is genuine and not sales-like. But do take this time to tell everyone why your product is unique.
2. Share DIY tips and tricks using your products.
Educate your audience about your brand and how it can be used. In quick snippets, you can share the knowledge you may take for granted as an expert.
3. Add relevant hashtags in your caption to reach more people.
It’s important to use hashtags on your reels to make them easier to find. Add hashtags that are relevant to your video, and include a mix of trending hashtags and niche hashtags that match your reel’s content.
4. Create fun behind-the-scenes content.
Develop a genuine relationship with your followers, especially those truly invested in what you create, try reels for behind-the-scenes footage. Get real with your followers, show them how their items are made or packaged, along with all the chaos and joy!
5. Get creative by adding AR filters and emojis.
Make your Reels fun by adding a bit of flair with emojis and AR filters!
Need help making Reels? Learn more about how Social Know How can help you set up your first campaign on Reels and how to make your creatives stand out.
