April 23, 2021
Hilarious dance routines, lip-synching, speedy costume changes, Instagram reels (ig reels) are everywhere, and they’re fast becoming one of Instagram’s trendiest video tools. While it might feel like reels are yet another feature to know about, we promise it’s worthwhile. Not only can ig reels skyrocket your engagement and boost your followers, but they are an engaging, fresh way to communicate your brand.
In this ultimate guide to Instagram reels, you’ll learn why you should consider using this feature for your business and how to use reels on Instagram like a pro.
Think short, snappy videos that are on-point and fun. Taking after the explosive social media app, TikTok, Instagram reels were launched in August 2020, enabling Instagram users to play with video storytelling creatively.
With reels, app users can record, edit, publish and discover videos up to 30 seconds long. Packed with editing tools like augmented reality filters, stickers, audio, and text, reels are offered in a full-screen portrait format. They can be shared with followers and a global community of users. Posting and exploring clips is easy; users need to go to the Reels feed on the Explore page by tapping the Reel symbol at the top of the screen.
Who’s using Instagram Reels?
From creatives, influencers, and millennials to big-name brands like Netflix, Sephora, Nike, and Burger King, more and more businesses are recognizing the appeal of reels, with fashion labels like Louis Vuitton already boasting an average of seven million views for their reels.
In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, trends can explode overnight. And it’s brand influencers and creators who keep an eye on trends that usually reap the benefits. From meeting consumer expectations to speaking to a younger audience like millennials and generation Z, reels can be an incredible marketing asset to have.
Embrace Instagram reels and:
So are reels right for your business? The truth is, only you will be able to answer that question. Whether reels are right for you or not depends on how you want to communicate your brand and position yourself on social media. More importantly, you need to know who your target audience is and whether they’d engage with reels. A key tip would be to create a concise strategy, pinpointing what you’re trying to achieve with reels.
If you want the Instagram algorithm to favor your reels, here are some best practice tips to help get you there.
Do:
Don’t post reels that are:
To learn how to post a reel on Instagram, follow the four steps to success below.
Go to the Instagram Stories camera and swipe to ‘Reels’. Before recording your video, choose a song to accompany the clip. Simply search through Instagram’s library in the search tab and pick a song.
Next, set up your timer and countdown. Note that when you press record, the 3-2-1 countdown will appear before the recording begins.
If you wish, you can add effects to your reel from Instagram’s effects gallery. The effects icon appears on the left-hand side of the screen. Finally, you can opt to speed up or slow down your video or audio, so if you’re feeling particularly creative, play with different concepts.
Press and hold the record icon. Then press the record button to wrap up the clip when you’re ready. If you want to add another reel, tap the record button again to record a new clip. To merge multiple clips into one seamless reel, press the Align button below the Timer.
This is where you can get really creative. When you finish recording, boost your reel with colorful options like stickers, drawing, and text.
If you want to go a step further, you can add a caption, hashtags, tag people, edit the video thumbnail, and choose where you want your reel to appear. When you’re ready to publish, tap the > button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen to post your reel. If your account is open to the public, your reel will pop up on the Explore page, where anyone can watch the reel.
If you’re looking to take your Instagram marketing to the next level, here are some practical tips to consider.
Conduct market research
Spend some time watching popular reels in the Explore tab. Comb through your competitors’ reels and take stock of what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong. Finally, look into your target audience and ask yourself the question; what do I want my target audience to learn from my reel? Ultimately, knowing your end goal will make a huge difference in creating strategic, impactful reels.
Create a storyboard
Reels work best with a strategy in mind. Map out a storyboard, shot-by-shot, of what story your reel will tell. Since you only have 30 seconds to tell a story about your brand, make each second count, and don’t try to cram too much information in.
Forget hard selling
Reels aren’t about hard-selling your product or service; they’re about starting a conversation about your brand or telling a compelling story that will hook your target audience.
Measure performance with a third-party tool like Linkhawk
Tracking how many people watch your reels is key to adjusting your Instagram strategy and measuring marketing performance.
Need extra tips? Check out our guide to Social Media Marketing Tips.
Reels in Instagram provide a fast-and-furious way to share tips, engage consumers, and ultimately tell a brand story in a meaningful way. To meet the changing landscape of social media, stay on top of this latest marketing trend and give this dynamic feature a try; you won’t regret it.
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