In an attempt to engage your audience, build your community, and promote your brand through Instagram, you probably decided to start using Reels. In this article, we will show you how to use Instagram Reels so that your posts look great, get lots of views, and generate new leads for your business.
Short-form video content has been all the rage these days since TikTok became mainstream. In recent times, other social media giants have fully embraced this trend and developed their own short-form video content features. One of these social media platforms is Instagram, with its short-form video feature called Reels.
Although it was initially criticised for being a copy of TikTok, Instagram Reels has managed to grow in popularity and has now become one of the most used features on the platform.
Whether you are a business owner, influencer, or content creator, you can use Instagram Reels to create engaging short-form videos that will help you boost your reach and engagement.
Let’s dive deeper!
What Are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels is a short-form video feature that allows you to create up to 60-second clips for educational, creative or entertainment purposes. Reels provides you with several editing tools to help you create fun and engaging videos, including the ability to add music, AR effects, text overlays, filters, stickers, and more.
You can also use Reels to create how-to guides and product reviews, as well as give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Building credibility and trust with your audience is possible by engaging them in this way.
What’s more, the fact that Instagram Reels are suggested to users based on their interests means that you will be able to reach a wider audience already engaged with similar content.
However, Reels should not be confused with Stories, another popular Instagram feature. Stories typically disappear in 24 hours, have fewer editing options, and include other formats like still images.
Why Use Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels can help you:
• Boost your reach and engagement.
• Build trust and credibility with your audience.
• It empowers you to express your creativity.
• Increase sales and conversions.
• Get discovered by new audiences.
We bet you are now sold on using Instagram Reels for your business. So, without further ado, let’s move on to our step-by-step guide on using Instagram Reels.
Instagram Reels: Here’s How to Get Started
1. Plan your content
Before you start shooting your video, it is vital to have a clear plan. This includes knowing your target audience, what type of content you want to create, the goals you want to achieve, and the message you want to communicate.
Are there any trends that you can jump on? How will these videos align with the content in your Instagram feed? Where will you be shooting these videos? Keep all of this in mind as you conceptualise your content, as it will help you stay focused and produce high-quality videos.
2. Shoot your video
Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to start the fun part – shooting your video!
It is important to ensure that you are shooting in a well-lit area to ensure that your video looks professional. We also recommend using a tripod to keep your camera steady, as this will help you avoid any shaky footage.
You could either use your phone’s in-built camera app (and later upload to Instagram) or use the Instagram app to shoot your video directly on the platform. The latter option is excellent if you want to use Instagram’s editing tools and add filters, music, and other effects.
To get started, open the Instagram app and tap on the “+” icon in the top right corner, and choose “Reels”. You can upload an existing video from the bottom left corner of the screen, or hold the recording circle in the middle to start shooting your video.
Choose a song from Instagram’s Music Library, or use your own original audio while recording your video. You can also leverage Instagram’s timer for hands-free recording.
3. Edit your video
Now that you have shot your Instagram Reels video, it’s time to edit it. As we mentioned earlier, Instagram provides you with several editing tools to help you create engaging videos.
You can select specific parts of a background song, add filters and even use augmented reality (AR) effects. You can also control the speed of your video, add text overlays, and even use stickers.
4. Publish your video
When you are happy with your edited video, it’s time to share it with the world!
To do this, simply tap “Next,” select a cover photo, and come up with an engaging caption that accurately describes your video. You can also include a call to action to encourage your people to follow your page, give feedback, or click on the link in your bio.
Lastly, you can tag other Instagram accounts and add your Reel to your feed to help you increase your reach. Once you have checked everything, go ahead and hit “Share.”
If you want to capitalise on the reach of Instagram Reels, you might want to consider these:
5 Tips to Get Your Instagram Reels to go Viral
1. Use trending audio
As we mentioned earlier, one of the great things about Instagram Reels is that you can use trending audio from the platform’s music library. This is a great way to get your video noticed, as people are more likely to watch and share videos that feature popular songs.
2. Focus on a specific niche or topic
Another great way to make your Instagram Reels go viral is to focus on a specific niche or topic. This could be anything from dance videos to beauty tips, or anything related to your products and services. Whatever it is, by zeroing in on a particular type of content and posting consistently about it, you will be able to capture the attention of a specific group of people who are interested in that topic and gain favour from Instagram’s algorithms.
3. Create high-quality videos
This one should go without saying, but it’s important to create high-quality videos if you want them to go viral. This means ensuring that your videos are well-lit, high resolution, steady, and edited in a visually appealing way.
In addition to this, you want to ensure that you remove watermarks from third-party editing software. You bet Instagram’s algorithms wouldn’t want to promote videos that feature other competing platforms’ logos, like TikTok, for example.
4. Include Text in your video
Many people watch Instagram Reels without sound, so it’s important to include text in your videos. That said, you want to make sure that the text is legible, accurate, and adds value to the video.
5. Use hashtags
Last but not least, using trending hashtags is a great way to get your Instagram Reels in front of more people. When selecting hashtags, choose relevant ones to your video and have a good chance of getting noticed.
You are now set to start creating your own Instagram Reels videos!
Add Instagram Reels to Your Marketing Strategy
Instagram Reels is a powerful marketing tool that can help you reach a wider audience, increase brand awareness, and boost your bottom line.
To make the most out of this new feature, we recommend using it to share behind-the-scenes content, how-to videos, product demos, customer testimonials, and more.
Do you have more questions? Get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to help!