Nowadays, the number one video-sharing platform is still YouTube as 88% of businessmen and marketers use it as their go-to channel. Similarly, some other platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have also emerged in this race for their new and exciting short video formats for a while now.
According to the latest reports, the user’s time watching video content on Instagram has increased to 80%, which is, no doubt, a massive increase. Video posts attract and engage more users than any other type of content. These social media platforms encourage the creators to find new ways to get more user engagement, that is, more likes and comments.
In early 2022, keeping all these trends in mind, Instagram introduced its tool and a new format of content to create short videos called Reels.
Instagram reels are multi-clip, short videos that range from a few seconds to 1.5 minutes with audio, effects, and new creative tools. With the feature of the reel, Instagram competes directly with the wildly popular TikTok app.
If you are a creator or a businessman trying to boost your business and want to compete in the market through social media, then it is the right time to start making reels today. Reels can get your brand found as the Instagram algorithm favors the feature of Reels to showcase top reels. It is the right time to step into the social growth of your brand, as anyone early in the game will have a leg up on the competition.
The Explore tab now suggests the more watched reels based on the user’s interests and interactions. Whenever you tap on a Reel on the explore tab and watch it till the end, a new suggested reel will quickly start playing. It means that instead of traditional posts, you spend more time-consuming video content.
How to make a Reel on Instagram?
It has become very necessary to be able to create Reels, as this new feature has taken the platform by storm.
Here’s a complete step-by-step process to create an effective reel on Instagram:
Step 1:
First, log into the app, and you will see the homescreen. From here you have can use any of the two options mentioned below to make an Instagram Reel:
- Swipe right to see the Instagram Stories tool section, and then select Reel at the bottom of the screen, or
- You can see a plus (+) icon on the top of the screen, tap on it and then choose Reels
Step 2:
Next, tap and hold the record button in the center bottom to record or tap it to start recording and tap again to end the clip. You can also add your own videos in the gallery by tapping on the camera roll option in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Step 3:
Tap on the left-pointing arrow if you want to watch, trim or delete the previous clip you just recorded.
Step 4:
Tap the right-pointing arrow if you want to add stickers, drawings, or text to your reel or to download the reel to your device. Slider at the bottom can also be used for editing if you want your text to be appeared in the reel.
Step 5:
You can also change your cover photo by tapping on the right-pointing arrow and then tapping on cover.
Step 6:
Next, write your captions and hashtags.
Step 7:
Now decide where you want to share your reel whether on the explore page or choosing stories instead. Tap share and then tap done.
Instagram Reel Features:
You can further enhance your Reel once created using the latest features like audio, transitions, music, effects, filters, etc. some of the interesting features are mentioned below:
1. Audio:
Use the Instagram music library to search for a song to be added to the reel. Your original audio can also be added to the reel by simply recording a reel with it. Sharing a reel with your original audio is more beneficial as it will be attributed to you, and if you have a public account, people can use your audio on their reels by selecting “Use Audio” from your reel which will enable your reel to get more reach.
2. AR Effects:
You can add any of the effects in the endless effect gallery of Instagram created both by Instagram and creators across the world to record multiple clips with different effects.
3. Timer and Countdown:
This feature will set a timer to record any of your clips hands-free. Once you press record, you will see a countdown as 3-2-1, before recording begins for the amount of time you selected.
4. Align:
You can line up objects from the previous clip before recording your next clip to help create seamless transitions for moments like outfit changes or adding new friends to your reel.
5. Length:
It lets you change the length of your video. You can choose the length of your video to be 15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds.
6. Speed:
You can also choose between speeding up and slowing down your selected audio or recorded reel. This will help you to stay on a beat or make slow-motion videos.
7. Layout:
It lets you adjust the layout of your video. You can also add more than one recording to the frame.
8. Dual:
The Dual camera feature allows you to choose both front and rear cameras at the same time to record videos.
Reels can be recorded in multiple formats, either a series of clips (i.e one at a time), all at once or using camera roll videos saved in your phone’s gallery. Press and hold the capture button to record the first clip. A progress indicator will be shown at the top of the screen as you record. Stop recording to end each clip.
Tip: Head to the reels tab to explore trending audio on Instagram, scroll down and observe any tracks that have the “trending” arrow for your next clip.
Sharing Reels:
You can create and share Reels with your followers as well as with a vast and diverse community on Instagram by sharing reels on Explore page. Sharing Reels on explore page will let you be discovered by a huge audience. You can choose any of the three choices mentioned below regarding sharing your Reels:
- Share Reel on your story
- Share to Reels and not on your Feed
- Share to Reels as well as on Feed
Sharing Reel as Story:
You can share Reel as your story but it is not a good practice as the view time of an Instagram story is 24 hours. After 24 hours, your Reel will get disappeared like other stories and not reach a vast audience. If you post your Reel on your feed first and then to your stories like any other feed post, it’s the best idea indeed.
Sharing to REELS & Feed:
It is highly recommended to share your Reels on the Reels section as well as to your feed. Sharing Reels for the explore page will target a huge and diverse audience and let you feature and explore. It increases your brand awareness.
Viral Instagram Reels Hacks:
Instagram Reels provide a broad way to get viral in a few minutes on the social media. They help businesses go boom on social market. Many large business owners use this feature of Instagram to market their products. There are some hacks one should know to make effective and viral Reels. Some of the tips are mentioned below:
1. Observe the Working of the Instagram Algorithm:
Knowing how exactly the Instagram Algorithm works will magically increase your Instagram Reach. One should know when and how the Instagram Algorithm shows Reels on Explore page and Reels tab. This is a smart strategy to get more views on Instagram. Use trending audio and niche-specific hashtags to let the Algorithm favor you by pushing your Reels to a larger audience.
2. Hook the Audience:
Try to use a perfect hook statement in the first eight seconds or more to grab your audience’s attention at first glance. This is the best time to make your audience stick around for longer and urges them to watch the full reel. The Hook can be any open-ended question, an eye-catchy visual or it may be an exciting offer or announcement. Always keep in mind that simpler hooks derive the best audience’s attention. Keep things simpler not complicated.
3. Use Trending Audio:
No doubt the trending sounds are used for fun or entertainment purposes but when it comes to popularity, they can get you more views on Instagram Reels. In case you are wondering how audio can viral your Reel on Instagram, here is the reason.
Have you ever observed that many creators use the same audio or song in their videos? This is not a coincidence. When a creator gains more views and reach on his/her video, the other creator adds that audio to his Reel, and it will automatically get more audience to his Reel. This is because users often search the content by sounds. The best way to find the trending audio is to use the platform and make note of which sounds you are seeing pop up more than others.
But one last thing! Don’t overuse the trending audio as it will lose the interest of your audience.
4. Provide Value:
Reels are indeed capable of gaining popularity in form of reach and impressions to a brand. They can reach a larger audience in a few minutes and help businesses go boom on social media. But the ones that stand out are the videos that provide real value.
Value is ultimately where the heart is on Reels. A chatty comment section, hook statements, and strong call-to-actions derive traffic.
Understanding your audience before creating any content is a crucial step. Whether they are looking for quick tips, an easy recipe, or a relatable joke, providing value can take many shapes and forms.
5. Post Consistently:
Consistency is also one of the crucial steps to success. If you post consistently and do not lag behind the content ideas, then there will be more chances for your Reels to be shown on Explore page. The Instagram algorithm loves the latest stuff and pushes the new Reels to a greater extent.
An important thing that always helps you post consistently is having a content calendar. Yes, a content calendar is something that never stops your creativity. When you have plans for weeks or months, you will not have to worry about what to post today on social media. Instead, you will have full fledge posts ready and scheduled on due dates.
6. Collaborations:
Recently, Instagram launched a new feature called Collabs. One creator collabs with others by sharing Reel from his feed which seems like it’s his content. Credit is shared between both of them. It helps them get tons of impressions in the form of likes, comments, and shares as the Reel is shared with the entire following of another creator. Thus introducing more target audiences.
Here are some easy steps you can follow to use the Collab feature of IG:
- When you are done with your Reel and ready to publish, choose the Tag People
- Tap invite collaborator.
- Add the user who you want to feature or mention in your video with @
As soon as the other collaborator accepts your collab invitation, the Reel will show up in the Reels tab in their account.
7. Add niche-specific Hashtags:
Hashtags are the real drivers of traffic. Use relevant hashtags of the correct size. Size is meant to be the number of posts uploaded using respective hashtags. If you are in the start, try to use hashtags having less than 1k or 2k posts, if you are having a medium following, use hashtags having less than 100k posts, and if you have a large following account, use hashtags having millions of posts uploaded.
Interesting Content Ideas for IG Reels
Reels look complicated at first glance but it becomes easier for one by practicing them again and again. Below are some very creative content ideas to create Instagram Reels to grow your business on social media.
1. Behind the Scenes:
Make short clips of your behind the scene working and merge them in a Reel and post them. It will derive more audience’s attention and they take much more interest than before. The Behind-the-scenes video is something very realistic.
Show off your workplace, team, warehouse tracking, creation process, and packing process. Try to add some fun in the clips as it shows the mutual relationship between the co-workers.
·2. Before and After:
Before and after comparison videos are more attention-grabbing mainly used by the beauty Industry. Users will wonder more and show more interest. The final effect of the changes is always very enticing and adds to more profile views. This is the most effective idea to stand out in a fully crowded niche.
3. Prefer Photos over Videos:
Take photos of products, customer feedback, team activities, sale items, and new collections and merge them to make an attention-grabbing Video. Use the trending sound as well to get more reach. This is an easy way to recycle content that you may already have.
4. Turn Story Highlights into Reels:
There is a special section for story highlights in the form of circles below the IG Profile. This activity requires no mental effort as it is just a thematically matched piece of content saved to profile-highlighted stories.
Turn them into Reels. Here’s how you can convert the highlighted stories into Reels:
- Go to display your highlight and tap the three dots “…”
- Select the option “Turn to Reel”.
- Then go for it as it is just like posting a routine IG Reel. Easy and simpler!
Tools for Making Pro IG Reels:
Platform specific features for editing Reels is indeed very helpful but there are also some exclusive tools for more complex edits. Try one of the third-part apps below to create more enhanced Reels:
- Adobe Premiere Rush
- Canva
- Inshot
- Clips
- Kinemaster
- FilmoraGo
- Splice
- WeVideo
