Social media giant Instagram has recently launched their ‘Reels’ section – an in-app competitive feature to TikTok which allows you to upload short-form video content.
When used strategically, Reels can be another great way businesses can boost brand reach and exposure.
So how should you go about using it and what exactly should you post? We’ve got you covered below with our Reely easy guide… 😏
In short, Reels:
Creating a Reel is like creating an Instagram story.
To get the most out of Reels, make sure you have a strategic approach that considers your audience’s needs.
Your business needs to create on-trend videos that uphold brand strategy and overarching brand goals and should not be used as a ‘dumping ground’ for content you have in other places.
Think of things like:
We’re glad you asked! While these all may seem like basically the same thing, each feature varies in different ways.
IGTV has found its niche within businesses through the popular use of creating ‘episodes’ or ‘series’ that showcase certain aspects of their company.
Instagram stories highlight images or videos that disappear after 24 hours – unless saved to your profile ‘highlights’.
Reels is almost a combination of the two in different ways, however, has the potential for greater reach as your Reel sits under the explore tab – like TikTok’s ‘For Your Page’ feed. This can show content to users who aren’t following your page already, which can lead to an increase in followers.
If you’re not sure where to start, or even what type of content you should post, here are some brands you can take a look at:
Nourish Naturally – award-winning blog writer and creator of the Nourish Naturally Program, Rebecca has nailed Reels with two of her videos already going viral!
We reached out to Rebecca to get an insight into her success, and what strategy she has adopted for her content creation. “My strategy for my Reels is to have them serve my community. I want them to help my followers and teach them something in a fun, memorable way that they want to share with their friends,” says Rebecca. And her advice on how to go about starting your own Reels? “Just start! It will take a bit of practice but it’s a lot of fun.” We couldn’t agree more!
For more of her awesome Reels, you can follow her on Instagram, @nourish_naturally.
Bondi Boost – Australian made ethical hair products. Their Reels have showcased some of their own product, and simple hair how-to’s that are fun and easy to watch.
Bared Footwear – Another Aussie brand that’s knocking it out of the park! These guys have really embraced the new feature, and their videos not only are full of character but they are on-trend too.
Life, Loves and Liz – A small Mornington Peninsula-based influencer whose Reels are bright and fun. She is a self-proclaimed cheerleader for local businesses, and we absolutely love what she does!
We asked Liz about her experience with Reels.
She shared it was ‘short and sweet’ so far – just like Reels! We also asked her what advice she would give to small businesses who wish to incorporate Reels into their feed, “Create Reels with your own style. Don’t copy what others are doing…and PLEASE don’t share your Tik Toks across to Reels! If your audience wants to see Tik Tok style videos, they’ll be on Tik Tok and have seen your content already. Create what works for your INSTAGRAM audience.” Safe to say she has really hit the nail on the head here!
By looking at these Aussie businesses that have really taken Reels into their stride, it’s easy to see how this feature can be used well, and what type of things it can be used for.
If you’re still stuck for ideas, you can always reach out to our friendly team here 😊
Editorial credit: sdx15 / Shutterstock.com