Find yourself scrolling your favourite social platform and notice video content in your first few scrolls? Us too! Reels have now taken Instagram by the horns and flipped the app around. To compete with video content giant TikTok, Instagram has now announced that they are focusing on video content for the near future. In a relatively short time, Reels have elevated to the most discoverable type of post on the platform.
Video clips have the “capacity to transmit an instant message with minimally required concentration and attention from the viewer.”
This is because video content typically performs better over static posts across most social algorithms, as this type of content can capture a viewer’s attention for longer. 74% of marketers say video has a better return on investment than static imagery, according to Biteable’s 2021 survey of 694 small business owners and marketers.
To give you a bit of a rundown on how well Reels can travel, see some interesting stats from Influencer Marketing Hub below:
- Louis Vuitton averages 7M views on each Reel.
- Sephora France gets more than 453K views on each Reel.
- Red Bull France has several viral Reels with more than 2.4M views on their most popular Reel.
- Fashion influencer Junesixtyfive has gotten more than 2.7M views on her outfit change transition Reel.
- Balmain gets more than 1.2M views and 100K+ likes on each Reel.
Have we got you interested now? Here are some Reely good tips for creating your own Reels, so, you too can jump on the bandwagon and reap the rewards of increased reach and engagement. Reely ready?! Let’s get into it!
Planning
The best place to start is by having a scroll to see what other creators and businesses are doing. Take note of music and trending styles that you like and could take inspiration from. Yes, we mean take inspiration – not replicate. Your Reel will be much more entertaining if you can put your own style or twist on it.
Now that you’ve got an idea of what’s out there, think about what value you can offer your audience via your Reel. Video content is a great way to show your audience a bit about you, your origin story, your process, tips and tricks, tutorials, frequently asked questions, business or personal must-haves, and/or information about your product/service. Reels can be great for displaying your personality and educating your audience.
They don’t always have to be original content; they are a great way to repurpose content you may have sitting in your photo album collecting digital dust. So have a look at what you already have.
Audio
81% of marketers say their videos perform better with music, and 66% of marketers say their videos perform better with a voiceover. For us, adding audio is one of the main components for creating reels and using trending audio/music is a great way to join a trend and gain a higher reach. If you would like to use audio clips or music, you can browse the Instagram music library, research platform databases like Tokboard, apply audio found on other Reels or create original audio. Save audios as you come across them so you can easily find them again when you’re filming or constructing a Reel.
Creating your own audios can give you further inspiration for creating Reels and helps to establish your own style. To create your own audio, you can talk to the camera, record music that is playing in your house, do something fun with your team, film a reaction or an educational clip, or an interactive prompt to engage. If you create your own audio, make it available for sharing so others can use it too. Not only is this fun, but it can lead to more exposure for your Reels and your account.
Filming
Make sure you are in a well-lit area; a dark and blurry clip is less appealing to the eye and can be distracting. A ring light can be a handy tool to have for close-ups, alternatively, filtered natural light is great (e.g. sheer curtains across a nice, bright window).
You can use the Align tool when doing transition videos to make sure you are aligned with the previous clip and allow for seamless transitions. It also helps to set a timer for the camera to allow you time to get into position and prepare. Just tap on the timer icon on the left-hand side of the screen and set the timer anywhere from 3 to 10 seconds.
When adding text within a Reel, make sure it’s within the recommended Reel dimension of 4:5 (especially if you plan to share it to your feed) as Instagram will crop the video to fit into the feed format and your text will be cropped too (this format is different to the Reels explore page). If you are uncertain that your reel is the right size, or concerned your text is too close to the edge. Aside from resizing your video externally with programs such as Veed or Kapwing. You can zoom out the screen view by pinching the screen with your fingers, in the preview section of Reels.
This is a big one! Save your Reel drafts to your phone, saving it to Instagram is less reliable and it will only be saved to the device it was filmed on.
Always keep in mind that video content shared from TikTok will now be deprioritised by Instagram, so it is best to create your Reels directly in the app. If your video clip has watermarks or rivalry app logos, it might be less discoverable if they are noticed by the Instagram algorithm.
Closed captions
It’s thought that 85% of video on Facebook is watched without sound, so we advise using closed captions – particularly in voice-over clips or educational Reels in which you are speaking a lot.
64% of marketers say their videos perform better with captions. Not only does this make your video accessible for those with hearing impairments, but it gives users two ways to experience your Reel. Many users will be watching without volume if they are out in public, around children, or not familiar with the language featured. So, adding subtitles to our videos is not only pleasing for viewers watching without sound, but also ensures our content is accessible for a wider audience.
Posting
You’ve recorded audio, filmed, edited, and written an attention-grabbing caption. The job’s done, right? Not quite yet! There are a few things to remember when posting.
You can choose how your Reel will look on your profile by picking out a frame from the clip to be the cover image or by uploading a branded tile instead. We recommend having a mixture to keep the Reels tab intriguing. Some users might be more likely to click on a clip with someone’s smiling face over your branded logo.
You can also determine how your Reel cover photo will look on your feed view, by checking how it is cropped before posting and readjusting as required.
If you’ve forgotten to add a cover photo, or would like to change it after posting, click the three dots at the top right-hand side of the Reel, go to ‘edit Reel’, and change the cover photo.
Sharing Reels to your Instagram feed is one of the best ways to boost views and increase the chances of being seen by a large audience. You can always archive them from your home feed at a later date to ensure you are sticking to an overall theme.
Furthermore, sharing your Reel to your stories after posting also gives you more opportunities for greater reach and engagement.
If you’re still reading, well done! There can be a lot of hidden elements to Reels, than what you might have first thought. But when you break it down, it ‘Reely’ isn’t that scary.
Remember to be yourself, experiment, watch out for trends, try something new, and narrow down what works for you and your brand.
If you would like support with your Reel journey, reach out to us, we would love to help you reap the rewards of Reels too! Send us a DM on Instagram or send us an email.
