The Case for Instagram Reels
By now, you’ve probably noticed that your Facebook and Instagram feeds are filled with mostly video content – specifically Reels. They’re everywhere! Instagram has undergone massive evolution in the last several years, and there are a ton of new features for users to create and share content. The recent addition that marketers need to care about? Definitely Instagram Reels.
Instagram Reels allow users to create and post 3 second to 1 minute videos set to music, voice clips, or other audio. It’s very much like the short-video strategy that propelled TikTok to huge fame. This medium quickly gained a lot of attention and people and businesses everywhere are using them to increase their online reach and engagement, build brand awareness, and to even go viral.
By now, it’s obvious that this a gold mine to help expand your following. Since Reels debuted two years ago, they’ve become the platform’s fastest-growing feature. But how do you use this tool to reach more people, get new followers, or spread the word about your products and services? Don’t worry, we’ll cover some cool ideas below!
As we mentioned before, Instagram Reels are full-screen vertical videos that can be up to 90 seconds long. They come with many unique editing tools and a growing library of audio tracks (where you can find everything from trending songs to snippets of other users’ viral content.) On top of sounds, Reels can include multiple video clips, filters, captions, interactive backgrounds, stickers, and more.
Bonus: Reels have long been favoured by the Instagram algorithm (despite Instagram’s recent announcement that they will no longer be doing this, my feed still looks exactly the same with tons of reels), so it’s more likely to recommend them to people who don’t follow you than feed posts. However, users can also discover Reels in a dedicated section of the Instagram app; a scrollable feed full of trending Reels can be accessed through the Reels icon at the bottom of the home page.
Now, let’s get to all the ways you can use these!
User-Generated Content
Thankfully, you don’t need to create content from scratch to make your Reels. Use any rights-approved user-generated content and show the world how other customers are using your brand, products, or services. Not only does this content build credibility and trust in your business since it shows something authentic, it also offers inspiration for people and diversifies your content over time.
Behind the Scenes
Give your audience a look into who you are and what your brand is all about by creating a behind-the-scenes Reel. For example, you can show your day-to-day activities, how you shot a photoshoot, how you came up with specific designs or products, the inspiration behind them, and even the process of how they’re made.
This look inside can also make you more transparent and relatable to people – a huge social media win.
How-To Videos
I have a few Reels saved of my favourite coffee shop making specific drinks. I don’t know why, but I find them fun to watch and it always makes me want to go grab a drink or buy their ingredients to make my own at home! This is an effective way of showing people the different ways they can use your products (or visit an attraction in your city, and so on and so forth – so many different scenarios here!) It basically allows the person to visualize all the different uses or the enjoyment they can get out of something, and sets them up to engage with what you are offering if they are already interested.
How-tos are a great way to introduce your brand to new audiences as well, since it doesn’t oversaturate the message to the viewer with too much information at once. It can be a simple way to pull them in.
Teasers
Do you have a new campaign, project, service, or product coming up? Use Reels to give a quick, 15-second peek into the new release. Create a teaser of what’s being offered, or even give clues and ask your viewers to guess what’s being launched. Engagement galore!
Be an Inspiration
Use Reels to inspire people with ideas of how they can improve their lifestyle or have more fun on their next trip to your destination – again, the scenarios here are endless and will be unique to what you offer!
For example, an interior designer can create a Reel to show people how they can build a home office, decorate their patio, or easily add colour to a space in their homes. A bakery owner can show beautiful pastry designs, how to score bread, or how to roll the most perfect croissant. All of these can easily capture and hold someone’s attention more than a Story or Post!
That’s it for today! Until next time,
Petra Nyhuis, Account Manager