In August 2020, Instagram introduced a new feature of reels.
These reels are all over Instagram now. The most viewed reel is Samsung’s advertisement by the BTS member, J Hope with about 409,400 likes.
While Instagram is one of the greatest social media platforms, it introduced this new feature due to the rising competition.
This feature was introduced as a direct competitor of TikTok’s short videos. Since TikTok’s future still seems unstable, introducing Instagram reels is a great move.
Crafting a digital persona
To grow its market share, Instagram has the goal of becoming a one-stop application for all social content creators as well as social media users.
It would not be weird to say that it is a platform that one can use to update their personal life and even promote their professional life.
Instagram reels are the perfect way of reaching a wider network, boosting your engagement, and becoming a part of the community that manages your interest.
So today we will discuss a few steps that can help you with making the best reels.
What are Instagram reels?
Reels are short, fun, and entertaining videos.
Their IG video length is about 30 to 85 sec. You can record and edit videos, music, captions, effects, and more on the reels.
Even if you do not want to record from scratch, you can use pre-downloaded videos from your phone. There are also a lot of templates that you can easily edit available.
The Instagram reels are being used as posts, stories, and even featured on your profile.
To adjust with the scrollable feed, reels get created in an easier format for display. You can find reels on your home feed or the explore page. The second right play-like button on the navigation bar is for reels only.
Since Instagram highly relies on the algorithm, the reels are related to the content that you have an interest in.
It is easier for business and Instagram users to use reels as a means of promoting and featuring their products. It can also be used to make announcements and update others in a fun creative manner.
Why do you need to make Instagram reels?
Instagram offers to create amazing quality reels which gives you an advantage of finding your ideal audience and being able to connect with them.
Since TikTok is more inclined towards the younger generation Instagram has an upper hand on the users. So, it has taken advantage of catering to the user’s needs by creating reels as a one-stop application.
The reels are so popular that Instagram has converted all of its video formats to reels. Reels also have the advantage of marketing your brand for it to go viral.
Some of the advantages that it offers are:
· Increased engagement
Short videos are more engaging. Users can like, comment, share, and even remix your reels, allowing for a more engaging interaction with your content.
Studies have found that more than 37% of likes on the social media app are due to Instagram reels.
Such videos are more likely to catch the attention of the audience as they are quick, easy, and less time-consuming.
On the other hand, long videos require more time to watch.
· Simple and fast content
Since people’s attention span has become shorter than ever. Reels of 30 to 85 sec in length are enough to fulfill the needs of the user without making them bored.
As they are of shorter video lengths, they are easier to make. Therefore, it lets you make engaging and creative content without a lot of time investment.
· Increased visibility
Instagram reels have the advantage of reaching a larger amount of audience.
As the reels appear on both the user’s feed and explore page, the amount of engagement and interaction with your posts and reels increases.
This increases the chance of you gaining more exposure and followers.
One study also showed that the Instagram accounts of more than 550 followers have a reach of more than 800%.
· Creative approach
Instagram reels also allow you to showcase your unique personality and brand.
You can also use music, effects, animations, and even trending sounds to make engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
· Showcase your brand
Businesses can use Instagram reels to make and showcase their brand and services. They can make it as appealing and entertaining as they want to express their brands.
Studies have shown that 80% of the users have interacted with the business and brand after watching the reels.
Difference between an Instagram post and a reel
There are quite a few differences between Instagram posts and Instagram reels.
Some of these include:
- The reel is 85 sec long while a post can have up to 11 minutes of video length
- Reels have special features which include adding music, animation, sound effects, and text while posts don’t.
- Reels have a higher reach than posts.
- Reels are always in vertical format while posts can be in both vertical and horizontal formats.
How to make jaw-dropping Instagram reels
Now since you know what Instagram reels are. Here are 15 easy and simple steps that you can use to make engaging and fun reels.
1. Storyboard your plan
The first thing you need to do is to understand and visualize what you want to do with your reel.
Conceptualize and create what the message of the video is and what you want to achieve by that.
2. Crucial point of the reel
First impressions matter so ensure that the first few seconds of the reel are attention-grabbing.
It can consist of an amazing visual, a funny joke, or even a catchy song but ensure that it is relevant to the main idea.
3. Record your content
While recording on Instagram, on your navigation panel in the dead center you will find the + button. Select a reel and then, you can make your content.
Here you can choose either a template to follow or you can upload a pre-recorded video.
To make the content more engaging Instagram offers a ton of tools and effects to make it more creative.
Experiment with different filters, text styles, transitions, AR effects, countdown timers, etc. to find out what would work best for your content.
4. Use visual creativity
Be creative and use fun transitions and effects to make your content stand out.
Use animations and visual elements to make Instagram reels more captivating and engaging for the viewers.
5. Edit your content
You can also edit reels on Instagram, by clicking on the edit video button. There you will see options for adding text, and audio, trimming your video, adding transitions, and more.
However, some creators say that using Instagram’s editor makes the algorithm push your video up. Others find it tricky to use as it comprises the quality of your content.
Also, if you use an external editor, you will have more access to more options to edit your videos. So, it depends upon your preference for what you want to do.
6. Choose a captivating sound
Music and sound effects can help alleviate the success rate of your posts. So, therefore, use captivating sounds and if possible, an original audio that could make your reels more memorable.
7. Publish your reels
If you are happy with your content and don’t want to make any more changes then you can publish your Instagram reels.
Fill in your captions and you are ready to go.
8. Post captions
Your post’s caption matters more than you realize, as it is as important as your content.
Make captions that are concise, informative, and engaging that can intrigue, encourage, and prompt the audience to interact with the posts.
9. Concise storytelling
In reels, you do not have much time to tell everything you need to.
So, make a plan and decide what is the main message you want to tell to grab the attention of the viewers. Make sure it is concise and easy to understand for the viewers to interact with it.
10. Use trending hashtags and challenges
If you want to reach a wider array of audience then be sure to participate in challenges. Using relevant hashtags with your posts can increase the chances because it will show on other people’s feeds if they have interacted with it before.
11. Share and post
Once you are satisfied with your reel click share to post it.
Make sure that you choose the best posting time to target the audience you want and tag the accounts that are relevant to your post for greater visibility.
12. Be authentic
Instagram reels are an amazing way to showcase your personality and style. Be your authentic self and have fun with your reels;
People will engage more with your content if they feel like they are getting to know the real you.
13. Calculate your success
By using Instagram insights, you can track how many users have interacted with your reels. The information you find here can help you understand what is working for your content and what is not.
14. Post consistently
The more you post, the more often your Instagram reels will pop up on the user’s feed. Be sure to post regularly to generate a predictable audience engagement and content flow.
15. Collaboration
You can partner up with other creators who have similar content with you to reach a larger number of audiences.
Also, try to interact with the audience and reply to the comments. This helps build a stronger connection with the community you are part of.
Repurpose Your Content
If you are happy and satisfied with the reels you have posted and it has received good feedback. You can repurpose and use it for YouTube shorts, TikTok, Twitter, etc. This can help you reach a wider range of audience.
Conclusion
Instagram reels may seem like they only appeal to the younger generation but their influence is greater than that. Its short 30-second framework is enough to make the content understood.
Through this blog, we tried to explain that creating jaw-dropping Instagram reels involves a careful blend of creativity, strategy, and engagement.
You also need to leverage trending sounds, effects, and hashtags to stay current and increase discoverability. Keep your reels concise and visually appealing, grabbing attention from the first frame.
Try to experiment with different formats, challenges, or duets to keep your content dynamic. With these steps, you’ll not only create jaw-dropping reels but also establish a strong presence in the ever-evolving landscape of social media.
