Instagram Reels are the most effective tool on Instagram to have your company heard, with various ways to tailor the video to your liking. Reels are short videos packed with entertainment and information that are user-friendly to create. The reels I have shared on Instagram have increased views compared to a regular post. This is because the reels tab on Instagram has videos linked to what you engage with the most compared to photos or videos posted to your account. In addition, stories on Instagram are only shown to your followers and therefore go to a limited audience.
So, how do you create a reel on Instagram? Let's get started!
Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
Tap the plus icon at the bottom of the app.
Swipe from left to right, where you will see the option for reel. At the top, you will see the options for camera, templates, and made for you. For this example, click the camera option.
This is where you’ll create your video, so plan out what you want to say. Remember that the maximum time to record reels is 60 seconds, so use every word wisely. Also, before recording, you can select the icons on the left side of the screen. You can add music, adjust speed, set a timer, and even add special effects from these selections. Additionally, you can add music to your reel. Pro tip: add a trending song to give you the best opportunity to reach a lot of viewers!
Once you begin recording you can pause to add transitions between your videos. Transitions add a sleek look to your video. To do a transition, start the video then stop it. Whenever you are ready to continue recording, press the circle.
After recording your video, save it to your camera roll by clicking the down arrow on the top of the screen. Add music, special effects, and stickers (like the temperature outside or small animated pictures that will enhance your video.) You can also add text to the video by clicking the “Aa.”
Click next. Now you will edit the cover of your video so click edit cover and choose the best frame of your video that will capture the attention of your audience when scrolling.
Now add your caption. Type just enough info to get the point of your video across. After completing your caption, click the return key on your mobile device, go down about 5 lines, and add trending hashtags to allow your video to be shared with more faces on the app.
You can also tag people and products. When you tag other accounts, it includes their Instagram handle. You can also advertise a new product quickly and easily by tagging it conveniently for your consumer.
Finally, add your location. This allows you to reach people in the same area as your company.
As a final consideration, the time and day that you post is critical. Posting at a popular time further increases your audience. As a general rule, peak traffic time on social media is 6 pm - 9 pm.
Instagram reels are incredibly powerful because they allow you to reach a broader audience compared to Instagram stories that only stay up for 24 hours and reach only your followers. Utilizing reels gives you the best advantage to reach everyone from your local community and beyond.