We’ve all been there right, down the reel hole. One thing, you’re just checking Instagram and the next thing, you’ve spent 3 hours scrolling through reels. It’s needless to say, Instagram Reels have quickly become a popular feature on the platform, providing businesses with a powerful tool to engage their audience and showcase their brand.
This exciting feature allows users to create and share short videos, adding a dynamic and interactive element to their content. With the ability to reach a wider audience and increase brand visibility, Instagram Reels have become an essential strategy for businesses looking to boost their online presence.
How do Instagram Reels differ from regular posts?
While regular Instagram posts are typically static, Reels are short videos that allow businesses to capture the attention of their audience. With Reels, businesses can incorporate engaging effects, filters, and audio features, making their content more visually appealing and entertaining.
You can even create your own filter and upload audio that your audience can use for their own reels. These videos can be up to 90 seconds.
Reels as a feature offers a range of tools to enhance the video creation process. In fact, it makes it so simple, almost anyone can make a video! These include effects and filters, text and caption options, and a vast library of trending music and challenges to incorporate into your content.
These features of reels provide businesses with the freedom to express their creativity and effectively communicate their brand message.
Benefits
Instagram Reels have numerous advantages for businesses:
- A unique opportunity to showcase products, services, and behind-the-scenes content in an engaging and entertaining manner
- Grab the attention of their target audience
- They have a dedicated section on the app
- Increase brand awareness
- Boost conversions
- Drive Sales
- Are favoured by the Instagram algorithm!
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Tips to use Reels effectively
1) Understanding the Instagram Reels user interface
As is the case with everything new, it’s important to familiarise yourself with how reels work to effectively navigate through the various features and tools available. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to create reels seamlessly.
2) Creating Engaging Reel Content
Before you start creating Reels for your businesses, it’s essential to identify your target audience. Who are you talking to and what’s the purpose of this conversation? Understanding their interests, preferences, and pain points will help you develop relevant content that resonates with them, increasing engagement and interactions.
You don’t want to mindlessly jump on trends without understanding whether it will serve your brand in the longer run.
3) Developing a content strategy for Instagram Reels
You can’t create impact or hope to stand out in the sea of reels without a well-defined content strategy. By establishing clear objectives, determining your brand voice, and planning your content themes in advance, you can ensure that each reel of your business contributes to your overall marketing goals.
4) Make it Visually Appealing
To make your Reels visually appealing, consider using a mix of different shots, utilising effects and filters strategically, and incorporating high-quality visuals. Additionally, using a combination of short and long sentences in your captions can keep your audience engaged and interested.
5) Incorporating trending challenges and music
One of the exciting features of Instagram Reels is the ability to participate in trending challenges and incorporate popular music into your videos. By hopping onto these trends, you can leverage the existing engagement and increase the reach of your reels.
6) Size it Right
Setting up your Reel on Instagram correctly involves choosing the proper dimensions.
Using the incorrect proportions can make your post look downright nasty. Create your reel frames with a 1080 by 1920 pixel size. Make sure your thumbnail fits the optimal size of 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels if you want your Reel to appear on your standard Grid.
Users will enjoy watching Reels in full-screen mode, which has a 9:16 aspect ratio, the most. Instagram, however, also displays Reels in the mainstream and trims them to a 4:5 aspect ratio.
Just be careful not to include any crucial information at the frame’s margins because it might be omitted.
7) Collaborating with other accounts through Instagram Reels
Instagram reels provide an excellent opportunity to collaborate with influencers and other businesses. By teaming up, you can target each other’s audience and boost the visibility and reach of your reels.
8) Incorporating branding elements in your Reels
Use Instagram Reels as an opportunity to showcase and boost your brand identity. Incorporate branding elements such as logos, colours, and consistent messaging to strengthen brand recognition and establish a strong brand presence. Zomato is a great example. They use reels to establish their brand identity and to strengthen it.
Recommended Read: Latest Trends of Digital Marketing in 2023
9) Promoting products or services through Reels
Instagram Reels provide a creative way to promote your products or services. Showcase their unique features, demonstrate their usage, and highlight customer testimonials through engaging Reels.
10) Showcasing behind-the-scenes and exclusive content
One of the best ways to engage your audience is by sharing behind-the-scenes. This provides a sense of authenticity and exclusivity, increasing the interest and loyalty of your audience. It makes the brand more human.
11) Responding to comments and interactions
Encourage your audience to interact with your reels. Respond to comments and interactions as promptly as you can. Let them know, they are heard.
12) Encouraging UGC through reels
To foster a sense of community and encourage engagement, consider creating reels that invite your audience to participate and share their own content. User-generated content not only increases engagement but also helps in building trust and credibility for your brand.
13) Timing and frequency of posting Reels
As is with everything when it comes to content marketing, consistency is key. Determine the optimal timing and frequency of your Reels of your business based on your audience’s behaviour and engagement patterns.
14) Analysing and adapting based on Reel performance
Regularly analyse the performance of your Instagram Reels to understand what works and what doesn’t. Adapt your content strategy based on the insights gained, refining your approach to maximise audience engagement and achieve better results.
Instagram Reels have become an indispensable tool for businesses to boost their online presence and engage with their audience. By understanding the features, tools, and best practices of Instagram Reels, businesses can create visually appealing and engaging content that drives growth and builds a strong brand.
Embrace Instagram Reels as a powerful strategy to connect with your audience and take your business to new heights. We know this can be overwhelming. If you’re looking to start your online journey, leave us a query and let’s bring your business online.
This piece was collaboratively written by multiple members of the We Think North team, bringing you perspectives from across the branding, marketing, content and tech verticals.