In recent months you may have noticed updates and new features on your Instagram feed. Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri has stated that Instagram is focusing on reels and videos in 2022. Mosseri said Instagram will grow and evolve as the word does.
Instagram reels are a new way to share short videos on Instagram. Reels can influence the way we now interact with social media. People may not want to sit down and commit to watching a full video. The Reels feature allows you to scroll through and focus on the videos that capture your attention. You can now create 15-second, multi-video clips using effects and other tools at your disposal. This means businesses now have the option of incorporating this new feature into their marketing strategies. Here is the ultimate guide to Instagram reels.
Instagram Reels are influenced by who you follow and the content you interact with. Therefore, as a business, this can be a useful feature to gain more engagement on your page, whether someone follows you or not. You need to find your niche, then find your tribe, and the engagement numbers will skyrocket.
Table of Contents:
What are Instagram Reels?
How to Create an Instagram Reel
How to use Instagram Reels for Business
Tracking Your Reel Analytics
What does the future hold?
What are Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are a new way to create and discover short videos on Instagram. Businesses can use reels to share informative, fun, creative, or inspirational videos on Instagram.
How to Create an Instagram Reel
Step 1: To access the Reels feature, open the Instagram Stories camera and swipe across to the Reels option at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: You can select the music you wish to accompany your reel. However, if you want to use original audio or record yourself speaking, you can simply start recording.
Step 3: Next, set your timer and countdown. This timer allows you to record clips hands-free if needed. Once you press record, you will see a 3-2-1 countdown, and then the recording will begin for the designated time frame.
Step 4: You may then select an effect from Instagram’s effects gallery. You can use multiple clips with suitable effects. Remember to always consider the overall tone of your business when choosing your creative editing tools.
Step 5: Record your reel by simply holding down the capture button in the center. You will observe a progress bar at the top of the screen. Reels can be recorded in a series of clips -one at a time, all at once, or using video uploads from your photo or video gallery. Once you have finished recording, you may add other effects to your videos, like GIFs, stickers, and text. Remember to consistently consider your brand identity when recording reels for your business. Your reels should match the overall tone your business page sets.
Step 6: Share your reel! When sharing Instagram Reels, you can add a caption and hashtags, edit the video thumbnail (including adding a cover from your camera roll), tag other businesses or clients, and select where you want it to be shared. As a business, you should share your reel to the Explore page for greater discoverability. You can also share it on your feed.
There is now a dedicated part of your Instagram page where persons can view all your reels, once you begin posting them.
How to Use Instagram Reels for Business
1. Educate your Followers
If you want shareable content that will engage consumers, you can begin by sharing educational content via your Instagram Reels. Use keywords such as ‘how to’, ‘top ways’, or ‘the secret to’. This is a great way to interact with your followers and other potential followers. Remember not everyone who sees your content may purchase your product or service. However, if you provide free engaging content, you can gain larger followership who find value in your Instagram page that goes beyond what you sell.
2. Follow Relevant Trends
Instagram Reels are very comparable to Tiktok. One way in which they are similar relates to trends. If you observe a recurring trend that is relevant to your business, you can jump in and participate! This is a great way to garner a bigger audience and acts as an indicator to your followers that you are an active participant on the platform. You can even share a new, creative interpretation of the trend. You can even keep up with the latest trends simply by following other accounts and keeping track of reels daily.
3. Showcase Your Products or Services
One of the best uses of social media in business is showing your product or service in action. Instagram Reels are the perfect tool to showcase your product in a creative way. You can share your clients’ testimonials, show others using your product, and the many wonderful ways your brand is useful. Once you find your niche, Instagram will push your content to your desired audience. In time, you can expect to see a growth in brand awareness which you can turn into increased conversions from followers to purchasers.
4. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
People have always been curious about the thing behind the thing. What is it that drives your business? Who works there? How are the products made? While these may not immediately seem like interesting topics but are ultimately what makes your customers, or even passive watchers of your reel, feel connected to you. Feeling connected is one of the most important things you should desire from your social media audience.
5. Tell Stories
On the topic of connecting with your audience - respectful, funny, or inspirational anecdotes are major tools in building that sense of community. When you share a story, despite it being ushered out to a large audience, it brings a feeling of connectedness. Your clients or social media viewers will have a feeling of being connected or knowing something insightful about your business that not everyone will know. Therefore, you can share anecdotes about how your business came into being, a funny - but respectful - interaction with a client, what your goals are as a business, and what inspires you to move forward. No matter how large or small your organization is, truthful anecdotes will always reach the heart of your audience. Remember, in everything, authenticity is the key to building a strong community among your audience.
6. Make Big Announcements
Whether it’s a sale, a product launch, or a new service, you can use reels to celebrate the milestones and announce the big wins and even losses. Remember, in making these announcements to be direct, straight to the point, and entertaining in a way that is relevant to your target market. For example, a sale for a toy store will carry a different tone than an announcement from a large commercial bank. Maintain tonal awareness in every reel you post.
Tracking Your Reel Analytics
Once you have begun posting reels, you will need to keep track of their performance. This will allow you to continuously improve and create more engaging content. Once your account is switched to a business account, you can access your reels’ insights.
The Instagram algorithm picks up on reels that are entertaining, inspiring, creative, shot in portrait mode, and experimental! This means there is a broad scope of directions you can utilize that will ensure as many people as possible view your reels. Your reels, as a business account, should also be high-resolution and feature text across the screen. Your reel content must also be completely original to the Instagram platform.
When tracking your reel analytics, you must pay attention to these key performance indicators:
Number of plays
Accounts Reached
Likes
Comments
Saves
Shares
These key performance indicators must be considered in the creation of your reels. Your business can choose 2 or 3 KPIs to focus on in the beginning, for instance, if you are a journalism business, you may want to focus on maximizing the number of people who share your content to ensure that the information is being distributed, however, a delivery business may focus on accounts reached as you will want to ensure your business reaches far and wide.
What does the future hold?
Generally, businesses are going to have to adapt to Instagram’s newfound focus on video content. This is what will make the algorithm and your audience take notice. Following the success of Tiktok as a short-form video platform, social media is finding new and creative ways of capturing an ultimately easily distracted audience’s attention. So, if there was ever a time to improve your organization’s video production skills and bring on new employees who can adapt to these social media updates - that time is now.
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