Post Summary: everything that you need to know about Instagram’s newest feature, Reels!
We were skeptical, like most users, when Reels hit the Instagram Platform. But we are here to tell you that you need to stop what you are doing and start using Reels immediately! Reels is such a great way to share your content with a larger audience!
We have Reels with over 1 Million views, one of them over 8.4 Million views!
We also grew over 20,000 followers from just one Reel!
You can check out our Reel content here!
In this blog post we are going to go over everything that you need to know about Reels! We will be sharing what they are, how to post a Reel, how to utilize them to grow your following and our top tips for creating Reels!
Let’s get started!
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels is the newest feature to arrive on the App. Reels allows you to create and share video content with your followers. Unlike posting a static video to your Instagram feed, Reels allows you to use different visual effects and tools to create multi-video clips with audio.
Reels are shared with your followers by uploading them to your Instagram. This is such a great way to get exposure and share your content with a wider audience.
How to Post a Reel
- There is currently two ways to post a Reel. The first is swiping left to access the camera area where you film Stories. The second is on your Homepage, you will find a “+” sign in the top right corner. For this tutorial we will use the second method!
- Once the “+” menu is open, you will see options for “Post”, “Story”, “Reel” and “Live”. Choose Reel!
- There are options on the left side such as Length, Audio, Speed, Effects and Timer. These are tools that help you create unique content.
- You can upload a video from your camera roll, or you can record a video in the App! You have the option of a 15 or 30 second video!
- If you choose to record a video, use the timer feature to create a video hands free. When you hit the Timer tool, you have the option to add a 3 second or 10 second countdown before recording starts!
- Important to note that if you are recording a video, choose a filter prior to filming!
- Once you have uploaded a video from your camera roll or recorded your video you can add GIFs, stickers, text or writing with the pen. These are all similar features to what you are familiar with in Stories!
- Once you are happy with your creation, hit the arrow on the bottom right of the screen.
- You will now be taken to the screen where you will add a caption, hashtags, tag pages and choose your cover photo.
- If you chose to post the Reel to your Feed, once shared it will show up on both you main Instagram Feed as well as in the Reels tab!
- You can share your Reel to your Instagram Stories as well for further exposure!
How Reels Differ From Other Instagram Features
There are so many avenues in the Instagram App to share video content, it can definitely feel overwhelming. So let’s dive into how the differnt features like Stories, IGTV and Reels differ.
IGTV is Instagram’s closest response to YouTube! This feature on Instagram is great for long videos or a video series. A lot of Creators use IGTV to save their “Live” sessions as well so their audience can re-watch it!
Stories are a great way to share in the moment, short videos or informative clips to your audience. Stories are also a great way to share some behind the scenes shots and connect to your following on a more personal level.
Think of Reels as the compromise between both Stories and IGTV. Reels is a great way to share stunning and creative short form videos. These videos can include creative trends, unique transitions and informative clips, there are so many options! Reels also can reach a wider audience than the other features with the ability to share to your feed, and to your stories!
Why You Need To Use Reels To Grow Your Following
If you have found that your reach on Instagram has lessened in the last year or so, then posting Reels just might be your answer! We noticed a huge increase in our reach since utilizing the Reels feature.
During a Stories Q&A with the Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri, he addresses the frustration Creators currently are having with lessened Reach within the platform. He said to continue to use Reels as they were prioritizing this content right now as it is the newest addition to the App! Since then, Reels has now gotten its own Feed on the main screen of the App.
Disclaimer: Posting on Reels is not the only way we grew our following. It is just another tool that we use to reach a wider audience. We recommend utilizing all of the features Instagram has to offer to maximize your growth.
Our Top Tips for Creating Reels:
As we mentioned above, utilizing Reels is a great way to increase your reach and grow your following in 2021. We have put together a list of our top tips for Reels!
- Reuse Old Content. Chances are you have tons of video content from a previous trip or adventure. Reels is a great opportunity to add some new life to this old content!
- Use TikTok Content. If you have TikTok, then there is a good chance that you have created tons of videos for that platform. We have noticed that TikTok trends have made their way to Instagram. This is a great way to reuse already made content!
- Add Audio in a Third Party App. If you add a video to Reels with audio already added, then it will create an audio that states “Original Sound by __”. Other Instagram users can then use this audio for their own Reels!
- Use Hashtags. We use 30 hashtags. Some people have strong opinions about where to put them and how to use them. We always use 30 for every post. This is 30 opportunities to have your content seen by more people. Always use hashtags relevant to your niche!
- Tag Pages. We typically tag 5 pages in the caption of our reel. There is not the feature to tag a page to the Reel itself like there is on a regular post. We hope this feature gets added in the future!
- Choose your cover wisely. Choose a cover that is eye catching and matches your feed. You can add a cover photo to the Reel if you do not like any of the stills within the video you posted. Also keep in mind that if you post your Reel to your regular feed, the Reel gets cropped so ensure that the cover you choose will fit within this crop!
- Post Reels Often. We changed our content strategy recently to alternating a Reel and a Static Post. The more consistently you post, the more your account will grow.
Want to know how we film our Reels? Check out our gear guide here!
Final Thoughts
We absolutely love the new Reels feature on Instagram. We think this is a new way to post short form video and to reach a wider audience. Although this isn’t the only tweak we have made to our content strategy, we have noticed a great increase in our reach and following since we began posting to Reels! If you are not utilizing this feature, you definitely should be!
Let us know what you think in the comments below! Are you using Instagram Reels?
Happy Travels 🙂
Jake + Kaylee
Make Sure To Pin This For Later
