Every year, our attention span decreases. Now, you only have 8.25 seconds to captivate the attention of your audience or lose them. Since the introduction of TikTok reels, content creators are now able to showcase their creativity in the most entertaining ways.
As a result, people are now leaning more toward bite-sized videos. So, videos are now gaining more visibility and engagement, as opposed to texts. Therefore, when Instagram launched the reels feature in 2020, the feature met with a welcoming audience that had long been expecting it.
If you aren’t on TikTok, then you probably don’t know how to get around Instagram reels. In this guide, we will go over everything you need to know about this exciting future.
What Are Instagram Reels?
Instagram reels are bite-sized videos that can be as long as 90 seconds. Although Instagram has allowed video uploads since 2010, it wasn’t until 10 years later that it launched the reels feature, giving users new opportunities to become even more creative.
The Instagram reel feature doesn’t only allow you to entertain your audience with creative videos but also allows you to add popular songs and fancy filters, and utilize other creative tools such as GIFs, text, and stickers.
Reels are an important part of the Instagram experience. Therefore, it is no surprise that reels are displayed in a designated section of your profile.
These vertical videos have an aspect ratio of 9:16, and a size of 1080 x 1920 pixels. So if you want to preserve the quality of your reels, we recommend recording the video within the Instagram app, instead of uploading an already recorded video from your gallery.
How to Make Instagram Reels
Now that you know what Instagram reels are, you might be wondering how to create them. Well, creating Instagram reels is a fun and exciting process you will definitely enjoy from the beginning to the end.
You can easily get started by:
- Clicking the video icon at the bottom of your home page.
- Clicking the plus icon at the top of your profile and selecting "Reel" from the menu that drops down.
- Clicking the plus icon at the top of your Instagram home page and swiping to the "Reels' tab.
- Clicking on “Your Story” at the top left of your Instagram home page, just below your profile icon.
Once you decide the option you want to go with, you can then follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Tap and hold the reels icon to record a new video. You can also tap the icon to start recording and then tap it to end the clip. Alternatively, you can also tap your camera roll at the bottom of your page to the left to upload an already existing video.
Step 2: Click on “Preview.”
Step 3: Click on “Edit Clips” to watch, trim or delete the clip. Once you are done, click on “Done.”
Step 4: You can make your reel even more appealing by using the tools at the top of the screen. Add text, stickers, and drawings as desired. You can even record a voiceover or select one of the many sound effects on Instagram. Instagram also allows you to download your reel to your device.
Step 5: When adding text, use the slider at the bottom to choose when you want the text to appear in your reel. Click on "Next" to proceed.
Step 6: Click on “Edit Cover" to change the cover of your reel and write a caption.
Step 7: Click on “Share” to post the reel.
One exciting thing about an Instagram reel is that it doesn’t have to be just one video. You can add multiple short clips or pictures from your camera roll by clicking the plus icon at the bottom left-hand corner of the reels page.
Alternatively, you can record one clip or merge multiple clips that add up to 60 seconds. While recording a new clip, you’ll see a progress bar at the top of the screen which will show you how long you have recorded.
How the Instagram Reels Algorithm Works
The Instagram reels algorithm determines the success of any reels you post. This algorithm decides the ranking of your reels. So if you want your reels to rank higher, you must understand how this algorithm works.
The Instagram reel algorithm does not favour reels which violate Instagram's community guidelines.
So if you want to outsmart this algorithm, your reels must meet all the community guidelines of Instagram. Additionally, your reels should have the recommended size, original audio, and premium quality.
One thing that can help your Instagram reel rank higher is its engagement rate. Reels with more likes, comments, saves, shares, and watch time perform better than reels with low engagement. So the higher the engagement the higher your chances of outsmarting the Instagram algorithm.
The Benefits of Using Instagram Reels
Whether you are a business owner, a social media influencer, a public figure, or you are just using Instagram for fun, there are many benefits to using Instagram reels. One of these is engagement. Reels are the most popular type of content on Instagram, as well as other social media platforms. So, Instagram reels are guaranteed to attract the attention of your audience and improve your engagement rate.
Another benefit of using Instagram reels is that they will permanently stay on your profile, just like regular posts. Unlike Instagram stories which only have a lifespan of 24 hours, reels will remain on your profile until you decide to delete them.
Finally, Instagram reels are a great way to increase your brand awareness. The reels you share have a high chance of appearing in the news feeds of your target audience, so when you share top-quality reels, you will be making the most of this powerful marketing tool.