How To Use Instagram Reels for Real.

Introducing Instagram Reels: Instagrams answer to TikTok which allows you to record 15 to 30-second clips set to music on Instagram. No more having to switch between apps. You have it all on one app. Big Yes from us. In this article, we will discuss How To Instagram Reels for Real and other points to note.

What is Instagram Reels?

In short, Instagram Reels allows its users to create between 15 to 30-second videos using popular songs.

Reels enables people to:

1. Record and edit together 15 to 30-second video clips set to music.
2. Share these videos to their Stories and the new Reels tab on a user’s profile.
3. This music can then be shared with friends and followers and discovered while browsing the app.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1290996458552832001

Why we love Reels.

1. Its because it’s built into the Instagram Camera that people already know how to use.
2. No more switching between apps. ie TikTok and Instagram
3. Reels can be saved to Drafts while they’re a work in progress.
4. Reels can show up on the explore page and (no we don’t quite understand what this will mean for the algorithm however it is mostly based on who you follow. We’ve also noticed that for every story that shows up on your explore page a reel comes after that.
5. The beauty of Reels is that they can also be captioned and hashtagged, and friends can be tagged. This all aides the inclusiveness of this feature, therefore, more time being spent on Instagram.
6. If you post a Reel to Stories, it’ll disappear in 24 hours. This again shows how easy it is to use. Just think of stories but now with a TikTok feel.
7. You don’t have to worry about copyright issues using the music available on Reels because Instagram has partnered with big-name labels in the industry to make the music accessible with its users.
8. You can find the Reels feed on the Instagram Explore Page and furthermore you can view Reels from popular and trending accounts on Instagram.

How to Create Instagram Reels.

Step 1. Open the Instagram camera just like you would for Stories

 

 Step  2. Select Reels on the bottom scroll bar

 

 

Step 3.  Your Reels menu is on the left.

Step 4. You can select your audio by tapping the music icon. Secondly, select the audio you want.  Thirdly choose what part of the song you would like to feature.

 

 

Step 5. Choose the speed that you would like to have within your video. The choices immediately show up.

 

Step 6 Choose how long you want your clips to be by selecting the stopwatch icon.

 

 

Step 7.  You can add your effects, just like in stories

Step 8. Don’t Forget to press that Record button. Instagram states that with Reels you can start and stop recording multiple times during your 15-30 second video by pressing and holding the record button.

Step 9.  You can edit the cover photo with a video thumbnail or add a cover from your camera roll. Just like in IGTV.

 

Step 10. Instagram lets you share the Reel to your Stories, Explore Feed, and the new Reels tab on your profile.

Another point that’s important to note is that your reels will show up in the new reel tab or can just be saved in drafts to maybe edit later (only you, will be able to view this unpublished reel. As pictured below.)

That reel tab will hold all your published reels where your followers may view or hold drafts whereby you still need to edit but those drafts are can only be viewed by you.

 

Why reels?

The timing is perfect for Reels considering TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S.

Why Reels? In my opinion, domination full stop. let us look at Instagram for a moment.

Youtube = IGTV

Snapchat = Instagram Stories

TikTok = Reels

Instagram has managed to mesh all their competitor’s strengths into their app with ease. There’s a worthy point that I read about. Sarah Frier from Bloomberg states. 

Instagram has become complicated with this introduction. She states that you probably want to post to your Feed by hitting the “plus” on the main screen, but if you swipe over to one side, you can also post to your Story, which disappears within 24 hours, or your Reels, which show up on the Explore page but also in your profile. If you wanted to do video but didn’t want to use Reels, you could use Live, post it to IGTV, or on your main feed, but the main feed has a time limit. Also, you could post videos to your Close Friends category, or everyone who follows you, or people you individually select. If you want Stories to last longer than 24 hours, you could add them to your Highlights.

As we can see from this point these added bells and whistles may take time for other users to grasp.

Techcrunch states that TikTok has built something that may not be as easily replicated: a community of users who started their social media lives with underage accounts on Musical.ly. They grew up with the app, lived through the TikTok rebranding and now may see no need to switch — unless TikTok actually does disappear. This again may make Instagram Reels take further time to embed itself into the average Instagram users life.

Vishal Shah who is Instagram Vice President of Product told TechCrunch earlier this month, 45% of Instagram videos are 15 seconds or less, making Reels a great feature that adds a different layer to the user experience.

Let’s look at the stats for a moment. Mediakix has created an easy to follow comparison below which furthermore illustrates the need for Instagram Reels.

 

As you can clearly see, these stats above illustrate why Reels had to be introduced because TikTok literally hit the social media nail on the head. TikTok generated “the most downloads for any app ever in a quarter” in Q1 2020, according to Adweek. Also, that latter point illustrates the sheer force of TikTok as a social media app. The beauty of Instagram is that it’s in the slot or pocket where Reels can potentially take off. I say this because as we know, Facebook previously launched a short-form standalone app Lasso, but it failed to make a valid push. With Instagram, you have a billion active users to push the Reels agenda, this stat alone may bode well for Instagram Reels. Also, Instagram is a more appealing app than Facebook in our opinion, therefore, making any social media additions easier on that platform. (Visual platform strengths)

With Instagram Reels as a business, you can.

1. Showcase Products
2. Share Educational Content
3. Create different types of appealing content (layering your content)
4. Even, how-to? content.

The above content types are all that I’m sure you have all used before with Stories or IGTV.

Closing

In closing, we can’t wait for there to be analytics for reels. Also if you’re a small business this is a great way to expand your ad formats. Just like with stories you can create more exciting content to entice your followers and furthermore grow your business. Thank you once again for taking the time to peruse over, How To Instagram Reels for Real.

 

[/vc_column][/vc_row]