In July 2022, Instagram announced that all videos under 15-minutes will now be posted as Reels. This change aims to make video content more accessible on the platform and also signifies a consistent journey towards short-form content becoming the norm. Since Reels are growing in popularity, Netinfluencer has all of the tips and tricks needed to gain more engagement on this type of content. 

What Are Instagram Reels?

Released in August 2020, Instagram Reels are short videos that aim to capture a more immersive video experience. This tool uses a variety of features such as templates and stickers to produce an engaging piece of work that audiences can share with others.

Advertisements can also be applied to Reels, allowing your content to be seen by a much larger audience than traditional video content. Creators can also use comment replies to build a positive and active community on their platform. 

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How To Make a Reel

1. Open the latest version of the Instagram app.
2. Tap the + icon at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Select ‘Reel’ from the drop-down tab.
4. Set a timer and add any relevant AR effects to your video.
5. Tap and hold the record button at the bottom of the screen to begin your Reel.
6. Once you have finished filming, you can trim and edit your video to the appropriate length.
7. Press the ‘Done’ button at the bottom of the screen.
8. Add a caption and share the Reel to your personal feed.

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10 Ways To Gain Engagement on Your Instagram Reels

1. Partake in new trends

Since Instagram Reels are consistently growing and transforming, it is important that creators use these tools to follow other popular trends. Whether it’s using a humorous AR effect or sharing your latest favorite products, Reels can be used to share information with your audience in a quick and easy fashion. Try using the Remix feature to collaborate with other videos on the platform and credit the original creator for fair use.

2. Use Instagram’s existing tools

Instagram is well recognized for its range of user-friendly tools, helping influencers to produce a plethora of engaging content with ease. The platform offers a collection of alluring filters that can help take your content to the next level and can even be used in Reels. Thus, this can help creators to build more aesthetically pleasing content that is more likely to be shared across social media. Users can also post their Reels onto their Story, allowing their content to be shared even further.

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3. Include closed captions

Surprisingly, 92% of audience members watch video content without sound. To help give your audience a more enriched experience, consider adding closed captions to your videos. Instagram offers an automatic captioning feature that transcribes the audio presented in the video and expresses it in words on the screen. These captions are also very helpful for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, making your content more discoverable and accessible for disabled people. 

4. Eliminate watermarks from other platforms

It is believed that Instagram Reels were released to compete with the addictive short-form nature of TikTok videos. Therefore, if you are operating between the two, it is advised that you diversify your content across the platforms. When you download your content from TikTok, your videos will appear with a watermark. In turn, if you are looking to post the same content on Instagram, it is best if you remove the evidence. Creators can use simple video editing apps to remove these watermarks or can record the content again if needed. 

5. Share them to your feed

Compared to Stories, which only last 24 hours, Reels are a permanent asset to your content portfolio. Despite their everlasting nature, it is still good practice to share your latest Reels to your Story. This helps to keep your viewers up to date on your contemporary content and ensure that you are consistently increasing your engagement rate.

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6.  Use popular music 

 Like TikTok, Reels also allows creators to implement sound into their content. The platform collates a range of popular music all within its expansive library and users can even save sounds that they have heard in other users’ content. By using relevant and favored music, your content is more likely to exude a sense of creative flair and can even help promote up-and-coming artists on your platform. 

7. Write an optimized caption

Before you post your Reel, you are required to add a small caption to your video. This description is a very important aspect as it can help push your content toward your desired audience. By using relevant keywords and phrases, your videos are more likely to be seen by viewers who are searching for content in your respective niche. Hashtags can also be a useful complement to your video descriptions as they can help organize your content into relevant subsections within the market. 

8. Post frequently

Because Reels are very easy to make, there is no reason why you should not use this feature to its fullest potential. Experts suggest that creators should post around 4-7 Reels per week, allowing this feature to simply fit into your content calendar. Moreover, this frequency gives creators a lot of freedom, meaning that they can use them for vlogs or even create a unique weekly series. 

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9. Use Reels to tease updates

If you share a lot of content on Instagram, Reels can be a great way to provide a glimpse of future projects to your audience. Whether you are sharing short clips of an upcoming video or presenting a range of backstage footage, Reels allows this content to be produced and uploaded in quick succession. This is also a good strategy if you are looking to tease a project for a number of weeks, as the content will not disappear after a day. Thus, audiences are more inclined to share your content over a longer period of time. 

10. Create content using various durations

Before the most recent update, Reels could be anywhere from 15-90 seconds long. This allows influencers to produce a wide variety of content, from short interactions with fans to digestible daily vlogs. Try experimenting with a balance of short and long-form content and track your engagement rate to see what works best with your audience. 

Instagram Reels highlight the importance and success of video content on social media. As this tool continues to become the most prominent option on the platform, it is vital that influencers use Instagram Reels to attract new opportunities and audiences to their work. To learn more about how Instagram supports the influencer marketing industry, visit our website.