Instagram released Reels, a distinct video-sharing feature inside the media-sharing app. With transitions, effects, and audio capabilities, Reels are a ‘new’ method to capture and distribute short-form video clips that encourage users to think creatively and innovatively about their content.
Instagram Reels can be used in various ways. However, in terms of marketing strategy, what does this all mean? Don’t these videos merely show random individuals doing silly things and trends for the sake of gaining popularity?
To be honest, you’re somewhat correct.
One of the most remarkable aspects of social media’s evolution is the way it has successfully integrated meme culture into corporate planning. With Reels, you can achieve various objectives in multiple ways:
- Educate your target audience through Reels.
When Reels initially started, videos could only be 15 seconds in length. However, Instagram has since increased the maximum length limit of these videos to 60 seconds. Although they are brief clips, there are still innovative methods to convey a great deal of information in a short time.
- Use Reels to demonstrate your company’s culture and raise morale among employees.
Consumers are growing more and more concerned with the culture and values of businesses. Clients like to support organizations that they believe in, and one method to boost your brand awareness is to provide a glimpse into your company’s culture to prospective customers. Some suggestions for this are as follows:
- Incorporate ‘Instagram takeovers’ into your strategy and introduce your staff.
- Take part in current social trends and issues.
- Using Reels may help you humanize your company and make new connections.
When it comes to exhibiting your corporate culture, these kinds of Reels are somewhat essential to your success. Give your firm a face, or a few faces, so that when potential customers contact you, they can get a sense of who they will be speaking to or dealing with.
- Initialize your presence (with a CTA to begin networking)
- Make a one-minute elevator presentation about what you have to offer.
How do Instagram Reels help?
So, what is it about Instagram Reels that you should be interested in? We understand that there is a lot to keep track of right now. We can understand how overwhelming it may be to have another additional thing to learn, whether it’s keeping your blog up to date, maintaining your company’s Facebook page, or reacting to comments on your YouTube videos.
Fortunately, while it may seem complicated at first glance, Reels are really fast and straightforward to create, and the payoff for putting in the work is substantial. To put it simply, Reels are a new approach to broaden your audience’s reach while increasing engagement.
Posting to Reels now provides everyone—not just major accounts with large numbers of followers—with the possibility to be found via the Explore option on the app. Instagram’s Explore feature enables you to reach people outside your network, develop new connections, raise awareness, and even generate new prospects, all while immersing your content in a feed that is shared by both individuals and businesses alike.
Besides, the ability to edit camera roll clips in-app makes it simple to create videos that can be used for several purposes.
The Instagram Reels algorithm and how it works
What appears as a recommended post or in the Reels Explore tab on Instagram has always been a mystery, particularly when it comes to the algorithm that determines what appears.
But now, the app has just published some useful information. What we do know about the Reels algorithm is that it favors Reels that meet the following requirements:
- Are amusing and enjoyable (i.e., delights people, grabs their attention, makes them laugh, or has a fun surprise or twist)
- Are a source of inspiration (i.e., starts a trend that others can easily participate in)
- Use innovative tools such as typography, filters, and camera effects.
- Use vertical video
- Use music from the Instagram music collection, as well as unique audio made or discovered on Reels, to enhance the video
Instagram also recommends that companies and artists refrain from posting Reels that:
- Have poor resolution and/or are hazy
- Have been published with a border around them to make them stand out
- Have text that takes up the bulk of the image’s space
- Do not follow Instagram’s Community Guidelines
On the Reels tab, Instagram has verified that material clearly copied from other applications (e.g., content with logos or watermarks) would be more difficult to locate.
Conclusion
In a little over a year, Instagram Reels have cemented their position as one of the platform’s most popular features. Their effectiveness as a growth and engagement hack has been shown—and this is just the beginning.
Brands and companies are using Reels to creatively market their goods and collaborate with influencers to produce branded content. This is a result of the integration of the Shopping and Branded Content capabilities, which were recently added.
Instagram intends to use Sponsored Material Tags as a mechanism to guarantee that creators explicitly declare when they are generating branded content. This will increase transparency while making it simpler for artists and companies to develop, distribute, and promote branded content.
As Reels continue to evolve and become a more fundamental part of the Instagram user experience, we can expect to see more in-app video editing tools, algorithm transparency, and user insight information. Instagram Reels provide a unique chance for you to express yourself creatively, no matter your brand or company.